Christmas at AJ's
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Family Christmas traditions
Christmas at AJ's is full of Christmas traditions. There's Christmas stockings that Santa fills on Christmas Eve, presents under the tree, turkey for lunch, games in the evening and of course we have to watch Dr Who. The only thing that is usually missing is snow!
While I was putting this page together I started talking to the rest of my family, asking them what Christmas means to them. Then I got talking to my parents about what Christmas was like for them when they were children. Then I started to remember what Christmas was like for me as a child and as I was growing up..... So, this page has not turned out quite how I originally planned, but that is what I love about writing - you start a journey but then you can take a different path!
Module picture ©AJ and Family
While I was putting this page together I started talking to the rest of my family, asking them what Christmas means to them. Then I got talking to my parents about what Christmas was like for them when they were children. Then I started to remember what Christmas was like for me as a child and as I was growing up..... So, this page has not turned out quite how I originally planned, but that is what I love about writing - you start a journey but then you can take a different path!
Module picture ©AJ and Family
Christmas 2011 will be very different for us this year
Countdown to Christmas Day
Christmas Day: December 25, 2011
The Christmas Nativity
Christmas origins
Nativity Scene Christmas card by BluePlanet
Browse more Christmas Cards
We rarely go to church and if I am honest I do not know what I believe in as far as faith and an after life are concerned. However, I do believe that around 2000 years ago a baby was born in a stable, which gave rise to the Nativity story and the bible stories that followed. For this reason we always have a traditional Advent calendar that has a nativity scene on it.
I want my children to understand the story of the Nativity and respect the fact that even if they decide that they do not believe it, there are other people who do.
The Story that started it all
Beautiful Christmas images to music by Vangelis
This slideshow by YouTube subscriber ReaperManTP is beautiful
curated content from YouTube
Nativity Stories
Beautiful Christmas stories to treasure
My Mother's Memories of Christmas Past
Christmas was tough for some people in the 30s and 40s
My Mother had a very difficult childhood and grew up in extreme poverty. My Grandmother struggled to raise three children in the Welsh mining village of Pontypridd during the 1930s, after her husband just walked out one day and never returned. While he was alive my Mother's Grandfather ruled his two sons with a rod of iron and when he died they made the most of their new found freedom and abandoned their wives leaving them with six children to raise on their own.
My Great Grandfather and his second wife, who my mother called Aunt Alice, would always send a box of small gifts for my mother, her brother and sister and their cousins. After Mum's Grandfather and Aunt Alice died there was nothing. Two women and six children lived in a tiny terraced house in Danygraig Street, on the side of the mountain. There was no toilet or bathroom, just a small shed at the bottom of the garden.
I visited the house in the 60s and it still did not have an inside bathroom. My mother's cousin still lives in the house, but I think it now does have a bathroom!
Christmas was no different to any other day, except for the fact that my Grandmother would roast a rabbit for lunch. However, in 1943 when she was 15, my Mother got a job as a Mother's Help (which actually was a maid) and she went to live in the village where eventually she met my Father. They married when my mother was 23 and we lived there until I was 12 years old.
The house where my Mother went to live was a large country house at the edge of the village and for the first time in her life my mother saw another side to Christmas. Mum ended up being a Nanny to the children of the house and was treated very much as one of the family. She remembers the enormous Christmas tree, singing carols and beautiful presents.
My Great Grandfather and his second wife, who my mother called Aunt Alice, would always send a box of small gifts for my mother, her brother and sister and their cousins. After Mum's Grandfather and Aunt Alice died there was nothing. Two women and six children lived in a tiny terraced house in Danygraig Street, on the side of the mountain. There was no toilet or bathroom, just a small shed at the bottom of the garden.
I visited the house in the 60s and it still did not have an inside bathroom. My mother's cousin still lives in the house, but I think it now does have a bathroom!
Photo of Danygraig Street
reproduced by kind permission of Fray Bentos on Flickr
Christmas was no different to any other day, except for the fact that my Grandmother would roast a rabbit for lunch. However, in 1943 when she was 15, my Mother got a job as a Mother's Help (which actually was a maid) and she went to live in the village where eventually she met my Father. They married when my mother was 23 and we lived there until I was 12 years old.
The house where my Mother went to live was a large country house at the edge of the village and for the first time in her life my mother saw another side to Christmas. Mum ended up being a Nanny to the children of the house and was treated very much as one of the family. She remembers the enormous Christmas tree, singing carols and beautiful presents.
Advent
The season before Christmas
Red Christmas Candles by ChristmasStamps
create stamp designs on zazzle.com
The four weeks leading up to Christmas are called Advent, which is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning 'coming'. Advent has been celebrated in the western church for around 1,500 years. It is marked by the colour purple - which is seen as a solemn colour of penitence and preparation. Christian Churches light the Advent Crown throughout the lead-up to Christmas.
The crown is traditionally a wreath of fir with four candles; the candles are lit successively on the four Sundays of Advent, symbolising the coming of light into the world with Jesus.
Traditional Advent Calendars
Nativity Advent Calendars
My Father's Memories of Christmas Past
My father has happy Christmas memories
In contrast, although my father's family were "in service", his Christmases were very different. My Great Grandfather was a Coachman at a huge country house, where my grandparents worked as a gardener and maid and my father was born in the Gatehouse, which we would pass every day on the way to school. The house is still there, as is the mansion.
