Cowan HISTORY :
CHRISTMAS THEN AND NOW
(Written by Mrs. Leonard Warren and
published in The Cowan Bell Volume II No. 24, December
18, 1975.)
As the years pass, Christmas seems less like Christmases I
remember as a child.
People spend far too much money for weeks before Christmas,
they rush, push and grab at everything, until when Christmas
finally gets here, they are so worn out, that they are proud
when it’s over with. This isn’t necessary, I know, because
I have known many happy, wonderful Christmases and they cost
very little money wise.
Like
many of you, when I was a child, we had very little cold
cash to spend, so we learned how to enjoy Christmas without
it. My mother did not have a lot of fancy ingredients
for her baking and cooking for Christmas. But one thing
she was sure to have and that was a “wooden box of Kraft Cheese”,
she really loved cheese.
Her
cakes were made right out of the flour can (no mixes) with
butter and mostly molasses with dried fruit between the layers. (I
sure wish I had one now.) Pumpkin, apple pies and homemade
light bread, smeared with pure home churned butter, decorated
the big long kitchen table. The ham came from our smoke
house, and the big turkey gobbler came from our own barnyard.
Our
Christmas tree came from the cedar thicket behind our home,
and was decorated with wild berries, popcorn and red crepe
paper. We didn’t have fancy or pretty packages under
our tree. We each had the shoe boxes that our winter
shoes came in. These were for our goodies: two oranges,
two apples, a few nuts and a stick of candy; a knife and sack
of marbles for the boys; a little rag doll and dishes for the
girls.
Oh,
what a long night Christmas Eve was. Those were the happiest
Christmas mornings I have ever known. While we enjoyed
the fruit that Santa brought us, our parents were busy cooking
breakfast. No fancy gifts, but what a wonderful happy
Christmas it was. In a poor home, rich in warmth and
love for each other!
These
are the memories that make me feel sad when buying too much,
and giving so little of themselves. People shouldn’t
worry about Christmas like they do. If we are fortunate
enough to have our loved ones, plenty of food, a warm home
and good health, what more do we really need? Surely
these are precious gifts.
My
husband and I don’t give each other Christmas gifts. We
got married on Christmas Eve, and that’s been a gift that has
endured and lasted through all these hectic years.
I
hope your homes are blessed with good health, laughter, joy
and love throughout the holidays and New Year.
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