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.