When my father was still quite young my grandparents left their jobs at the "big house" and moved into the village. They grew much of their own food and I remember the cupboard in the dark hallway, where my Grandmother would store the wine and jam she made from all the fruit they grew. It was an incredible garden, with every vegetable, fruit tree and fruit bush you could possibly name growing at the back. Both my father and I love gardening and growing things - it is definitely in our genes.
Although my father's parents had very little money to spare at least my dad never went hungry, always had clean clothes and he has fonder memories of Christmas than my mother. His Grandparents, who they called Dump and Gran, would get a big bin and fill it with small wrapped presents. Gran called it her Christmas Lucky Dip. There would be small toys such as marbles and whistles, handkerchiefs, sweets and if they were really lucky they would find a farthing or a halfpenny (pronounced ha'penny).
MERRY CHRISTMAS COACH by SHARON SHARPE by sharonsharpe
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When my father was still quite young my grandparents left their jobs at the "big house" and moved into the village. They grew much of their own food and I remember the cupboard in the dark hallway, where my Grandmother would store the wine and jam she made from all the fruit they grew. It was an incredible garden, with every vegetable, fruit tree and fruit bush you could possibly name growing at the back. Both my father and I love gardening and growing things - it is definitely in our genes.
Although my father's parents had very little money to spare at least my dad never went hungry, always had clean clothes and he has fonder memories of Christmas than my mother. His Grandparents, who they called Dump and Gran, would get a big bin and fill it with small wrapped presents. Gran called it her Christmas Lucky Dip. There would be small toys such as marbles and whistles, handkerchiefs, sweets and if they were really lucky they would find a farthing or a halfpenny (pronounced ha'penny).
The year it really did snow
OK - it wasn't a White Christmas but by 27 December 1962, we had a problem
Facts and stats on this article can be found at The Met Office website
The winter of 1962/63 was tobogganing heaven for children in the UK but the cold and snow would offer a challenge of a different kind for just about everyone else. Glasgow, in Scotland, had its first white Christmas since 1938 when rain turned to snow as it moved south, and a belt of snow became almost stationary over southern England on Boxing Day, which is where we live.
I remember my parents saying that my Uncle just managed to get my Aunt into the hospital before the snow came and my cousin was born not long after.
The following day 30cm of snow covered much of southern England. The initial effect of this snowfall was to bring transport to a standstill, delay schools opening and force the cancellation of sporting events - but more snow was on the way.
On 29 and 30 December a blizzard across south-west England and Wales left drifts six metres deep which blocked roads and rail routes, left villages cut off and brought down power lines. Thanks to further falls and almost continual near-freezing temperatures, snow was still deep on the ground across much of the country three months later.
Recently my parents and I tried to remember how long my brother and I were unable to go to school. We lived in a small country village and relied on the bus to get us to school in the next village, some three miles away. We could not remember how long it was that the roads were blocked and the bus did not run.
In the intervals when snow was not falling, the country simply appeared to freeze solid - January daytime temperatures barely crept above freezing, and night frosts produced a temperature of -16°C in places as far apart as Gatwick in the south and Eskdalemuir in the north. Freezing fog was a frequent hazard - but the spectacular rime deposits that built up over successive days were a photographer's dream.
I remember waking up and it was so cold in my bedroom that ice had formed on the inside of the windows! There was no central heating in those days and we relied on just one fire to keep us warm and to heat our water. There was a field across the road from our house and we would walk across the frozen snow to see how far we could get before the ice cracked and we sank up to our knees. And don't tell my mother, but we also used to love sliding across frozen ponds!
January 1963 was the month when even the sea froze (up to half a mile from the shore on the south coast at Herne Bay), the River Thames froze right across in places, and ice floes appeared on the river at Tower Bridge in the middle of London.
February was marked by more snow arriving on south-easterly winds during the first week, with a 36-hour blizzard hitting western parts of the country. Drifts 20 feet deep formed in gale-force winds (gusts in excess of 70 knots were common, and a gust of 103 knots was recorded on the Isle of Man). Many rural communities found themselves cut off for the tenth time since Christmas.
A slight lull in the wintry proceedings happened around mid-month, but in the third week of February it was the turn of the north-west UK to suffer - in Cumberland the snowfall was reckoned to be the worst in living memory. By the end of the month the weather over the country had reverted to 'normal' - cold but clear and sunny days with severe night frosts and freezing fog.
A gradual thaw then set in - the morning of 6 March 1963 was the first day in the year that the entire country was frost free, and the temperature soared to 17 °C in London. Temperatures recovered, and long icicles playfully speared into snowdrifts by children in January, finally started to shrink.
Monster snowmen and snowballs - now adrift and melting in the green 'seas' of gardens and playing fields - were soon all that was left of the winter that was probably the coldest since 1795.
The winter of 1962/63 was tobogganing heaven for children in the UK but the cold and snow would offer a challenge of a different kind for just about everyone else. Glasgow, in Scotland, had its first white Christmas since 1938 when rain turned to snow as it moved south, and a belt of snow became almost stationary over southern England on Boxing Day, which is where we live.
