What a lovely post and I enjoyed reading it and the photo's are so sweet and lovely. I miss my childhood Christmas's. I miss the innocence of that time. We have ornaments like you and each year, I get a little weepy when I decorate the tree and remember the Christmas's of our children when they were young; all are in their 40's now.

Thanks Vic. It's a special time of year for me personally. My kids are in their 40's too, so we always have activities for the grandkids too. It gets hectic some years, but the memories are priceless! I must say I miss Sharon at this time of year. I enjoyed her Christmas articles very much. Thanks for reading! (And an early Merry Christmas!)

And a very Merry Christmas to you and yours Leon

I miss Sharon too. Her birthday is next week.

I enjoyed your post very much, Leon. It sounds like many of us are around the same age. My childhood Christmas memories are much like yours. My kids are nearing 50 but we still enjoy the grandchildren very much, and enjoy making memories with them. We try to keep the feeling of yesteryear going.

Karen, Thank you.That is great that we are all in the same age group. It seems more "homelike" that way. I know I am getting into the Christmas Spirit early. But I guess It is OK since I am a qualified "senior citizen". And I have grand kids to plan for. Besides it is bone-chilling cold here today with light snow. Christmas wishes to you all.

Thank you, Leon! I forgot to comment on those precious homemade ornaments from the kids. We have those too, and no matter how old and bedraggled they are, they still go on our tree. We had a low of 12 degrees last night, so it's been pretty cold here too. No snow yet, but it feels like it won't be long. Hope you all have a great Christmas there.

Great post Leon, thanks for sharing. My wife and I can think back 60 years to Christmas memories as children. So different from today. My childhood was in England and I remember making paper chains to hang around the house. Times were tough but my parents always managed to find presents for their three children. Remember waking up to find a white pillowcase filled with gifts sitting on the bottom of my bed on Christmas morning. Simple but wonderous gifts back in the 1950's. And then I'd walk over to my bedroom window and scratch the ice off the inside of the glass to see out through the fern patterns made by Jack Frost on the glass.

Your comment "yes we new what gender we were back then" made me smile but then again made me wonder where the world is heading.

I'm waiting for "snow persons" to be built by kids of unknown gender. So sad.

And now we have to be so careful what we say to who in case they get offended.

Please post more memories. You are a gifted writer.

Leon, on this side of the Equator, Christmas meant warmth, holidays and above everything getting the full extended family together:. Apart my own parents and brother: Uncles aunts cousins and their single or widowed relatives so Christmas meant large scale celebration. That in turn also meant large scale food spreads with dishes prepared by all the women. My family was built by mainly Armenian exiled remnants of the Armenian genocide so re-building the clans was a very important reason to gather, following great tables. Some families were not affluent however the food was always on the top and prepared in excess! Thus following Christmas traditional dishes meant hipercaloric food in the wrong time of the year... Some members were more Church goers, other not so, so Christmas spirit started around december 24 and lasted until January 6 ( Armenian Chtistmas). December 25 is St Stephen's protomartyr day and Jan 1 is Epiphany. So there was enough on going to keep us kids all very happy. Presents were distributed Jan 1 in a much more modest fashion, tree decoration was not part of our tradition so that wasn't part of it. All this is now gone with most of the previous generation all gone and what you describe just fond memories. Thanks to all of them I grew up as a believer of one God in its three Persons, peace seeking towards all persons of good will regardless their religion, ethnicity, race or gender. Because of this I know that in spite of deranged behaviour of some, goodness will prevail along with truth and beauty. It is in His hands...as goes in a very famous negro spiritual: because He has the whole world in His hands....
Merry Christmas to you and all your beloved from way down south of this side of the Equator. The same wishes to all readers wherever they may be.
my blessings
Arturo

Mike-
Thank you. You reminded me of frost on windows. I can certainly relate to those things since they were a reality for me too! Times were tough here also in those days. I remember our wood-burning stove which heated the downstairs rooms and the cooking range in the kitchen. The house became cold when the fires died down at night contributing to those frosty windows.

Gifts included pencils, paper pads (tablets), or notebooks. There was sometimes a scarf, pair of socks or mittens and a few pieces of hard candies with an apple or orange. These were packed in a brown paper bag. What a contrast now when kids are getting smart phones, X-Boxes, and high tech video games. I'm not sure if I can correctly spell some of these things, never mind buying or giving them!

Memories, memories & more memories; all of them good!
Have a great thanksgiving day!

Arturo,
Thanks. I'm glad to hear from you "on the other side of the equator". I've wondered so many times as a youngster what life would be like there. I agree Christmas means so much to each of us no matter where or how it is celebrated. It involves family members on an extended basis as you described. Nothing can compare with Christmas food for the holiday especially when made by family members.

I am saddened at the thoughts of the Armenian genocide of which you speak. Few people alive today realize the atrocities which occurred in that region. It is sad just to write and comment about it. However, it is a fact that it happened in a time period of WWI where 1.5 million Christian people were exterminated in Armenia. My limited knowledge does not tell of the actual occurrence; and I would need to refresh my history lessons to know more details. May God keep us from these kinds of things!

It is sad our traditions are gone with the generations before us. And I know your memories are similar to all of Christianity everywhere. Christmas is simply the most wonderful time of the year…Thank you Arturo for sharing your memories and thoughts. God Bless you and your family.