Memories are playing like a slide show.Were we well to do?Nope.Were we poor?Nope.My parents,especially my Mom,wanted us to appreciate both store bought and handmade.She was so creative with gift giving.All year she saved for gifts for the family, immediate and extended,a long with youngsters going through rough times.One Christmas she purchased a Barbie doll for me.This was during the time Barbie came with 2-3 interchangeable outfits.She whipped out her sewing machine and Barbie had a wardrobe for the year.My Dad bought me a telescope as I've always been fascinated with the night skies.My clothes were handmade and to to me,they were gorgeous.Years passed and yard sales,thrift shops and secondhand bookstores were heaven to me.Every year she paid attention to what we needed and wanted.To this day while I appreciate all gifts,I cherish those that are secondhand and handmade above all.She taught me to check at Goodwill to replenish my wardrobe,as she did hers.Handmade Christmas ornaments still adorn our tree each year.Christmas has a very special meaning for me.Not only did/do we celebrate His birth...my parents married on Christmas day and two years later they were blessed with their first child on Christmas day,my older sister.All have gone Home,but the sweetness of Christmases past remains a most beloved memory in my soul.
My mother sewed a lot of our clothes when we were little. Both grandmothers made some of the most elegant knit, crocheted and hand sewn formal dresses for my Barbie dolls. I actually have one that is now 60 years old in a curio case for one of my great granddaughters or someone to treasure. We always lived close enough to the woods to cut our own tree. Paper chains, stringed popcorn and hand made ornaments were so much fun to do and kept our little hands busy. Christmas had such simple beauty back then and Christ was the centerpiece. So many people have no idea how wonderful it was then and still could be if they tried harder to enjoy the season and simplify things.
The times when life was simpler was so more enjoyable,in my opinion.No rushing around for numerous social events,going into debt for gifts,family potluck suppers throughout the year,taking a drive and exploring with a picnic packed,using S&H Green Stamps to shop,along with Top Value stamps, planning on gifts you made by hand...those were the best days.😊
Coming from poor myself, this is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. And I still think homemade is best-at least where food is concerned. I grew up watching my mom take a little of nothing and feed every one of us plus whoever walked in the door. I connected food with love very young. I try to still convey that. Merry Christmas Sean.
We were legal immigrants. I came to Ellis Island in a Georgia suitcase (brown paper grocery bag) due to the wind and cold in March, on the decks of the Stockholm . We had to have money and a sponsor, to pick us up and live with. My mom had a college degree, spoke 5 languages, served her country in the Winter war 1939, as a spy, working as a waitress, in St. Petersburg, Russia. She made good money in the old country, but here she worked 2 jobs as a dishwasher. Dad, with an engineering degree, worked 2 jobs. Nine yrs. old, I worked next to migrant workers in the fields, making 10 cents an hour. I would cut cereal boxes to put in my shoes, to cover the holes and keep my socks from wearing out. I'm Not complaining. Just history. I call it character building.
Kids today are like the butterfly. When someone helps it get out of the cocoon to avoid the struggle, also cripples it because it will never fly. I thank God for your mom and dad who raised you right! Merry Christmas!
And handmade gifts have love in every bit of them. The ones bought at stores were made by some unknown person just for a paycheck. I've always treasured the handmade ones, although not many people do them anymore. One Christmas, when we were young and poor, and I was still nursing our new daughter, I nursed her while knitting scarves for all those we needed to give gifts to. I knitted a sweater for my husband. Another year, I embroidered a western-style shirt for my husband. He's always been pleased by these gifts. I did a lot of sewing, too. I even made my own Christmas cards. I fear I don't do any of that any more. I write a generic Christmas letter to friends that we keep up with once a year, with our news of the year. I happen to enjoy those from others, so I hope the recipients appreciate the little bit of work that goes into writing it up, with current photos of all of us. Our Christmases are still simple, with church always being a part of it, too.
MAM, my earlier years were so similar to yours. I made my children's Halloween costumes every year and they did wear hand me downs. The homemade were so much nicer than the plastic ones at the stores. I made their choir dresses, doll clothes, curtains and once, a Cabbage Patch Doll. They were adorable, but expensive. Decided to make a little school uniform for the doll our of my daughters old uniform . I loved those days. And everything was made out of love. Today, I am 80 and a great grandma. My eyes and fingers can no longer do what I used to do. But the memories will stay with me and my children for ever.
