Thanks to Jerry Harmyk for this nice story.
I would like to share a personal Christmas Tradition.
My Father was born in 1906……the youngest of 10 children in a family of Russian Emigrants who were dirt poor, working the land, barely able to keep a roof over their heads or adequate food on the table.
On Christmas Eve, my Grandfather would break open a bail of hay in the lounge and in it, hide oranges, candy and a handful of pennies.
The lounge was then locked!
After Church, on Christmas Day, the 10 children were allowed into the lounge.
The youngest first, the oldest last.
The free for all began, everyone rummaging through the hay, gathering whatever the hunt would yield.
That was my Father’s Christmas….. no other gifts, no stockings or tree, no toys or Santa Claus, no special dinner or additional treats.
I am now in my mid 80s…… still to this day, over 100 years later, my family still puts hay, oranges, candy and coins under the tree as a reminder of simpler times when things were less complicated and a simple act like this brought such enjoyment. My Father used to say that on that special morning, he forgot that he was poor. Three or four Pennies could buy a weeks worth of treats.
PS…… Everyone volunteered to clean the lounge after the hunt had ended… the possibility of unearthing a stray penny or peppermint stick was always inevitable.
(Might be fun to have readers share their Christmas special traditions.)
Merry Christmas to you and all those you hold dear!
Jerry