Remembering Christmas At Mamaw’s

 

Remembering Christmas At Mamaw’s

By Sandy Siple

 

 

When I started having grand-children ten years ago, I wanted to give them something special that no one could ever take away. The cherished memories of Christmas loved and shared at Grandmas.

 

Christmas at Mamaw’s is like no other that my grandchildren have seen. There are no electric lights or ornaments from the store on our Christmas tree. We all live in different states miles apart, so when we come together the visit is short and most enjoyed by children young and old, boys and girls.

 

First, we have to find a special tree, just the right size for the little ones to reach and decorate with homemade goodies to enjoy throughout their stay. This is a trip to nature and cold if we are lucky enough to have snow. The stay is short and we make the most out of every minute spent together. We hang stockings from the mantle to be filled with fruit and nuts. The children and I spend a few hours singing Christmas songs, with baking homemade cookies, pretzels and stringing popcorn and cranberry garlands. We make Gingerbread men and Santa Clauses that come to life when decorated with their little hands of love. Tiny trees that light your eyes with colorful bulbs and strands of garland rolled out like worms. We make red and white pretzels, candy canes, Popcorn balls and Chocolate Santa Clauses. We string them with a piece of yarn through a hole made with a toothpick prior to baking. We place the paper mache angel, made by an older son, when he was young like them. This is no tree for looks, although everyone enjoys the goodies made with love. They come and go by the tree to grab a goodie during their stay.

Now it is almost time for Santa in his red and white suit to arrive on Christmas Eve to their surprise. They always ask where the reindeer are and Santa tells them, At the watering hole, getting ready for the long ride ahead. So he comes and sits a spell to enjoy the goodies with the little ones. Receiving one present of just what they desired. The children don’t tell anyone but Mrs. Claus, what they’ve asked for, (via phone calls just to see if there is a real Santa Claus.) He arrives every year, and I tell them, When you stop believing in Santa Claus, he doesn’t bring that one special gift you been wanting, anymore. When Christmas is all over, the tree is taken outside for the birds to enjoy the remnants of love and survive the cold. They sing a pretty song.

 

I enjoy the people who lived back in the yesteryears without all the commercialized decorations that have no meaning to life or love. Its not being poor, its just showing children to be thankful for [the] love and time we get to spend together on this special day. When my children grew up, Christmas vacation was a time for making and giving presents of love. We would make boxes of candies, homemade jellies and canned jars of goodies made during garden season, and homemade cocoa with jars of marshmallows. The pleasures of love that went into the making. Thus, with Christmas around the corner, I thought this might be an inspiration to bring love into your home and hearts. This is a special day, after all, it was the love and birth of a child, that gave us an everlasting life. So Enjoy the Holidays with your loved ones.

 

 

Published in U S Legacies Magazine December 2003