4 children, 12 grandchildren & 2 brand new great grandsons. Twins. They live all over the country. I love them all dearly. All a blessing, just too far away.
Love going to church bazaars and craft fairs to find hand sewn cloth ornaments for my Christmas tree and hand knitted babies clothes for our grandchildren. I still remember hand embroidered dresses sent to me from England when I was a child, I don’t rememberber sftore brought c,othing.
It happens that I am German; and yes, I agree with you, Germans tend to be humor-impaired. Thank God, I got contaminated by lots of Caribbean family and friends who love to laugh, even in dire sad situations to overcome the stress of life. I do love YOUR humor, Sean, and how you turn it into deep reflections about our humanity. Happy Advent. Enjoy the candle lights.
I'm a "handmade" person..... my mother and grandmother made almost all my clothes and I made the same for my daughters till their late teens and then a little beyond. I started making an ornament each year for each of my 3 children from the year they were born. Each now, at 53,51, and 46, have those ornaments for their trees. I quilt and give as gifts, one to each member of my family so far, 6 children, 9 grands, and 5 great grandchildren. I'm not poor, I just believe in using ones talents and that giving and receiving from the heart and work of your hands is a precious gift!
I have friends who are so poor they don’t turn on their heat In Pennsylvania winters because they can’t afford their electric bills but they are richer than most because of the love in their hearts. They share what little they have with those even less fortunate than themselves.. Their last Pennie’s go to feed stray cats and dogs who know no kindness and people who have lost all hope. These are the richest because of the lessons they teach on human kindness.
I have always cherished handmade gifts. Those early years when my husband was in graduate school and money was so tight it squeaked, it was a challenge to come up with something to give my cousins for Christmas. Not to give family gifts wasn't an option for me. One year I bought pillow cases on sale for fifty cents apiece, monogrammed them, and stitched something onto each one that was significant for each person. Grandmother got a small bouquet of flowers; my cousin the dentist got a gold tooth (!) on his; another cousin's had a little Swiss alp. I couldn't afford embroidery thread, so I used ordinary sewing cotton, which has held up well for nearly 60 years. I've always felt it's the gifts that are given with thought and love that are memorable, whether handmade or store-bought - not everybody has money to spend, not everyone sews. Have a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year!
Thank you for sharing this heartfelt memory! I grew up poor,
and I remember my mother and daddy pouring boxes or apples 🍎 and oranges 🍊 on the floor for us to find on Christmas morning. We were a family of six and times were hard, but they managed to afford one gift for each of us kids.❤️
The hanging tube socks, the drifting aroma of freshly baked cornbread and the lighting of advent candles with a story to son sure fill my heart ♥️ And these images never left the great memory of our storyteller. Today they are reflected meaningfully….and today the advent candle tradition is still a part of family tradition. Christmas……best part are those that truly touch our hearts!
When I remember my best Christmases, they are definitely the ones when we were poor. Materially.
Gifts I can barely recall. But the feeling returns with every carol heard, every by gone story retold, every Nativity scene displayed. The aroma of oranges and tangerines and all the baked goods and candies Mom slaved over leading up to Christmas. Finally oyster stew on Christmas morning.
We always put up a real tree on Christmas Eve. I was astonished to learn others put up trees much earlier. Later on I realized Dad purchased our trees when they were marked down. Probably the only way we could afford oysters was to cut corners elsewhere.
Gifts were few and mostly practical for a farm family. Winters were frigid and snowy in the top of Virginia then. Still we thrilled at the first flake of snow, especially during the Christmas season.
The evil one always tries to convince us we were cheated. It’s always good to remind him he’s a liar.
