(1) In Uruguay we didn’t put up the tree until Christmas Eve. Our family of five lived in a one bedroom house. This is my earliest Christmas memory and I have some questions about it. For some reason I remember sleeping in the living room on this particular Christmas Eve. I woke up in the middle of the night and saw a rocking horse by the tree. I don’t remember the morning excitement or anything else, but I do have a picture of the horse and so something about it must be true. Still now in my memory, this horse looked nicer than almost any I’ve seen. It had real hide and fur on it. I don’t know why it’s outside on the photo, but I am about 3 ½ years old on this picture.
(2) I was maybe 5 or 6 when I got a big doll. I think it was for Christmas. I have a vague memory of the tree on a table against the wall and a doll beside it. She was the size of a real baby, but not a baby, rather a little girl. I had an “adopted” aunt in our church who croched some clothes for this doll. 
The reason I mention this is because, the sentimental little girl that I was, I ended up taking the clothes along with me to Brazil and then to Canada. (I wasn’t allowed to take the doll to Canada because she was too big – maybe my Mom thought I was as well.) When my girls were little, I let them play with the clothes and when they became moms, some of the grandbabies got to wear the little sweater. (nothing to do with Christmas here . . . but I’m going with the flow)
(3) We moved to Brazil when I was 6 and my memories of Christmas are mostly about how exciting the day before Christmas was. All the kids in the community would go to church during the day to practice for the Christmas Eve program. After the practice we all received goodie bags and the most special treat in there was an apple. Apples were imported and expensive, so we hardly ever got them. I remember just smelling the bag was a treat!(4) One of the most special Christmases that I remember is when we flew to Paraguay to visit my Mom’s family. That’s where our uncles, aunts, cousins and Oma and Opa lived. That is the only “real family” gathering I remember as a young girl and it felt wonderful to be with family even though I didn’t really know them. They felt pretty special because they were sooo excited to see us!
(5) When I was 10 years old we celebrated our first Christmas in Canada and we were invited to an extended family gathering at my Mom’s uncle’s house. It felt pretty strange and exciting to be included in a family gathering of people who had all grown up in Canada, spoke mostly English and almost treated us like poor orphans. They were very kind and we were totally overwhelmed with the way that they included us as though we were also their grandchildren. I know my great aunt shopped at "Woodwards $1.49 day sales" for her Christmas gifts, but to us they were the most treasured gifts!!
(6) Christmas Eve our whole family attended the Sunday School Christmas Eve program in which small and big kids were involved in songs, poems and acting out the Christmas story. My dad was always proud of us when we had memorized our poem and had recited it loud and clear. After the program we went home and opened gifts. How much more fun could an evening be?
(6) Christmas Eve our whole family attended the Sunday School Christmas Eve program in which small and big kids were involved in songs, poems and acting out the Christmas story. My dad was always proud of us when we had memorized our poem and had recited it loud and clear. After the program we went home and opened gifts. How much more fun could an evening be?
(7) When I was 16, my boyfriend (now husband) brought me the most beautiful bouquet of roses and a jewelry box on Christmas Eve. I kid you not, I have never again smelled such sweet roses! That’s what I remember about them, and my mom being very shocked, but excited for me. I was left with an overwhelming feeling of being spoiled and treated like a princess!Thirteen years of childhood memories . . . now as I look back . . . come and gone so quickly! Yet, it was a time when waiting for Christmas seemed like an eternity.
10 comments:
Thank-you for sharing your memories. I got all teary-eyed reading this because there is such a pure simplicity about your childhood memories that makes them beautiful. When someone grows up in a 'poor' environment, they appreciate/treasure even the small things that many people don't even notice. I loved hearing about how excited you were to receive apples as a gift. There is such beauty in child-like joy.
Anneliese you are so wonderful at your memory recollection. . .I love to think back of my Christmases past too. . perhaps I'll post a picture or two of mine.
I can identify with #3& #6.
Last night as siblings we sat around drinking coffee, and laughed and giggled about some of our christmas memories way back. Some things never change.
Thanks for sharing your memories Anneliese..I remember the smell of oranges at Christmas because that was the only time I remember having themnpi..
Yikes that last word was only to say 'them'..what were my fingers 'thinking'..grin
it was fun reading about your memories....one memory that you reminded me of was the paper goodie bag after the Christmas Eve program in my childhood church. they still do that and when we go there for Christmas Eve with our parents, our kids still get them. what a nice tradition.
i really liked that you included pictures.
now on another note, thanks for the extra comments on my blog and i really appreciate that you mgcc gals thought of us prarie girls and i hope that we can one day all be together. :-)
What beautiful memories of your growing up years, Mom. It makes me wonder what Tehya will remember as she is growing up in a foreign country like you did.
She will have very special and unique memories! Sure do love that girl!!!!
Great memories, Anneliese. Even if we have lived here (Canada) all of our lives...times are different now and the memories of Christmas's past are rather sweet! I too loved those paper goodie bags that we got in church on Christmas Eve.
What great memories Anneliese...all memories ... you remember so well. I love the little horse, the doll that was bigger than you...or perhaps you were to big for the doll later on. Wonderful prose that made me feel like I was right there..reliving those moments with you. Christmas is indeed that, a time to bring past and present together in family traditions, keeping family together and remembering... Best of all it is remembering. We can be so grateful that no matter what we have been through...most of us can say we have had loving, supportive families - parents and siblings, extended family too. Thanks for sharing these little stories. And...as everyone else remembers the little brown bags after the Christmas program I will have to say that of course, I remember too. As Dad was pastor, us children would have to see if there were any bags left before we got any...often guests and their children would get the little brown bags that might have been handed to us four children. And so we might share on bag...but that was okay. For as Betty said, there would be a fresh orange..a real treat...and stuck to it's green wrapper would be that ribbon candy...remember that?! And maybe a few peanuts still in a shell and a melting candy cane. Oh absolute joy!
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