Red icicles by AJandfamily
(taken in my porch)
See other Winter Cards
I remember my parents saying that my Uncle just managed to get my Aunt into the hospital before the snow came and my cousin was born not long after.
The following day 30cm of snow covered much of southern England. The initial effect of this snowfall was to bring transport to a standstill, delay schools opening and force the cancellation of sporting events - but more snow was on the way.
On 29 and 30 December a blizzard across south-west England and Wales left drifts six metres deep which blocked roads and rail routes, left villages cut off and brought down power lines. Thanks to further falls and almost continual near-freezing temperatures, snow was still deep on the ground across much of the country three months later.
Recently my parents and I tried to remember how long my brother and I were unable to go to school. We lived in a small country village and relied on the bus to get us to school in the next village, some three miles away. We could not remember how long it was that the roads were blocked and the bus did not run.
In the intervals when snow was not falling, the country simply appeared to freeze solid - January daytime temperatures barely crept above freezing, and night frosts produced a temperature of -16°C in places as far apart as Gatwick in the south and Eskdalemuir in the north. Freezing fog was a frequent hazard - but the spectacular rime deposits that built up over successive days were a photographer's dream.
I remember waking up and it was so cold in my bedroom that ice had formed on the inside of the windows! There was no central heating in those days and we relied on just one fire to keep us warm and to heat our water. There was a field across the road from our house and we would walk across the frozen snow to see how far we could get before the ice cracked and we sank up to our knees. And don't tell my mother, but we also used to love sliding across frozen ponds!
Icicles on red Christmas postage stamps by AJandfamily
(other designs avaiable)
customize my stamps online at zazzle.com
January 1963 was the month when even the sea froze (up to half a mile from the shore on the south coast at Herne Bay), the River Thames froze right across in places, and ice floes appeared on the river at Tower Bridge in the middle of London.
February was marked by more snow arriving on south-easterly winds during the first week, with a 36-hour blizzard hitting western parts of the country. Drifts 20 feet deep formed in gale-force winds (gusts in excess of 70 knots were common, and a gust of 103 knots was recorded on the Isle of Man). Many rural communities found themselves cut off for the tenth time since Christmas.
A slight lull in the wintry proceedings happened around mid-month, but in the third week of February it was the turn of the north-west UK to suffer - in Cumberland the snowfall was reckoned to be the worst in living memory. By the end of the month the weather over the country had reverted to 'normal' - cold but clear and sunny days with severe night frosts and freezing fog.
A gradual thaw then set in - the morning of 6 March 1963 was the first day in the year that the entire country was frost free, and the temperature soared to 17 °C in London. Temperatures recovered, and long icicles playfully speared into snowdrifts by children in January, finally started to shrink.
Monster snowmen and snowballs - now adrift and melting in the green 'seas' of gardens and playing fields - were soon all that was left of the winter that was probably the coldest since 1795.
Christmas stockings and figs
AJ's early Christmas memories
My mother told me that when I was very young and before my brother was born, my parents used to open my presents with us all snuggled in their bed. As we got older, we used to put a "stocking" at the end of our bed. It was nothing like the beautiful Christmas Stockings that we have now, which are the traditional huge red socks with white "fur" around the top. There was no money for things like that when I was small, so we used to make do with one of my Dad's long grey winter socks.
I never, ever did see or hear Father Christmas come and fill my stocking but would always wake up about five o'clock in the morning and open all the little presents that were tucked inside. It was also traditional to stuff the toe with an apple and a fresh mandarin orange. Christmas was the only time of the year that we would have mandarins - they were a luxury in those days and for the rest of the year we made do with tinned ones - nuts, figs and dates. My Dad did love his figs!
When I was five years old we moved from the small flat (apartment) at the top of the road to a larger house at the bottom of the road. It was incredibly cold in the winter and although there were fireplaces in two of the bedrooms as well as downstairs, my parents never lit the fires upstairs. They probably could not afford the extra coal that was needed.
Although it was never lit, I always envied my brother because he had a fireplace in his room but it is only recently that my Mother reminded me that he always refused to hang up his Christmas stocking in his bedroom - because he was frightened of Father Christmas creeping into his bedroom when he was asleep!
I never, ever did see or hear Father Christmas come and fill my stocking but would always wake up about five o'clock in the morning and open all the little presents that were tucked inside. It was also traditional to stuff the toe with an apple and a fresh mandarin orange. Christmas was the only time of the year that we would have mandarins - they were a luxury in those days and for the rest of the year we made do with tinned ones - nuts, figs and dates. My Dad did love his figs!
Santa's Visit by Spice
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When I was five years old we moved from the small flat (apartment) at the top of the road to a larger house at the bottom of the road. It was incredibly cold in the winter and although there were fireplaces in two of the bedrooms as well as downstairs, my parents never lit the fires upstairs. They probably could not afford the extra coal that was needed.
Although it was never lit, I always envied my brother because he had a fireplace in his room but it is only recently that my Mother reminded me that he always refused to hang up his Christmas stocking in his bedroom - because he was frightened of Father Christmas creeping into his bedroom when he was asleep!