Memories are playing like a slide show.Were we well to do?Nope.Were we poor?Nope.My parents,especially my Mom,wanted us to appreciate both store bought and handmade.She was so creative with gift giving.All year she saved for gifts for the family, immediate and extended,a long with youngsters going through rough times.One Christmas she purchased a Barbie doll for me.This was during the time Barbie came with 2-3 interchangeable outfits.She whipped out her sewing machine and Barbie had a wardrobe for the year.My Dad bought me a telescope as I've always been fascinated with the night skies.My clothes were handmade and to to me,they were gorgeous.Years passed and yard sales,thrift shops and secondhand bookstores were heaven to me.Every year she paid attention to what we needed and wanted.To this day while I appreciate all gifts,I cherish those that are secondhand and handmade above all.She taught me to check at Goodwill to replenish my wardrobe,as she did hers.Handmade Christmas ornaments still adorn our tree each year.Christmas has a very special meaning for me.Not only did/do we celebrate His birth...my parents married on Christmas day and two years later they were blessed with their first child on Christmas day,my older sister.All have gone Home,but the sweetness of Christmases past remains a most beloved memory in my soul.
My mother sewed a lot of our clothes when we were little. Both grandmothers made some of the most elegant knit, crocheted and hand sewn formal dresses for my Barbie dolls. I actually have one that is now 60 years old in a curio case for one of my great granddaughters or someone to treasure. We always lived close enough to the woods to cut our own tree. Paper chains, stringed popcorn and hand made ornaments were so much fun to do and kept our little hands busy. Christmas had such simple beauty back then and Christ was the centerpiece. So many people have no idea how wonderful it was then and still could be if they tried harder to enjoy the season and simplify things.
The times when life was simpler was so more enjoyable,in my opinion.No rushing around for numerous social events,going into debt for gifts,family potluck suppers throughout the year,taking a drive and exploring with a picnic packed,using S&H Green Stamps to shop,along with Top Value stamps, planning on gifts you made by hand...those were the best days.😊
Coming from poor myself, this is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. And I still think homemade is best-at least where food is concerned. I grew up watching my mom take a little of nothing and feed every one of us plus whoever walked in the door. I connected food with love very young. I try to still convey that. Merry Christmas Sean.
My moms philosophy was Food is Love and Love is Food. Sounds like it was your moms too.
We were legal immigrants. I came to Ellis Island in a Georgia suitcase (brown paper grocery bag) due to the wind and cold in March, on the decks of the Stockholm . We had to have money and a sponsor, to pick us up and live with. My mom had a college degree, spoke 5 languages, served her country in the Winter war 1939, as a spy, working as a waitress, in St. Petersburg, Russia. She made good money in the old country, but here she worked 2 jobs as a dishwasher. Dad, with an engineering degree, worked 2 jobs. Nine yrs. old, I worked next to migrant workers in the fields, making 10 cents an hour. I would cut cereal boxes to put in my shoes, to cover the holes and keep my socks from wearing out. I'm Not complaining. Just history. I call it character building.
Kids today are like the butterfly. When someone helps it get out of the cocoon to avoid the struggle, also cripples it because it will never fly. I thank God for your mom and dad who raised you right! Merry Christmas!
Loved reading your history, Matt…thanks for sharing!
Merry Christmas Matt….I, too, appreciate your story.
Matt, What a great piece of history! Thank you for sharing.
And handmade gifts have love in every bit of them. The ones bought at stores were made by some unknown person just for a paycheck. I've always treasured the handmade ones, although not many people do them anymore. One Christmas, when we were young and poor, and I was still nursing our new daughter, I nursed her while knitting scarves for all those we needed to give gifts to. I knitted a sweater for my husband. Another year, I embroidered a western-style shirt for my husband. He's always been pleased by these gifts. I did a lot of sewing, too. I even made my own Christmas cards. I fear I don't do any of that any more. I write a generic Christmas letter to friends that we keep up with once a year, with our news of the year. I happen to enjoy those from others, so I hope the recipients appreciate the little bit of work that goes into writing it up, with current photos of all of us. Our Christmases are still simple, with church always being a part of it, too.
MAM, my earlier years were so similar to yours. I made my children's Halloween costumes every year and they did wear hand me downs. The homemade were so much nicer than the plastic ones at the stores. I made their choir dresses, doll clothes, curtains and once, a Cabbage Patch Doll. They were adorable, but expensive. Decided to make a little school uniform for the doll our of my daughters old uniform . I loved those days. And everything was made out of love. Today, I am 80 and a great grandma. My eyes and fingers can no longer do what I used to do. But the memories will stay with me and my children for ever.
