Holiday Memories from Childhood

A few years ago when I was teaching adults, I had as many students of Hispanic and Asian descent as Anglos. At this time of year I would ask everyone in class to recall favorite traditions and memories of Christmas with their families. I believe that hearing stories from people of various cultures whose traditions are much different but just as meaningful to them, help us appreciate the wonderful diversity of people we live among. And they can enrich our own lives and traditions.

Among my own best memories were going to Grandma's house which was packed with relatives, and waiting for the lights to go out when Grandma plugged in the electric coffee maker and would blow a fuse. It happened every year!

I also remember the first year my niece was old enough (about 3 years, I think) to realize what was going on. There was great pile of brightly colored gifts under the tree, many for her of course. She sat very politely on the couch and unwrapped the first package handed to her. I think it was a doll or something like that, and she expressed delight over it. When a second bundle was handed to her she looked so surprised and exclaimed, "You mean there's more?"

Author Robert A. Alper shares memories of a very special gift in his book, Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This, (Liguori Publications).

"I knew things were tough that season. We didn't starve, but everything had to be cut back as we tried to make do. . . My parents explained I would need to understand that they simply couldn't afford presents this time. Just this year. Next year will be better.

"On that final night of Chanukah my parents surprised me with a gift. It was a small one, they warned. Nothing very special. But I'd been so understanding of what was happening that they wanted me to have it. I felt a slight twinge of guilt over their sacrifice as I accepted the little package.

"Inside the box was a plastic model for my collection, a replica of a Chris Craft cabin cruiser. Probably cost about $2.95. I glued it together the next day, and for years, until I went off to college, the little boat sat on a shelf in my bedroom. It was far from being my fanciest model. Though it's been long discarded, the thought of it means more to me now than it ever did back then.

"When I look back on all those Decembers of my childhood, those often wonderful days of mystery, anticipation, celebration, I know for a fact that I received many dozens of presents over the course of the years. They form an indistinct blur. . . In truth, of all those gifts, I can actually remember only two. . . One was a twenty-six-inch English bicycle.

"The other was a plastic model boat."

Memories like these warm the heart and help us get into the true spirit of the season. I would truly enjoy hearing about other heartfelt memories from you.