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Show Sunday, December 25, 2005 DAILY Christmas around of service The spirit the world wanted my five children to be familiar with the cultures and traditions of Christmas around the world. The first year I had people from our church who were either born or who lived in a foreign country during Christmastime come into our home during the week before Christmas and tell us about the customs. We served a dessert from their country. While it was interesting, it was also very time consuming for the person invited and our I family. So the ensuing years I decided to reenact the customs in a shortened version, doing it in one night on Christmas Eve "traveling" by different modes such as an imaginary plane or train. We lined up the kitchen chairs in rows of two seats across, tied red paper streamers to each side of the chair for seat belts, and asked the passengers (family members) to sit down. The stewardess (me, the mother) said, "All aboard! Fasten your seat belts, wrap up good, and hang on for a d evening full of memories and learning about customs from lands of c s heritage!" We'd visit destinations such as Hawaii, Mexico end Denmark. Our last destination was to Bethlehem. When we got off of the airplane, we'd put on shepherds' clothes (bathrobes, towels and ties for head bands, and scarves for the girls) and step back in time entering the tent in our dining room (sheets hung over the openings to make it private and tent-likeWe sat on pillows covered with blankets situated on the floor. A large lit candle contained in a holder (for safety) sat in the middle of the floor. We reenacted the night of the birth of the Savior with father reading from the scroll made from a brown paper bag with the scripture from Luke written on it telling of that special night. We left the tent and went over to the Christmas tree where the creche is displayed. Each family member writes on red construction paper cut in the shape of a heart a gift like (something of ourselves being kind to others, obeying parents, reading the scriptures, etc.) to Jesus and places it under the manger. Then we sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus over a homemade Buche de Noel Yule Log lit with candles (one for each family member), and we all blow the candles out and eat the cake. Because it's a birthday party, we play a few Christmas games, and then each person gets to open a certain gift. We then have family prayer, hang our stockings, leave cookies and milk for Santa, and go to fast-pace- fun-fille- ). bed. During the Christmas season, my family will pick a couple of less fortunate families, and we make and we buy them the things that we see they need the most. Then on Christmas Eve, our family will wrap the presents and put them in a bag and take them to the homes late that night. We knock on the doors and run away. We have so much fun, and we get to spend more time with our family as we serve others around us. My family never tells the families, but sometimes they figure it out and they will ask us about it. ... But we say we have no idea who it was. Kristine Christensen, 15, student, Payson Traditions old and new I've never sent anything like this before to the newspaper, but these memories brought tears to my eyes, so I thought I would share it. When my children were young we used to make candy for the Festival of Trees. We would gather in the kitchen lined up in e assembly-lin- style, cook the candy, stir it for the longest time and roll fondant centers in plastic wrap, freeze them and unroll them days later to dip in caramel and pecans. My young boys moaned at the many hours we spent but learned that good things took time. Year after year we made these pecan foils, and they became our early November project to start Christmas. My boys began to look forward to and became very proud of their contribution. Over the years, my boys grew up and had their own families and sadly we no longer made our pecan rolls. Last year we made pecan rolls again as a family, all my boys, and their wives and children all gathered in the kitchen lined up in assembly-line style to the delight of their mother. This year, my boys asked when we were going to make pecan rolls. Again, I have young boys (and a girl) sitting on the sink, trying to help, waiting patiently for their turn to wrap, so sticky and cute, starting new traditions, drawing on the old. What more can I ask for Christmas than those memories come back to life? Carol Peacock, 59, Utah Pharmacy technician, Payson of gift giving, singing Christmas carols and eating wonderful homemade goodies. Now, while we are at the cemetery, we talk of Christmas-e- s past, light a candle and hold their memories close. We still get together at my brother-in-law- 's home and exchange gifts, sing Christmas carols and eating homemade goodies we keep the tradition going, but it's just not the same with out Grandma and Grandpa Pete. Diane Peterson, American Fork Shepherding and sourdough Our Carson holiday tradition centers around a legacy of shepherding and sourdough. My grandpas, Glen Cook and George Carson, were and they mastered the art of sourdough cooking that has been passed from generation to generation on both sides of my family. I can still taste my Grandpa Cook's sourdough bread ... just the right amount of tang with a little too much butter smeared on top! Grandma Carson taught me the best way to eat Grandpa Carson's sourdough biscuits was with butter and a little maple syrup ... delis, sheep-herder- CS Christmas Eve party As long as I can remember, we would have a party on Christmas Eve. We would go eat at a nice restaurant and be able to order whatever we wanted. Sometimes we will go see the lights, then go home and eat, play games and open presents that we have picked for each other. We have done this every year without fail, and now that I'm an adult, my children are able to do the same thing I did when 1 was little. Thanks to my parents who keep this tradition alive and cious! Sourdough pancakes are a family favorite and the basis for our Christmas breakfast. As far back as I can remember, and even long before that, our family and friends have gathered at my parents' home