Yep, I bet you are a Great mother and Granma.
4 children, 12 grandchildren & 2 brand new great grandsons. Twins. They live all over the country. I love them all dearly. All a blessing, just too far away.
Love going to church bazaars and craft fairs to find hand sewn cloth ornaments for my Christmas tree and hand knitted babies clothes for our grandchildren. I still remember hand embroidered dresses sent to me from England when I was a child, I don’t rememberber sftore brought c,othing.
It happens that I am German; and yes, I agree with you, Germans tend to be humor-impaired. Thank God, I got contaminated by lots of Caribbean family and friends who love to laugh, even in dire sad situations to overcome the stress of life. I do love YOUR humor, Sean, and how you turn it into deep reflections about our humanity. Happy Advent. Enjoy the candle lights.
I'm a "handmade" person..... my mother and grandmother made almost all my clothes and I made the same for my daughters till their late teens and then a little beyond. I started making an ornament each year for each of my 3 children from the year they were born. Each now, at 53,51, and 46, have those ornaments for their trees. I quilt and give as gifts, one to each member of my family so far, 6 children, 9 grands, and 5 great grandchildren. I'm not poor, I just believe in using ones talents and that giving and receiving from the heart and work of your hands is a precious gift!
I have friends who are so poor they don’t turn on their heat In Pennsylvania winters because they can’t afford their electric bills but they are richer than most because of the love in their hearts. They share what little they have with those even less fortunate than themselves.. Their last Pennie’s go to feed stray cats and dogs who know no kindness and people who have lost all hope. These are the richest because of the lessons they teach on human kindness.
I have always cherished handmade gifts. Those early years when my husband was in graduate school and money was so tight it squeaked, it was a challenge to come up with something to give my cousins for Christmas. Not to give family gifts wasn't an option for me. One year I bought pillow cases on sale for fifty cents apiece, monogrammed them, and stitched something onto each one that was significant for each person. Grandmother got a small bouquet of flowers; my cousin the dentist got a gold tooth (!) on his; another cousin's had a little Swiss alp. I couldn't afford embroidery thread, so I used ordinary sewing cotton, which has held up well for nearly 60 years. I've always felt it's the gifts that are given with thought and love that are memorable, whether handmade or store-bought - not everybody has money to spend, not everyone sews. Have a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year!
Thank you for sharing this heartfelt memory! I grew up poor,
and I remember my mother and daddy pouring boxes or apples 🍎 and oranges 🍊 on the floor for us to find on Christmas morning. We were a family of six and times were hard, but they managed to afford one gift for each of us kids.❤️
My mother smiled. “No. But we can make our own.”
Love your endings, Sean! You were fabulous in concert tonight! I don’t know how you do it, but please keep doing it!
The hanging tube socks, the drifting aroma of freshly baked cornbread and the lighting of advent candles with a story to son sure fill my heart ♥️ And these images never left the great memory of our storyteller. Today they are reflected meaningfully….and today the advent candle tradition is still a part of family tradition. Christmas……best part are those that truly touch our hearts!
Merry Christmas, Sean, and everyone! 🎄🎆
Merry Christmas Diana!
My dear friend what a beautiful story and a loving memory 🙏
Lovely, funny, and sweet. Thank you. Loved the wagon wheel especially.
When I remember my best Christmases, they are definitely the ones when we were poor. Materially.
Gifts I can barely recall. But the feeling returns with every carol heard, every by gone story retold, every Nativity scene displayed. The aroma of oranges and tangerines and all the baked goods and candies Mom slaved over leading up to Christmas. Finally oyster stew on Christmas morning.
We always put up a real tree on Christmas Eve. I was astonished to learn others put up trees much earlier. Later on I realized Dad purchased our trees when they were marked down. Probably the only way we could afford oysters was to cut corners elsewhere.
Gifts were few and mostly practical for a farm family. Winters were frigid and snowy in the top of Virginia then. Still we thrilled at the first flake of snow, especially during the Christmas season.
The evil one always tries to convince us we were cheated. It’s always good to remind him he’s a liar.
Here's to a home made Advent...