Christmas Cooking & Crafts
Christmas recipes from Martha Stewart and others
The origins of Christmas stockings
St Nicholas started it all
This is a summary of an article that appears in Wikipedia
The story of Father Christmas and Christmas Stockings began with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the Greek village of Patara. His wealthy parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.
One of the many stories about the man who became St Nicholas tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value-a dowry. Without a dowry, this poor man's daughters were unlikely to marry.
One night after the daughters had washed out their clothing, they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That night Nicholas, knowing the despair of the father, stopped by the man's house after the family had gone to bed. He peeked in the window and saw the daughters' stockings hanging by the fire.
Nicholas took three small bags of gold from his pouch and threw them carefully, one by one, into the stockings. The next morning when the daughters awoke, they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married.
This led to the custom of children hanging stockings, eagerly awaiting gifts from St Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why oranges are put in stockings - to represent the gold balls, the symbols for St. Nicholas who he became known as a gift-giver.
And I thought my parents put mandarins in our stockings just to fill up the toe!
The story of Father Christmas and Christmas Stockings began with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the Greek village of Patara. His wealthy parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.
One of the many stories about the man who became St Nicholas tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value-a dowry. Without a dowry, this poor man's daughters were unlikely to marry.
Kitten in Christmas Stocking Postage by lamessegee
Browse Kitten Postage
One night after the daughters had washed out their clothing, they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That night Nicholas, knowing the despair of the father, stopped by the man's house after the family had gone to bed. He peeked in the window and saw the daughters' stockings hanging by the fire.
Nicholas took three small bags of gold from his pouch and threw them carefully, one by one, into the stockings. The next morning when the daughters awoke, they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married.
This led to the custom of children hanging stockings, eagerly awaiting gifts from St Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why oranges are put in stockings - to represent the gold balls, the symbols for St. Nicholas who he became known as a gift-giver.
And I thought my parents put mandarins in our stockings just to fill up the toe!
Christmas Stockings
Tradition Christmas Stockings
Christmas Stockings to make
Perhaps these stockings will become a treasured family heirloom?
Shopping from the UK? Search Amazon.co.uk
Making things for Christmas makes lovely familiy memories
Making things for Christmas makes lovely familiy memories
More stockings - if you want something a bit more fancy
Christmas on Blue Peter
Featuring the famous Blue Peter Advent Crown
Blue Peter is one of the longest running television programmes in the world. First broadcast on 16 October 1958 and still going today, it became popular with each new generation of children due to its willingness to change its presentation style to keep up with the times.Who can forget their "Here's one I made earlier" moments, which has worked its way into common British phrases!
Christmas would not have been the same without the good old Advent Crown being remade every year out of tinsel and wire coat hangers. Then in the four weeks before Christmas a candle would be lit at the start of each week. Sadly, in 2007 the Advent Crown was replaced by a table decoration, so one more Christmas tradition bit the dust. However, all is not lost because there's a factsheet available telling you How to Make the Blue Peter Advent Crown!
Each year they came up with cards and presents to make and the video shows the opening of a programme before Christmas. The quality of this video is not good but it is truly nostalgic television and a great reminder of "Christmas Past" and watch out for that Advent Crown!
Advent Crowns and Wreaths
Beautiful decorations for Christmas
Special Christmas presents
Special Christmas memories
It was only when I got older that I realised how difficult it was for my parents to afford anything other than keeping a roof over our heads and making sure we had enough clothes and decent food to eat. However, every Christmas Mum and Dad would ask my brother and me what very special present we wanted and somehow, and I don't know how, they managed to make sure we got what we wanted.
One year I was desperate for a tape recorder. We had such fun, singing into it and recording the "Top 10" on it from the radio. The Monkees "I'm a Believer" was one of the first records I ever taped. Yes, I know it wasn't legal.......
I wish I still had one of the recordings. It was my daft Dad singing "Slow boat to China" and at the end of the song he just dissolves into hysterics. As my Dad laughs like Goofy, we were in hysterics too!
christmas presents by sallylux
View more Christmas Postage
One year I was desperate for a tape recorder. We had such fun, singing into it and recording the "Top 10" on it from the radio. The Monkees "I'm a Believer" was one of the first records I ever taped. Yes, I know it wasn't legal.......
I wish I still had one of the recordings. It was my daft Dad singing "Slow boat to China" and at the end of the song he just dissolves into hysterics. As my Dad laughs like Goofy, we were in hysterics too!
I'm a Believer
The Monkees or Shrek
Ooo - I did love The Monkees, especially Davy Jones! I never felt quite the same way about Shrek.....
curated content from YouTube
Christmas Lunch & Boxing Day
Chicken, mince pies and Dad's Bread Sauce
Christmas lunch in the 50s, 60s and 70s was always a chicken, served with Dad's bread sauce. Chicken was a luxury then, not like now. It was only in the 80s that we started having turkey.
Mum would make mince pies, with melt in the mouth pastry and there would be a lucky sixpence hidden in the Christmas pudding - actually there were two, to make sure that with two children in the household, there would be no upsets!
We would spend Christmas day with just the four of us and in the evening there was always a "blockbuster" film to watch, that had never been shown on TV before. This was long before VHS recorders. We were unable to afford to go to the cinema very often so this was a huge treat and there would always be Christmas "Specials" that had been pre-recorded, featuring well know popstars of the day such as Andy Williams, Cliff Richard and others.