on Christmas morning to enjoy a hearty breakfast of sourdough pancakes, eggs, ham, sausage, hashed browns and sliced oranges. While the side dishes are great, I think the meal would be savored just the same if it only consisted of the pancakes. When family members can't make the trip to Lehi for the holidays their first regret is missing the breakfast ... and as an afterthought they mention that they'll miss us, too. Some of my siblings make wonderful sourdough products. I tried cooking with it once. The bread was a brick. Our family "remember when" sessions usually work around to, "Remember the time Angie tried to make sourdough bread?" If I outlive my parents, I'll be the last immediate family member left in Lehi. 1 guess if this holiday tradition is to continue, I'll need to practice making pancakes. But I'm sure they'll be more like hockey pucks. Angie Carson, 37, buyer for Provo Craft, Lehi special. Emi!y Saye, 30, homemaker, Lehi A Christmas of plenty was born Jan. 11, 1910. Mother and Dad had seven children. We were poor, but we didn't know it. Dad had cows, pigs, chickens and a large garden. We raised potatoes, corn, carrots, turnips, peas, parsnips, peppers, tomatoes, string beans, pink-ey- e beans, strawberries, raspberries and currants. So we had plenty of food. My mother was t'.ie best cook. She baked seven loaves of bread and a large pan of biscuits every other day. She made doughnuts, sweet rolls, cake, cookies, pies, noodles (the best ever), jams, jellies, bottled peaches, pears, apricots, apple-saucstring beans and dried corn. I believe we had the best Christmas. The week before Christmas we got in a wagon. (We never ever had a car.) We went to the canyon and cut down our Christmas tree. It was put up the night before Christmas. We didn't see the tree until Christmas morning. We thought Santa Claus did it. I Remembering lost loved ones Our family meets at my inlaws' graves at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery on Christmas Eve. My (especially my mother-in-lawlived for Christ) mas. Before she passed away it was tradition that in 1999 we always met at her home on Christmas Eve for an evening in-la- My memorable year we gave dish towels wrapped with ribbon and decorated with outlines of the right hand of each person in our families painted on them and saying, "Merry Christmas ... Let us give you a hand." These are unforgettable memories of Christmas caroling. Marilyn Chapman, Provo brought the most beautiful decorations from Switzerland: candlestick holders that snapped on the twigs of the tree, small candles that we lit. It was beautiful The night before Christmas we had hung up our stockings. In the toe of each was a silver dollar (that was a lot then); it was filled with hard tack and, an orange in the top the only orange we ever had. Our tree stayed up all through the holidays. On New Year's Eve we put a bowl on the table for each of us and Santa filled it with candy and nuts. For Christmas we only received one gift. Usually it was a locket, a bracelet or a ring. Then clothes: bloomers made out of flour sacks, homemade dress and petticoats, sweaters. Our winter coats were Presents and peek-a-bo- o On our Christmas we have to wait in our bedroom, waiting for my parents to call us in the front room to see our presents. We wake up at 10 in the morning. We have to wait for my dad to give us presents. Then we wake my parents, and then we have our Christmas. with my We play peek-a-bo- o little cousins and we play with friends and family. It is so much fun. And when my grandma comes over we make Christmas cookies with her; it is so fun. Then we go sledding with my dad. And that's my Christmas. Colten Nicol, 14, Payson I went through the Depression with my children. All three of my sons worked and put themselves through college. One is a professor at Weber College. We all appreciated everything. I am still considered, some could say, tight. But I live alone, take care of myself, up to now. Hope I can to the end. Rhea C.McBeth, 95, Payson More peeking! My parents went somewhere and my brothers and I watched movies. While my parents are out we get into my parents' room and we can't help it, but we peek every year. They never find out about us finding presents. We know what we're getting every year. It's Christmas and we know what we're getting, but I didn't see this one present. It was hidden really well, but it was my favorite present when I wa6 younger. I was so happy I would die for it, but 1 finally got it. I made some cookies on Christmas morning, and they were sugar cookies. I woke up my parents and brothers so they could try my cookies and they thought they were good, and they told me to make more. Every year we play games at my grandma's house. Some of the games we play with money, and you have to answer questions. It is really fun to play with friends and family, and enjoy the fun with games. Taylor BurreK, 14, Payson Here we come a caroling The tradition that brings the spirit of Christmas closest to my heart is when my family goes caroling. Singing the beautiful, sweet old songs about the birth of our Savior makes me the happiest ever! Over the years I have collected sleigh bells, five strands of them, and kerosene or candle lanterns to light our way. Also, warm boots are necessary to keep our feet warm as we tramp through the snow. We wear colorful hats and mufflers to make us look brighter in dark December. It is such fun to knock on the doors of those we love and share special singing moments with them. A neighbor, Anna May, and I made chili sauce one year and pickle relish another year to carry in wicker baskets to give to our neighbors as we caroled in front of their hones. One Editor's note: Entries have been edited for length and clarity. The Stitching Corner Inc. Generations of Sewing Experts ts 631 E. 1700 S. Orem 801 State St. 426-690- 0 'THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE of BMK HMBOM ptmuw, yrmMm I. www.americaninstitute.edu TERRIFYING.1" tm. TECHNOLOGY MEDICAL-DENTA- Health Career Training From Utah's Premier Health Career College RIVETING AND SUSPENSEFULT MUL fbCNCR. ft"JO mmu i.inri Pkmimr I lira! 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