December 17, 2010

Christmas memories

Family’s Christmases were frugal, but filled with love and fun times

By Theresa McHolland (Special to The Criterion)

I have many good family Christmas memories from years past. Going back to 1944 when I was 10 years old, I can remember our Christmases as joyful and religious.

Our Christmas celebration started with a procession. The youngest child carried the Baby Jesus to the crib while we sang “Silent Night.”

Dad would go out on Christmas Eve to find a tree because he could get one free. Then my parents would stay up half the night decorating it.

Our family didn’t have a lot of money, but we seemed to get everything we asked for each Christmas.

Sometimes our gifts were second-hand clothing. Mother would sew new outfits for our dolls, and we were happy to have them.

Our stockings were hung on the mantle, and had oranges and nuts in them, not candy. This was the only time when we got soda pop. What a treat that was for us!

One year, I prayed for a bicycle. I didn’t get it and was so disappointed. I told my mother, and she said, “Sometimes God will give you something else in its place. You got a new baby sister instead.”

My sister was born on Dec. 17, but I was not “a happy camper” because I wanted a bicycle.

I don’t remember my parents exchanging gifts. I’m sure they made many sacrifices for us six children.

I wouldn’t trade those Christmases for anything in the world.

(Theresa McHolland is a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Fishers, Ind., in the Lafayette Diocese.)

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