On Boxing Day we would make the short walk to my Grandmother's house and meet up with my Dad's brother and his family who lived next door. Sadly, the Grandfather we all adored died when I was only 5 years old and after that my Grandmother always insisted on spending Christmas Day on her own. So Boxing Day ended up being like another Christmas Day, with presents, games, the cake my Grandmother always made and real candles on the Christmas tree, which she would let us light. It was the only day of the year when we would use the "front room".
Mum would make mince pies, with melt in the mouth pastry and there would be a lucky sixpence hidden in the Christmas pudding - actually there were two, to make sure that with two children in the household, there would be no upsets!
We would spend Christmas day with just the four of us and in the evening there was always a "blockbuster" film to watch, that had never been shown on TV before. This was long before VHS recorders. We were unable to afford to go to the cinema very often so this was a huge treat and there would always be Christmas "Specials" that had been pre-recorded, featuring well know popstars of the day such as Andy Williams, Cliff Richard and others.
Polar Bear with Angel Holiday Ornament by robmolily
View more Polar Ornaments
On Boxing Day we would make the short walk to my Grandmother's house and meet up with my Dad's brother and his family who lived next door. Sadly, the Grandfather we all adored died when I was only 5 years old and after that my Grandmother always insisted on spending Christmas Day on her own. So Boxing Day ended up being like another Christmas Day, with presents, games, the cake my Grandmother always made and real candles on the Christmas tree, which she would let us light. It was the only day of the year when we would use the "front room".
Dad's Bread Sauce Recipe
Christmas lunch would not be the same without it
This sauce is served as an accompaniment to either chicken or turkey, in addition to cranberry sauce and gravy - the gravy must be home made. No bisto in this house!! See Making Perfect Gravy1 small or half a large onion, cut into small slices
1 oz butter
3 slices of bread or crusts, roughly chopped
Milk (amount depends on desired consistency)
Salt and pepper
Melt the butter and soften the onion
Add a small amount of milk so that the onion does not start to burn
Add the bread
Stir while you add the milk
Keep adding the milk until you get the desired consistency
Add salt and pepper to taste
The photograph is reproduced under permission granted under the GNU Free Documentation License by ElinorD
The day we had "nice doggy" for Christmas Lunch
Do read on - it's not as bad as it sounds!
When I was very small my parents used to keep chickens. Most of the time they were only kept for their eggs but one year, there was a cockerel who was going to end up as Christmas lunch. It was a vicious bird and would peck at anyone or anything that got within pecking range.
When I was around 18 months old, my mother lost sight of me for a few minutes and found me sitting next to the chicken run. She quickly rushed over to get me away before I got pecked by the nasty cockerel. As she got closer she realised that the bird was leaning ecstatically against the wire as I stroked it, saying: "Nice doggy".
A couple of weeks later, it was Christmas and my Grandfather "did the deed" on Christmas Eve. The next day as the eagerly awaited Christmas lunch was served and the roast chicken was put on the table ready to carve, I uttered the words: "Nice doggy"!
My parents suddenly lost their appetite and not long after we stopped keeping chickens.
When I was around 18 months old, my mother lost sight of me for a few minutes and found me sitting next to the chicken run. She quickly rushed over to get me away before I got pecked by the nasty cockerel. As she got closer she realised that the bird was leaning ecstatically against the wire as I stroked it, saying: "Nice doggy".
Rambo by Seedmother
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A couple of weeks later, it was Christmas and my Grandfather "did the deed" on Christmas Eve. The next day as the eagerly awaited Christmas lunch was served and the roast chicken was put on the table ready to carve, I uttered the words: "Nice doggy"!
My parents suddenly lost their appetite and not long after we stopped keeping chickens.
Christmas during my teens
Carrying on the family Christmas traditions
My Grandmother lived until I was in my early twenties. By this time I was married but we would still make the short journey to her house during the Christmas holidays and I can still smell the candles she would let us light on the Christmas tree.
When I had my son, followed by my eldest daughter, I carried on all the Christmas traditions we had when I was a child. However, as with many families, we would take it in turns to have Christmas Day with one set of parents and then go to the others for Boxing Day. This was easy because both sets of parents lived only 10 minutes drive from each other, so I did not cook my first Christmas lunch until I was in my 30s!
However, when I split up from my first husband, there was a new dimension to Christmas as my children were the ones to take it in turns to spend Christmas Day with their parents. All during this time I used to "go home" for Christmas and spend it with my Mum and Dad.
When I had my son, followed by my eldest daughter, I carried on all the Christmas traditions we had when I was a child. However, as with many families, we would take it in turns to have Christmas Day with one set of parents and then go to the others for Boxing Day. This was easy because both sets of parents lived only 10 minutes drive from each other, so I did not cook my first Christmas lunch until I was in my 30s!
However, when I split up from my first husband, there was a new dimension to Christmas as my children were the ones to take it in turns to spend Christmas Day with their parents. All during this time I used to "go home" for Christmas and spend it with my Mum and Dad.
