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Holidays:  Christmas Pasts  |
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cecelia
True Blue Farmgirl
497 Posts
cecelia
new york
USA
497 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 02 2004 : 6:31:56 PM
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 All this talk about Christmas holidays, goings on, and heirlooms got me to remembering about past Christmases of my youth.
My older brother and I had electric trains - American Flyers. This was in the '50s when we used lead icicles for decorations (who knew the dangers of lead?). We used to lay them across the tracks so when the trains ran over, there would be sparks flying all over the floor! Eventually we got bored and just started balling up the icicles and "pinging" them at each other - boy did they sting. Of course we had the snow outside, and piled it up into a really huge pile, dug it out, sprayed it with water and had an ice igloo nearly all winter. We used to get a box of hard candy at school, and every year, on the way home, some kid didn't know that if you tipped the box just slightly the end opened and all the candy fell out into the snow and started melting (we always knew when it happened 'cause someone would start crying). I had a 45 record of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry; I played it so much the grooves wore out! Boy, we had some happy times then.
Cecelia
ce's farm
"Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery" Victor Hugo |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2004 : 7:02:10 PM
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They were happy times! Do you remember the "flocked" trees of our youth? My dear but slightly off center aunt would put tons of that smelly snow flock all over her Austrian pine trees. The needles were at least a half foot long on those things and just hanging with mountains of flock. We went to her house often for Christmas dinners and you could actually see particles of flock in the air all over her house. If you got near the tree the stuff would leap off the needles and cling to our clothes because of the static. We would be coughing and gagging the stuff for days. Her furniture would have a fine dusting of "snow". She was oblivious to it all and we never said anything but I have never been tempted to flock trees. It should be declared a health hazard! We still had a great time in spite of the coughing.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2004 : 7:03:14 PM
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They were happy times! Do you remember the "flocked" trees of our youth? My dear but slightly off center aunt would put tons of that smelly snow flock all over her Austrian pine trees. The needles were at least a half foot long on those things and just hanging with mountains of flock. We went to her house often for Christmas dinners and you could actually see particles of flock in the air all over her house. If you got near the tree the stuff would leap off the needles and cling to our clothes because of the static. We would be coughing and gagging the stuff for days. Her furniture would have a fine dusting of "snow". She was oblivious to it all and we never said anything but I have never been tempted to flock trees. It should be declared a health hazard! We still had a great time in spite of the coughing.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
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cecelia
True Blue Farmgirl
497 Posts
cecelia
new york
USA
497 Posts |
Posted - Dec 09 2004 : 1:06:10 PM
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Don't remember the flocked trees but I did have another aunt who decorated her tree one year with nothing but those silvery icicles (not even any lights). It actually looked quite nice.
By the way I've heard a tale that if you bring in a real tree and find a bird's nest in it, you are guaranteed good luck all year...has anyone heard this or other stories??
Cecelia
ce's farm
"Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery" Victor Hugo |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Dec 09 2004 : 2:20:05 PM
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Yep! We found a bird's nest the first year we were married in our tree and it's been on our tree every year since. We always give a bird's nest ornament to a couple for their first Christmas and so far so good!
with a happy heart |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2004 : 06:30:44 AM
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We always place a birdnest in our tree before the first ornament goes on. It is an old Swedish legend, I think, or Scandanavian of some sort. I got the nest the first year we were married, and we have carefully put it away in it's own box each year to use again the next. It is nice to place it right below a light, so it is illuminated inside the tree.
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
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bougainvillea blooms
Farmgirl in Training
14 Posts
Jennifer
St. Petersburg
FL
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - Dec 12 2004 : 9:07:08 PM
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Ooh, I love that tradition of the bird's nest. My dearest friend got married this fall, now I know what to bring him and his wife for Christmas.
I already talked a mile about Christmas trees on the other thread, but I wonder how many people had Santa "visit" overnight (hence, Christmas presents in the morning) and who had Santa come Christmas Eve while the kids are still up? In my childhood, my grandfather or father secretly suited up while us kids were busy with sweets and Christmas songs, and then entered through the back door of the house, ringing a huge bell, with a sack of toys over his shoulder. It was the HEIGHT of the Christmas experience for us as children. I was always so sorry for kids who "missed" seeing Santa in the flesh.
Now when I look back at our old Super 8's I have to laugh at our old St. Bernard dog, Sam, wagging her tail with glee. She NEVER barked at Santa, and seemed to know him well....hmmm funny that...
My son is Santa-age now and my dad bought a new red suit and beard for the new generation --- no pillow necessary though--
Jen |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Dec 13 2004 : 07:11:09 AM
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We never had santa visit at the house(that we saw him), but our kids all get together at a cousin's party where St. Nick visits and mysteriously has a present for each child there! It is someone so unlikely in the costume that the kids never have guessed yet! Our very dear neighbor who never had children and looks like Santa went out on his roof jingling sleigh bells one year when my son was small and shouted "HO HO HO! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! Yes that means you too Zachary!" The wonder in his eyes is something I will never forget! And it helped get him to sleep because Santa was near by and he didn't want to be missed!
Does anyone go out to feed the reindeer Christmas Eve? We sprinkle oats,raisins,apple slices and baby carrots on the ground (or snow) and always they are gone when the kids check! It's really fun when the deer leave their hoof prints! Lots of fun and a nice tradition to remember our outdoor neighbors.
with a happy heart |
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cecelia
True Blue Farmgirl
497 Posts
cecelia
new york
USA
497 Posts |
Posted - Dec 13 2004 : 3:40:54 PM
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We have left things out for the "reindeer" but there is a fairly new regulation here that makes it illegal to feed wild deer (too many for the residential area, etc.). So I usually leave something for the birds, squirrels, etc. One winter the deer were eating out of the bird feeder, and even figured out how to tip it so the food would spill out.
Cecelia
ce's farm
"Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery" Victor Hugo |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Dec 19 2004 : 10:04:01 AM
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The CBS Sunday Morning show today had a feature on aluminum trees. They orginated from a factory in Wisconsin during the years 1957-1971, and there's a couple who now have a collection of these trees in a gallery there. They have also written a book, called Seasons Gleamings, which is all about the history and collectiblity of these novelty trees. For those of you with a strong personal history around this tradition, you may find this book of interest and comfort!
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
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cecelia
True Blue Farmgirl
497 Posts
cecelia
new york
USA
497 Posts |
Posted - Dec 19 2004 : 4:53:13 PM
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A friend & I took a day trip to Canada on Friday, went to a lot of shops in a picturesque small town known for that sort of thing - very Christmasy. One store sells only Christmas items - and wouldn't you know that as soon as we walked in - there was a green metal tree in all it's glory -for sale - about $350 Canadian!
Cecelia
ce's farm
"Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery" Victor Hugo |
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Holidays: Christmas Pasts |
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Christmas Pasts
