Do You Have A Favorite Memory Or Something Special About Christmas As A Child, That You Would Like T

Rague said:

I have 4 favorites
I have 4 favorite Christmas memories (well other than every year when the boys and G-daughter were little) - 3 of them were when I was a child in France - 2 involve christmas trees .

We live in a villa that was on the promanade along the Allier. We had huge tree that was in front of the window and being the spoiled little brat I was it was kept lit most of the time. (This was in 1953 - electically trees were unique there then) One day shortly before Christmas some Nuns from the orphanage saw the tree and knocked. Our maid answered and she was asked IF it would be possible for us to keep the tree lit long enough for them to go back to the orphanage and get the kids to come or iF we needed to turn it off could it be turned back on long enough for the children to see it. Madame (maid) said yes and came in to tell Mom. Mom told her to get busy getting hot cocoa and cider and 'goodies' ready for the kids. Madame said that there was no reason to as the Nuns would never allow the children to take away our 'food'. Well- she was right to a degree - Mom insisted that there be stuff ready and when the Nuns came back with the children they did refuse to take our food until Mom had Madame convince them that there was no way that we could drink and eat everything that was prepared and it would be wasted if the children didn't have it.

The most beautiful tree, in my opinion, I've ever seen was also there. There was a small apt. above the villa that in past times had been the 'servants quarters' but was rented out to a young couple. They had us up to a fantastic dinner and then lit their Christmas tree. It's was so small compared to my tree, size wise, but it was the most beautiful tree, to me, that I have ever seen - it was lit with candles. I have tree candle holders and ever year I do have a small tree (much small than that spctacular tree) and light it with candles every year - but mine have never been close to as spectacular as that tree was.

The third also involved Madame but this time she started taking food and clothes out of the house. We had moved to a different town and the place we had had small 'houses' (really hovels) around it. She had found out that one of the families there were barely staying alive and that the deceased husband had been in the 'Underground' (as her Husband had been) during German Occupation and decided that she would help them anyway she could - should have told Mom to start with and she wouldn't have had to sneak the food and clothes out - they'd have been sent. Christmas Eve a hand carved Nativity set was at our door step - it was 'primative' (for lack of a better term) but exquisite.

The fourth was totally different. The boys were 1 and 2 and we were home for Christmas. I had a snowman that was about 24" that sat in the front window. We lived in the 'boonies' so it was a surprise when I looked up and saw a man in front of the window staring at 'Snow'. Called Daddy and he went out to talk to see why the guy was there. Long story short - the guy had some medical issues and had been abducted/car jacked by some guys the day before on his way farther south. They had 'rolled' him for what he had and thrown him out along with his stuff a few miles further in the boonies. When he didn't show up his family had contacted law officials and there was a search for him. The Good Lord works in mysterious ways that he did find our house instead of going deeper into the swamps.

At least those are my most memoriable Christmases with special reasons.

Susan

fauxma said:

When our daughter was about
When our daughter was about 4 years old I sent her and her daddy out to pick the tree. They came back with the most Charlie Brown tree you have ever seen. I am talking spindles, dropping needles, sparse and with bare spots. I looked at Den and started to get upset because I thought he just didn't want to bother and had grabbed the first tree he saw. He put his fingers up to his lips to shush me so I held my tongue, barely. After Denise had gone to bed he told me that she walked up to this sad little tree and said that was the one she wanted, that it was the prettiest, nicest tree she had ever seen. He just couldn't tell her no. So the next day we decorated it and I don't know how it transformed that night but it was the most beautiful tree I ever saw because now I was seeing it through the eyes of my baby girl. We have had many trees, all wonderful but no tree will ever live in my heart as that Charlie Brown tree that my daughter loved so much. I still get teary eyed remembering. Oh, the sweet innocence of childhood. Thank you for letting me share this memory. It is one of my most dear.
Stef