Add your Traditional Christmas Pages
More about Christmas traditions
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Pantomime - a Great British Tradition
In the UK a Pantomime, or 'Panto' as it is usually more...1 point
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Christmas Cocktails
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Classic Christmas - Celebrate with Retro Style
Enjoy a simple yet festive Christmas holiday even more...1 point
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Reindeer Food - For Santa's Reindeer
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Santa's Hat - A Christmas Icon
Santa's Hat is something we all know very well. Th more...1 point
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Christmas New Orleans Style
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Top 10 Christmas Symbols, History and Traditions
Christmas is the most widely celebrated festival t more...0 points
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Music and songs over Christmas
Everything we do needs some kind of atmosphere, so more...0 points
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HOWTO: Fix Broken Christmas Lights Quickly
Broken fairy lights are frustrating and it can tak more...0 points
22
My Super Easy Eggless Eggnog Recipe
My own invention.0 points
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Make a Paper Christmas Ornament: The Porcupine Ball
Re-use squares of foil and tissue wrapping paper t more...0 points
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Christmas Cocktails
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My Top Ten Favorite Christmas Songs
There's something about Christmas music that helps more...0 points
27
A Funny Christmas Story
This story is a way to memorialize a friend of min more...0 points
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A Christmas Tree in the White House by Gary Hines
This book for children is based on true facts abou more...0 points
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Crackers and Cheese - A Christmas Tradition
This traditional serving is fairly tasty, versatil more...0 points
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Music and songs over Christmas
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Jolly Christmas Eating Do's!
Save the sanctimonious resolutions for New Year's more...0 points
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THE GREAT CHRISTMAS CARD DEBATE
Sure, if I had the time, I would sign each card an more...0 points
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A Wind At My Back Christmas Movie
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An Avonlea Christmas, The Road To Avonlea Reunion Movie
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Real Christmas Trees vs Fake Christmas Trees
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'Twas the Night Before Navidad or Christmas?
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Construction Paper Ornaments
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My Grandma Katie's Cardamom Bread
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Christmas Hearts
Do you enjoy making beautiful homemade holiday orn more...0 points
The Morecombe & Wise Christmas Show 1977
Featuring Elton John
During my teenage years Morecombe and Wise was always the most watched Christmas programme and they specialised in inviting huge stars on to the programme and then not exactly treating them like the celebrities they were!
curated content from YouTube
What Christmas means to my son
When I read this it made me cry!
My son was born in 1977, so he would have been just seven months old when we watched Morecambe & Wise give their own very unique welcome to Elton John!
This is what he e-mailed me, when I asked him for his Christmas memories and what Christmas means to him now.
I suppose I will always be a kid at heart so I still get excited about Christmas. I don't think I will become one of those adults that look upon Christmas as a few days of continuous stress with the family.
I do think that I can split what Christmas means to me into two parts. My childhood probably up until the end of my teens and then from 20 plus up to the present.
I used to get most excited about what great presents I might get and being able to play with them all Christmas. I suppose that hasn't changed (hee hee) because it was only a few years ago that I spent six hours putting together some Star Wars Lego.
But that's not what Christmas means to me now. Yes the presents are great, but I now take more interest in what others get. Especially my two little sisters. I used to be up early in the morning to tear through what Santa brought, but now it's up early in the morning when my sisters burst through the door to show me what they got in their stockings.
It may be a cliché but Christmas really is about family and those that you love. I have had one "quiet" Christmas but will never do that again. It's about being with those who mean the most to you. Having a house so full that I have to sleep in the lounge with the florescent blue light of the video recorder shining in my face.
The presents and booze are great but I suppose it's a sign that I have grown up, as it's family and those you love that should always be number one.
This is what he e-mailed me, when I asked him for his Christmas memories and what Christmas means to him now.
What Christmas means to me!
by "Son of AJ"
I suppose I will always be a kid at heart so I still get excited about Christmas. I don't think I will become one of those adults that look upon Christmas as a few days of continuous stress with the family.
I do think that I can split what Christmas means to me into two parts. My childhood probably up until the end of my teens and then from 20 plus up to the present.
I used to get most excited about what great presents I might get and being able to play with them all Christmas. I suppose that hasn't changed (hee hee) because it was only a few years ago that I spent six hours putting together some Star Wars Lego.
But that's not what Christmas means to me now. Yes the presents are great, but I now take more interest in what others get. Especially my two little sisters. I used to be up early in the morning to tear through what Santa brought, but now it's up early in the morning when my sisters burst through the door to show me what they got in their stockings.
It may be a cliché but Christmas really is about family and those that you love. I have had one "quiet" Christmas but will never do that again. It's about being with those who mean the most to you. Having a house so full that I have to sleep in the lounge with the florescent blue light of the video recorder shining in my face.
The presents and booze are great but I suppose it's a sign that I have grown up, as it's family and those you love that should always be number one.
December 2008
Christmas present
We carry on our family Christmas traditions
When I remarried and had more children, things changed again. At times my son and eldest daughter would be out of the country, visiting their father abroad and my husband and I would have visits to make to his family. Sadly they are no longer with us, so now we always spend "Christmas at AJ's" and everyone comes to us.
It makes it so much easier for me to have my family here as I would far rather cook for everyone than pack to go away for a few days and our house is big enough to accommodate my parents, my four children and a couple of partners plus various dogs, even if the sofa in the lounge has someone sleeping on it.
