Christmas Eve

[susandennis]

When I was growing up this was the day.  This was it for the year.  Christmas Eve.  We never had extended family with us.  It was always just me and my brother and sister and Mom and Dad. But our little family had the most wonderful Christmas traditions.

The day started just after Thanksgiving.  Mom turned into a Christmas cookie factory.  She made dozens and dozens and dozens.  Beautiful and delicious (although we only got to eat the precious few that got broken.) And 3-5 gingerbread houses.

The day before Christmas Eve, Daddy (who was always traveling) was finally home and assembly began.  They had a huge roll of shiny cellophane and several rolls of giant red ribbon.  Daddy would line the dining room table with aluminum pie plates and into those went a pillow of tissue paper.  Each was topped with a variety of the the cookies and the whole thing was set onto a giant square of cellophane.  The four corners were drawn up and tied with the red bow. 

They were each sparkling teepees of beautiful cookies.   And there were usually about 30 of them. The gingerbread houses got their own cellophane with red ribbon.

On Christmas Eve we piled it all into the station wagon (always a Buick).  We kids were dressed up in Christmas finery.  Daddy donned his Santa hat.  The three of us crammed into the front seat with Daddy (no seat belts or no-kids-in-the-front-seat rules in those days).  And off we went.  Mom watched us go and waved us on.   I never thought - until just this minute - what she did while we were gone.  I hope she had a hot bath with champagne!

Anyway, Daddy had the route all planned.  We went to every friend's house and delivered Christmas fun.  We took turns taking the cookies to the front door.  For special people, the four of us went to the front door with the gingerbread houses.  We had our favorites - I always got the Blums (she had the softest skin and always smelled so good when she hugged you and he was just fun).  My sister always got the Carters.  The three of us always did the Hanes - They had a butler and a white and black checked floor in the foyer.  The butler always made a BFD out of us kids and old Mr. Hanes always came out and made an even Bigger deal and then gave us each a silver dollar.  Every year.

We always got lunch at the Barwicks (friends) and usually got home in the late afternoon.   When we go home, we went to the tree and found the boxes from Aunt Etta (grandpa's sister).  She always sent pajamas from Neiman Marcus.  Mom and Dad had cocktails and we opened up our new pjs.

Christmas Eve dinner was always huge and beef.  After dinner we scampered off upstairs to don our new sleepwear.  Mom was always there to help.  And, just about the time we were done, we heard that wonderful sound.

The jingle bells on the front door would ring and we could hear:

Daddy:  Why, Santa!  Hello!!!  Welcome! Come on in!!
Santa:  Ho Ho Ho  Merry Christmas!  I have some things here for your family!!
Daddy:  How Wonderful!!  Why don't we put them here by the tree?
Santa:  I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Daddy:  Can't you stay for a drink and a visit?
Santa:  Oh no, I have lots more deliveries to make tonight.
Daddy:  Well thank you so much and Merry Christmas!

We heard the bells again and then Santa's voice fading off... And a Merry Christmas to you all!!!!!

We'd hear the front door shut and then Daddy would say:  Kids!!  Guess what just happened?!!  Come down here and see!!!

The script was the very same every year.  The tree would be surrounded now with lots more presents than before dinner.  We spent the evening taking turns opening our Christmas goodies.  And we always slept late on Christmas morning.  We had turkey for Christmas Day dinner and spent the day generally playing with our new toys.  The day after Christmas was Thank You Note day.  No one was allowed to play with anything until after all thank you notes were written. 

This scenario was played out year after year after year.  I look back now and cannot believe how wonderful it was.  It was picture book perfect.  Magical.  I am so grateful for the memories.  I had no idea then how so very lucky we were.  I do know now and that knowledge makes those Christmases even more precious.