By Peggy Goodrich, Commentary
Do you believe in Santa Claus? Think about it.
Isn’t Christmas exciting with the little kids believing in Santa Claus? Even our 2-year-old great-granddaughter is recognizing Santa this year, and we are seeing Christmas through her eyes. They do not realize there is a Santa on every corner and in every store. They are convinced those multiple men in red are just Santa’s “helpers” if they notice at all. Time drags on as the Christmas season starts so early and it is a terribly long wait for little ones. The stores start decorating in September. It is difficult to explain to tiny ones about months, days and time. They want Santa to come right now, but Santa has a lot of work to do to get ready.
I loved the way we celebrated Christmas when I was a kid. We did not start our Christmas lists until just before Christmas. We did get a “wish book” in the mail but it never occurred to us to want everything in it. For everything we wanted, we had to list a gift to GIVE to someone. We made things to give or spent no more than five cents on a gift. You would be surprised what one could buy for a nickel. One had to use imagination and shop wisely, but it could be done. Mainly, it was the idea of thinking of others that was so exciting.
On Christmas Eve, we hung our socks up for Santa to fill. We got fruit, nuts and some kind of neat, small toy like a top, whistle or hair ribbons. For our gifts from Santa, we would get doll clothes or clothes for ourselves we needed, like underwear, pajamas or socks. We loved getting necessary new things at once. We never complained or were disappointed with our gifts ... just grateful.
No one put up a tree Thanksgiving weekend like most do now. We waited until Christmas Eve or only a few days before the big day to bring in a cedar tree from the pasture. It smelled so strong half the people sneezed and wheezed until it was taken down a few days after Christmas. Even with the sneezing, we hated to see it go, as that meant it would be another year before we had that much excitement again.
We believed in Santa but we didn’t dwell on it. No one dared to tell the kids how the presents got under the tree. When the older ones did discover the secret and admitted it, they got to help be Santa, but no one ever told. Long after I figured out the chimney bit, I still knew the magic of Christmas as the presents always appeared under the tree Christmas morning and the socks were still filled.
Even with the popularity of Santa Claus it is never too early to start teaching children and everyone why we celebrate our Christ child’s birth. All of us should remember the reason for the season. The significance goes much deeper than jingle bells, reindeer and Santa.
Getting together as a family means more than fancy gifts under the tree. Traditions are important. We enjoy singing Christmas songs. We enjoy the shopping, the wrapping and the secrets. We enjoy the peace of the season and reflecting on Christmases past.
One of my most cherished Christmas gifts was Margaret, my flour sack doll Mother lovingly made for me when I was about 6 or 7. Poor Margaret now looks ragged and worn, her hair has molted over the years, but her embroidered blue eyes are as bright as ever. She represents the true meaning of Christmas and visits us every year and sits under our tree.
I always was surprised Santa could produce a dress for our dolls, out of the very same material Mother had made into our dresses. He could whittle building blocks out of scraps of lumber leftover from remodeling our house. What wonderful gifts those were.
Christmas would not be Christmas without cookies, candies and gingerbread men. When our granddaughters were small, they called them “gingermen boys” so that is what I still call them.
Ginger Men Boys
(Ginger Bread Men)
21⁄2 cups flour
1 teaspoon ginger
1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄2 cup shortening
1⁄2 cup sugar
1 egg
1⁄2 cup molasses
Sift dry ingredients together. Beat sugar, egg, molasses and shortening until fluffy. Stir in dry ingredients gradually. Knead until smooth and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least two hours. Divide dough in two part, refrigerating half while rolling out first half. Roll dough between wax paper to about 1⁄8-inch thickness. Cut into shapes. Place on parchment paper on cookie sheet. Bake in 350ºF oven about ten minutes until lightly browned. Decorate if desired. Note: Sometimes I use only cinnamon for seasoning and substitute dark syrup for molasses to give a different taste.
Surround yourself with the wonderful joys of Christmas and appreciate Santa and the reason for the season.
Send your comments to: Peggy Goodrich, Food For Thought, P.O. Box 1192, Enid, OK 73702.