And I am delighted to say that Father Christmas stills fills our stockings every Christmas Eve and one year he even left a trail of footprints in the girls' bedrooms to prove it. (As you can see from the date on the Photo, it was a long time before we cleared the footprints up!) I think he also enjoys the glass of sherry and mince pie we leave out for him and I'm sure the reindeer love the carrots.
On Christmas morning, there's stockings to be investigated and gradually everyone makes it into our kitchen/diner for breakfast. My eldest daughter usually has to be dragged from her bed - all the coffee in Columbia will never, ever, ever make her a morning person!
Presents have always magically appeared overnight under the Christmas tree but all my children learned right from when they could crawl that presents do not happen until everyone has had breakfast, dressed, done their hair, washed their faces, done their teeth, the breakfast dishes have been cleared and the dogs have been walked.
The only music I will allow while all this is going on is Christmas carols.
It makes it so much easier for me to have my family here as I would far rather cook for everyone than pack to go away for a few days and our house is big enough to accommodate my parents, my four children and a couple of partners plus various dogs, even if the sofa in the lounge has someone sleeping on it.
And I am delighted to say that Father Christmas stills fills our stockings every Christmas Eve and one year he even left a trail of footprints in the girls' bedrooms to prove it. (As you can see from the date on the Photo, it was a long time before we cleared the footprints up!) I think he also enjoys the glass of sherry and mince pie we leave out for him and I'm sure the reindeer love the carrots.
On Christmas morning, there's stockings to be investigated and gradually everyone makes it into our kitchen/diner for breakfast. My eldest daughter usually has to be dragged from her bed - all the coffee in Columbia will never, ever, ever make her a morning person!
Presents have always magically appeared overnight under the Christmas tree but all my children learned right from when they could crawl that presents do not happen until everyone has had breakfast, dressed, done their hair, washed their faces, done their teeth, the breakfast dishes have been cleared and the dogs have been walked.
The only music I will allow while all this is going on is Christmas carols.
What Sparky has to say about Christmas
If Sparky was a Lensmaster, the dragon would be her Avatar
Sparky's claim to fame on Squidoo is that my most successful lens to date (October 2009) is about her: Bullying at Primary School.This is what Sparky had to say about Christmas, when she was 12:
I think that Christmas is a time for all the family to get together for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year. Putting up the tree is really our first day of Christmas, as it puts everyone in the mood.
Having all the family around [AJ's note: well we do have a big family!] seems to happen only at Christmas, but it is worth the wait and we all have a laugh together, especially my Pop!
To all the people on Squidoo reading my Mum's lens, I just want to say that you could never have a better time than at Christmas, with the whole family. My Mum does so much, and you could never believe the amount of things that she has done for all of us.
On behalf of my brother, sisters, Nana, Pop and Dad, I just want to say "Thank you" to my Mum. She brings the Spirit of Christmas to all of us, and Christmas would not be the same without her.
Note from AJ: When I read this boy did I feel guilty about yelling at her a couple of days ago!
Christmas Music
Christmas Carols
What Lizzie has to say about Christmas
My daughter has APD
On Squidoo, Lizzie's claim to fame is that my lens about Auditory Processing Disorder is all about her - and it made Lens of the Day twice!This is what Lizzie had to say about Christmas, when she was 10:
Christmas means spending time with my family and having a well cooked meal together. Getting alsorts of wonderful presents and knowing that evreyone gets presents.
Seeing my Pop being VERY funny and telling us crazy stories. I enjoy seeing and spending time with my family as I love seeing them and having a good laugh.
Lizzie also has dyslexia - and this has been reproduced exactly as she wrote it. She is really coming on extremely well with her spelling these days!
Christmas Lunch at AJs
Turkey, mince pies and Dad's bread sauce
Despite arthritis in her hands Mum (aged 80) still makes a huge effort each year to make those mince pies. The only difference is that now Dad helps her. The mince pies are always a huge feature of Christmas lunch and they continue to be enjoyed by her children and grandchildren. My four children usually have a bet to see how much later lunch will be served than the scheduled time!
As well as cranberry with the turkey we also have Dad's bread sauce, which we always forget about until the last minute, so just as we are serving up, he is in a panic making it. Then when the turkey is cleared away we all sit and watch, shuddering, as my Dad goes through his annual ritual as he piles sugar, custard and cream (in that order) on his Christmas pudding!
Christmas Crackers are also a feature of lunch and we have lots of photos of people wearing silly hats - including of course my Dad. Even Mum stops worrying about messing up her hair and puts one on as well.
The biggest change these days is that instead of a real tree, we now have a fake one, but it really is hard to tell the difference.
For me the biggest joy of Christmas is having my brood around me and each year I treasure the fact that my parents are still here to enjoy it with us.
Every year my Dad worries that it is too much for me to do what I do and every year I tell him I do it because I want to. Mum says she just enjoys "Being warm and everyone being together".
I wrote this in 2008. Little did I realise that 2009 would be the very last time all my family would ever be together at Christmas. In 2010, my Mother became ill and spent Christmas in hospital. Earlier this year she was moved into a Nursing Home. My Father passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly in November 2011.
