Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve
The best hands-down was the yearly town Christmas eve program when we lived in Woodstock NY from 1957-1967. Residents gathered on the village green and sang carols, ending with "Here Comes Santa Claus" accompanied by lights from firetrucks searching the sky for the arrival of Santa - from a different rooftop every year, once coming down a church steeple by rope! The stockings Santa then handed out to all the children were great, but even as children, my brothers and I somehow knew the experience was even better.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Christmas Music
Christmas music has always been a huge part of our holidays, starting with the car radio Dad whistled & sang to while driving, and home radio Mom played during housework, through school & band programs, church, & TV specials.
The best hands-down was the yearly town Christmas eve program when we lived in Woodstock NY from 1957-1967. Residents gathered on the village green and sang carols, ending with "Here Comes Santa Claus" accompanied by lights from firetrucks searching the sky for the arrival of Santa - from a different rooftop every year, once coming down a church steeple by rope! The stockings Santa then handed out to all the children were great, but even as children, my brothers and I somehow knew the experience was even better.
In 6th grade, we were rehearsing "We Three Kings" when learning that President Kennedy had been shot and died... Time has blunted the pain of this event, except when hearing this carol, which brings back as if it happened just yesterday.
The best hands-down was the yearly town Christmas eve program when we lived in Woodstock NY from 1957-1967. Residents gathered on the village green and sang carols, ending with "Here Comes Santa Claus" accompanied by lights from firetrucks searching the sky for the arrival of Santa - from a different rooftop every year, once coming down a church steeple by rope! The stockings Santa then handed out to all the children were great, but even as children, my brothers and I somehow knew the experience was even better.
In 6th grade, we were rehearsing "We Three Kings" when learning that President Kennedy had been shot and died... Time has blunted the pain of this event, except when hearing this carol, which brings back as if it happened just yesterday.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Christmas Shopping
Growing up in Woodstock NY, Christmas shopping was done by catalog and in nearby Kingston, and at least one Saturday drive to Montgomery Wards in Albany where our aunt lived nearby - and would entertain us kids so our parents could shop and talk without extra eyes & ears around.
Although my parents were born & raised in Manhattan, and we visited & shopped there at other times during the year, I don't remember doing around Christmas - perhaps because New York relatives came to visit us over the holidays and could deliver anything desired?
While we kids hated crowds, as did our dad, we did love the Christmas decorations and music in the stores, and later, malls, when not mobbed.
Although my parents were born & raised in Manhattan, and we visited & shopped there at other times during the year, I don't remember doing around Christmas - perhaps because New York relatives came to visit us over the holidays and could deliver anything desired?
While we kids hated crowds, as did our dad, we did love the Christmas decorations and music in the stores, and later, malls, when not mobbed.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Christmas Stockings
As far back as I can remember, these were knitted by Mom and replaced frequently, as she loved to knit & was always finding new patterns she wanted to try.
Even more exciting were the new mittens she made us every year, color-coordinated to our winter coats, of which best were a series of hand-puppet-like animals - we remember mice, raccoons, whales, horses, donkeys.
She also crocheted wonderful Christmas decorations, including these snowflakes for the windows, and stockings for the tree.
Even more exciting were the new mittens she made us every year, color-coordinated to our winter coats, of which best were a series of hand-puppet-like animals - we remember mice, raccoons, whales, horses, donkeys.
She also crocheted wonderful Christmas decorations, including these snowflakes for the windows, and stockings for the tree.
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