Really... ho ho ho

[susandennis]

Both of my parents (here we go again letmesaything) grew up in German households with German Christmas traditions which bled over into my growing up family.

We rarely put the tree up much before the week of Christmas. When my Mom was little, the tree was put up by her parents in the parlor behind closed doors on Christmas Eve and she and her brother only saw it after Santa had come and gone. But, Daddy loved the getting of the tree and the decorating of the tree and he loved having helpers. So we were the last in the neighborhood to get it up but we probably had the most fun.

Then after all the cookies were delivered, we went home where Mom was deep into Christmas Eve dinner. I remember beef, mostly but who the heck cared what the menu was? The main attraction was only a few hours away! We ate and cleared the table and cleaned the kitchen and then... is it time yet????... we scampered upstairs to get into the new pajamas the Aunt Etta had sent.

Mom always came up to help us and always always, just as we were nearly totally pajama'd, we'd here the sleigh bells. Big old jangly bells dangled from the wreath on the front door and that's what we'd hear. Then Daddy's big voice would boom out... "Well WELCOME SANTA!!! How nice it is to see you!!!!"

We were quiet, quiet, quiet and we could hear Santa and Daddy talking in the den where the tree was but we could never quite make out what they were saying. But, pretty soon, they'd be near the front door again and Daddy would be saying "Thank you, Santa! I hope you have a good rest of your journey!" and Santa would say "And a Merry Christmas to" fading out "you" barely audible "all..."

And Daddy would come to the bottom of the stairs and say "kids! You'll never guess what just happened!!"

Every year. The same script. Exactly. Every single year.

We'd scamper down and find everything that Santa brought under the tree.

As we got older, it was hilarious but it still never changed even by a syllable. We would find out many years later all of the funny stories about near disasters. Like the year 'Santa' brought us all snow skis. Which 'Santa' stashed at a neighbors house til Christmas Eve. And then said neighbors went on an elongated day trip somewhere and 'Santa' had to break in to their house to get the goods. And another neighbor called the cops.

I was very lucky and privileged and I treasure the memories. I do hope somehow both my Mom and my Dad know how much I appreciated what they did.

Comments

[letmesaythis.livejournal.com]

It's over-said on the internet but sometimes it just fits---I LOL'd!

Thank you!

[shanynrose.livejournal.com]

When I was little, my parents told me that Santa brought the tree. Later I found out they had very little money. Back then most Christmas tree vendors would give away unsold trees the evening of Christmas eve. When my husband and I moved to Phoenix, I was amazed to see all the tree stands locked up tight on Christmas eve, the trees left to disintegrate, the remains removed by backhoe weeks later. At the time I guessed it was due to liability issues, but later I decided it must have had more to do with writing off lost revenue re: the unsold trees. My faith in Christmas kindness was renewed when Costco, of all places, started announcing its "free tree days" - when they would put the unsold trees out for anyone to take.

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Merry Christmas, Susan.

[mixter11nm.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful memory. Thanks for sharing it.