What this has taught me is how important it is to spend time with your family at Christmas, because you never know when it may be the last time.
As well as cranberry with the turkey we also have Dad's bread sauce, which we always forget about until the last minute, so just as we are serving up, he is in a panic making it. Then when the turkey is cleared away we all sit and watch, shuddering, as my Dad goes through his annual ritual as he piles sugar, custard and cream (in that order) on his Christmas pudding!
Christmas Crackers are also a feature of lunch and we have lots of photos of people wearing silly hats - including of course my Dad. Even Mum stops worrying about messing up her hair and puts one on as well.
The biggest change these days is that instead of a real tree, we now have a fake one, but it really is hard to tell the difference.
For me the biggest joy of Christmas is having my brood around me and each year I treasure the fact that my parents are still here to enjoy it with us.
Every year my Dad worries that it is too much for me to do what I do and every year I tell him I do it because I want to. Mum says she just enjoys "Being warm and everyone being together".
I wrote this in 2008. Little did I realise that 2009 would be the very last time all my family would ever be together at Christmas. In 2010, my Mother became ill and spent Christmas in hospital. Earlier this year she was moved into a Nursing Home. My Father passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly in November 2011.
What this has taught me is how important it is to spend time with your family at Christmas, because you never know when it may be the last time.
Christmas TV
The Snowman, Wizard of Oz and Dr Who
The film The Snowman is much loved by this family and is shown every Christmas in the UK. I bought the record of the soundtrack for my son when he was quite young. I remember hearing the song "Walking in the air" being played in his bedroom and then realised it wasn't the voice on the record I could hear, but my son's. He can't sing like that now!
Christmas would not be the same without the Wizard of Oz and now more recently The Dr Who Christmas Special is a favourite too.
Christmas would not be the same without the Wizard of Oz and now more recently The Dr Who Christmas Special is a favourite too.
The Snowman
Raymond Briggs' magical Christmas Story
Walking in the Air from The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
curated content from YouTube
The Snowman - gifts a child will treasure
The classic Christmas Story by Raymond Briggs
Dr Who Christmas Special 2011 - Official BBC Trailer
This year's Dr Who Christmas Special
Airing at 7 pm GMT on December 25th, 2011
curated content from YouTube
AJ's Other Traditional & Seasonal Pages
Can you imagine what it would be like for it to always be winter but never Christmas?
All I want for Christmas
A Christmas wish for my family
2011 has not exactly been the best of years, both worldwide and at home. Towards the end of any year I start taking stock and doing some soul searching about things I might need to change or do differently. It's that sort of "Where are we now and where do we want to be" thought process.
So, what do I want for this Christmas? I can honestly say I just want to see my family well and happy. And if it snows, well then that will be just magical - but NOT until after we have visited my Mum and my Brother and his family, thank you!
So, what do I want for this Christmas? I can honestly say I just want to see my family well and happy. And if it snows, well then that will be just magical - but NOT until after we have visited my Mum and my Brother and his family, thank you!
Happy Christmas!
Wishing you peace at Christmas
Christmas Joys
Evergreen boughs that fill our homes
With fragrant Christmas scents,
Hearts filled with the loving glow
That Christmas represents;
Christmas cookies, turkeys stuffed,
Festive holly berry,
Little faces bright with joy,
Loved ones being merry;
Parties, songs, beribboned gifts,
Silver bells that tinkle,
Christmas trees and ornaments,
Colorful lights that twinkle;
Relatives waiting with open arms
To smile and hug and kiss us;
These are some of the special joys
That come along with Christmas.
By Joanna Fuchs
Time for Peace ornament by jan4insight
Create personalized Christmas ornaments
24 November 2009
This lens has been awarded a Squidoo Purple Star!
Purple Star?
According to the Purple Star lens,
they are awarded to Lenses that are:
"Masterpiece lenses. Lenses making a name for themselves.
Lenses trying new things."
What an honour!
Please share your favourite Christmas memories with us
or just say hello
What do you like about Christmas? Do let us know but don't leave any links, as they will be gobbled up faster than you can say turkey!
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cffutah
Dec 26, 2011 @ 10:01 am | delete
- so thoughtful of you to put so much memories, traditions, and good ideas to what you do for the holidays, enjoyed my time on your lens this morning, thank you.
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Joan4
Dec 23, 2011 @ 8:30 pm | delete
- Merry Christmas AJ! Thinking of you this holiday season!
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RenaissanceWoman2010
Dec 13, 2011 @ 1:57 pm | delete
- I loved reading about your family and holiday traditions. Like you, I loved Davy Jones and the Monkeys. And, I too wanted a tape recorder more than anything else one Christmas. I remember the hours of entertainment I had with that recorder. How times have changed with the new technology. It is obvious from your children's notes that you are very gifted at creating an amazing holiday celebration with your family. Wishing you many blessings at Christmas and beyond.
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Stazjia
Dec 13, 2011 @ 7:41 am | delete
- What a joy it is to read about your Christmas memories and traditions. In many ways, they are similar to my own.
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sockii
Oct 18, 2011 @ 6:45 am | delete
- Thanks for sharing all of your family Christmas memories and traditions! Quite delightful to read.
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