Christmas
Let me begin by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Even though the Christmas season has changed dramatically since I was enthralled by the prospect of the arrival of Santa Claus, everyone can still bring back the spirit of Christmas.
When I was in the second grade in 1950, St. Francis held a midnight Mass. Being one of the two smallest boys; I was one of the lead pair of acolytes in the Christmas procession that led to the altar. The adrenaline rush that got me up the aisle quickly wore off and I was just like any other seven-year old at that time of night. When we had finished marching up the aisle and were seated, I think I immediately fell asleep. I continued this ritual throughout my early years at St. Francis.
Christmas did not officially begin until well after Thanksgiving. It was about the second week of December that the stores started decorating and displaying their Christmas wares. The stores downtown all had fabulous merchandise. White and Leonard Drug Store had a toy display set up on the second floor. L. W. Gunby Hardware Store had a special “not-for-sale” Christmas display in their window that showed many antique toys.
The annual Salisbury Christmas parade was always on a Saturday and the route was always right up Main St. where the music of the bands would reverberate off the buildings. This was because the stores were prohibited from opening on Sunday, and the local merchants loved the fact that the parade brought many shoppers downtown to shop until they closed at 9 PM. The parade had bands from the local high schools and many floats from local organizations.. At the end of the parade was good ol’ St. Nick. We had one motorcycle in the Salisbury Police Department fleet at that time, and it was always ridden by Sgt. Paul Barnett. In time, he donned a red suit and became known as Sgt. Santa Claus.
Many organizations spent a lot of time on their floats, and the results were everything a young boy full of the season could ask for. It always seemed to instill in everyone a generous amount of Christmas cheer that carried over throughout the entire season.
Usually, the majority of presents were clothes that were sorely needed. But there was always that special large toy that I had been asking for since October. One year, my father and mother (Santa) got me a tin filling station. Years later, they admitted that putting it together after I went to bed was quite a task for my Pop. Now, he was a mechanical engineer, but I don’t think his work included tin filling stations. He was much better at the gas pumps at real filling stations. It was a great thrill when I raced downstairs on Christmas morning and saw it.
We were never the type of family that scrimped all year and went all out at Christmas. As I came into my years of having a car, I might get a set of tires in September along with a hearty “Merry Christmas”. My father’s brothers and sisters were all in Buffalo, and their package was always eagerly anticipated, because they always gave toys. Mom set up her nativity scene every year with the baby Jesus carefully missing until Christmas day, and we always had a real tree. The only outside lights we had was one string of Christmas lights around the front door. Early on, my parents didn’t put up the tree until my sister and I had gone to bed. That must have been a lot of work in a very short time. But, I’m sure the looks on our little faces as we came down the stairs on Christmas morning made it all worthwhile.
Christmas can still be a time of magic if you just remember why we are celebrating the occasion. No matter what the stores proclaim in their never-ending pursuit of the almighty dollar, we can still wish someone a “Merry Christmas”. If you have the proper spirit, nothing can diminish the joy you will feel at this very special time of the year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!
10 comments:
Lets do away with that muldane greeting [Happy holidays] pure bs. Merry Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas to you!
sadly, it seems that all that was good is in the past. i can't imagine anyone will ever look back at 2012 as the good old days.
George, brings back memories ie: my mom and dad put up our tree after we went to bed and it was a big surprise in the morning. What the hell ever happened to days like that. What a shame Take care and have a wonderful Christma Holiday.
Thanks for the Memories George, Merry Christmas!
I long for those days again. Merry Christmas!
wonderful memories once again. my mother worked for R.E.Powells department store back in the day. she headed the "fashion department". when the parade came down the street we were up on the second floor and her office was in the front of the building, so we could open the window a little bit and watch and listen. we were young and really enjoyed that parade every year for a long time. yes; life was so very different then and as a family we still try to hold on to those wonderful traditions. we still have many of them even today but it's been very difficult. i pray my children and grandchildren will hold on as well. Jesus truly is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas to all the readers of this blog.
Thank you for the memories! As a child, waiting for Santa to come and stayed awake as long as I could, I still do now because I am Santa and more excited than the children are! As an adult, I smile because I now know that I was too innocent to realize that as soon as I heard my Mother vacuming with her good 'ol Electrolux that Santa had already been! She always said, I was cleaning up for Santa!
9:29-Adults won't look back on 2012 with fond memories,but many children will because they don't know any different.Everything is different and fascinating to a child regardless of the era.
Thanks for the reminders. I remember the dime store across from Hess Apparel and tons of toys and the soda fountain for a special Christmas treat. I remember the beautiful displays in the windows at Hess. I even have a Fashion Shop hanger in my closet.
Merry Christmas to all!!!!
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