Well, the Day has arrived and families everywhere have been up bright and cheerful for the frenzied opening of wonderful parcels so kindly left by Father Christmas or Saint Nicholas et al.
Or, for all peoples enjoying the holiday season in their own particular way.......
Screams of delight and joy ring through and about the bedrooms as excited children reach for the brightly coloured and decorated stockings looped about the bed posts...well they were in my day or at least propped up against the end of the bed or leaning against the bed side!!!
We actually had pillowcases at the end of our beds for us - our cousin Janice, my sister Sally and me. Our elder cousin, Brian was in the next bedroom or on the sofa, if his parents came too. We had a houseful of family members and it was all great fun.
We had the usual Chocolate Orange and pink or White sugared mice, an orange or two and perhaps some chocolate. Tiny crackers were also there sometimes, and then our other presents - books, handkerchiefs, gloves or mittens, writing paper and envelopes or notelets for thank you letters which were an absolute must-do activity at the very earliest opportunity. And ..... a grand opportunity for parents to get their children to be quiet for short periods, between the fun of Christmas food, games, toffees and chocolates.
As a very small child with my older sister, Christmas morning was a time of magical importance. Our grandparents would send us to bed as early as possible on Christmas Eve and then with us safely out of sight or hearing, our home would be transformed into a Christmas Fairyland. Pretty coloured streamers hung from every possible height, a brightly coloured Christmas tree glowingly brilliant, stood in its rightful place with balloons, paper lanterns, holly tucked behind photographs and Christmas cards strung up on string about the house,
I cannot remember how our little front room was decorated but there must have been some added brightness gathered about the room with the furniture highly polished and gleaming and the floor-standing container for the usual Aspidistra plant.
Monday was my Grandmother's laundry day, so if Christmas should happen on that day, the boiler would have to be used for laundry before it could be used to steam or Christmas puddings. My Grandmother's day must have begun incredibly early and remained busy all day long.
Phew! my Nan would have been so amazed by our much easier feasting season.
My Christmas Day morning found me going to bed at 5am followed by a few hours of sleep, spending the early morning hours preparing the onion flavoured milk for our bread sauce, finishing off our trifles and writing.
We were joining family for Christmas lunch and it was so odd not having more chores to undertake for the turkey feast. Lunch was very good, the turkey was not dry and there were many well-cooked vegetables, stuffing balls, bacon-wrapped chipolatas and lashings of gravy. Also, of course, my bread sauce and even a few Yorkshire, puddings.
Crackers too! It was a good feast!
Well, I seem not to have published this somewhat earlier and I got up earlier today to wish all of you dear friends and readers a Happy New Year.....and I will very shortly!!!
Daisy - reporting for me Margaret Halstead here on New Year's Day 2015.....
have a great year to all and everyone xxx
