let's share our happy Christmas memories.... - 12/20/02 06:09 AM
Hi all,
I thought it would be nice to remember the 'special times' at Christmas. Here is my special memory that I'll never forget!
My family came to Canada from Germany, and we always celebrated the birth of Christ, Santa Clause had his own day, Dec. 6th. I remember well, there were never any decorations up until Christmas Eve. We (the children) were sent to our rooms around 4 oclock in the afternoon, and were not allowed to come out until we were summoned. During that time, we were to play or do what ever, but also to get dressed up, because the "Christkind" (Christchild) was coming to bless us. While we were in our rooms, our parents, brought in a tree, decorated it, decorated the whole house, my mom put a food table out, and then around 6 oclock, you could hear soft Christmas music playing, and soon after a quiet knock on the door, and my mom saying, "Christkind has come" come on out.
Well it was like Magic <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> Our home had been transformed! All the lights were out, only candlelight, and the lights on the Christmas tree. My dad had strung fishing line across the ceiling criss crossed, and hung the ornaments from there, it gave the impression that they were floating in the air! And there was always the beautiful nativity scene under the beautifully decorated tree.
I will never forget the anticipation we felt before that quiet knock came! We would all sit around the Christmas tree, sing carols together, each one of us children (there are 4 of us) would either recite the Christmas story, sing a song or recite a poem for the family. We always sang "Silent Night", and all the women of the family would cry, <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" /> because we either missed someone we left behind in Germany, or someone who had passed on the year before. Soon after, the tears turned into joy, <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> as the youngest (that was me) was the first to open a present! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> I almost always got PJ's and was able to sleep in them that very night! We would eat our supper and have lots of time to eat goodies and play with our toys. Ah I miss those times....
On Christmas day, we would be up playing with our new toys, and then we would usually get dressed up and visit friends.
My family has been apart for many years now, some of us live here in Alberta, and the rest in Ontario, but we all are together in our hearts especially on Christmas Eve as us women still cry... and although I am on my own , I still sing the carols and open my presents!
How nice it would have been to have children to pass that awesome heritage and celebration on!
This year I have decided to have floating ornaments in my house, even if it is just myself to enjoy them!
I wish you all a very special Christmas this year, May Christ be the center of this Christmas and every Christmas after. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />
God Bless, Monika
Please add your "Special Christmas memories" I'm sure many people will be touched!
<small>[ December 19, 2002, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Stillwaiting ]</small>
I thought it would be nice to remember the 'special times' at Christmas. Here is my special memory that I'll never forget!
My family came to Canada from Germany, and we always celebrated the birth of Christ, Santa Clause had his own day, Dec. 6th. I remember well, there were never any decorations up until Christmas Eve. We (the children) were sent to our rooms around 4 oclock in the afternoon, and were not allowed to come out until we were summoned. During that time, we were to play or do what ever, but also to get dressed up, because the "Christkind" (Christchild) was coming to bless us. While we were in our rooms, our parents, brought in a tree, decorated it, decorated the whole house, my mom put a food table out, and then around 6 oclock, you could hear soft Christmas music playing, and soon after a quiet knock on the door, and my mom saying, "Christkind has come" come on out.
Well it was like Magic <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> Our home had been transformed! All the lights were out, only candlelight, and the lights on the Christmas tree. My dad had strung fishing line across the ceiling criss crossed, and hung the ornaments from there, it gave the impression that they were floating in the air! And there was always the beautiful nativity scene under the beautifully decorated tree.
I will never forget the anticipation we felt before that quiet knock came! We would all sit around the Christmas tree, sing carols together, each one of us children (there are 4 of us) would either recite the Christmas story, sing a song or recite a poem for the family. We always sang "Silent Night", and all the women of the family would cry, <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" /> because we either missed someone we left behind in Germany, or someone who had passed on the year before. Soon after, the tears turned into joy, <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> as the youngest (that was me) was the first to open a present! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> I almost always got PJ's and was able to sleep in them that very night! We would eat our supper and have lots of time to eat goodies and play with our toys. Ah I miss those times....
On Christmas day, we would be up playing with our new toys, and then we would usually get dressed up and visit friends.
My family has been apart for many years now, some of us live here in Alberta, and the rest in Ontario, but we all are together in our hearts especially on Christmas Eve as us women still cry... and although I am on my own , I still sing the carols and open my presents!
How nice it would have been to have children to pass that awesome heritage and celebration on!
This year I have decided to have floating ornaments in my house, even if it is just myself to enjoy them!
I wish you all a very special Christmas this year, May Christ be the center of this Christmas and every Christmas after. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />
God Bless, Monika
Please add your "Special Christmas memories" I'm sure many people will be touched!
<small>[ December 19, 2002, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Stillwaiting ]</small>