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Chateauguay, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Diana Schwenk, family, growing up, happy, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, laughter, life, living in the moment, love, memories, Merry Christmas, parents, Quebec, Relationships, Stuff my parents used to say and do
IT’S TRUE. WE DIDN’T HAVE A CHIMNEY.
But that wasn’t a problem for Santa back in the day when we celebrated Christmas at 111 Edgewood Drive in Chateauguay, Quebec.
Back then Santa just rang the doorbell on Christmas Eve when my family, according to German tradition, celebrated Christmas.
I know, I know, I’ve heard from many of you over the years how much you loved coming down in your PJ’s and opening gifts on Christmas morning. But in the Schwenk house, we celebrated on Christmas Eve and it went something like this…
“Come on kids, we need to get ready for Christmas. Santa won’t come if we’re down here!”
So up the stairs we go. Our outfits carefully chosen by Mom and laid out on our beds. But first into the upstairs fancy purple and black tiled bathroom – the one that had convinced Mom that this was the house we would buy – to wash our faces, brush our teeth and fix our hair.
DING DONG goes the doorbell!
Mike and I are ecstatic, “Santa’s here!” And he is noisy! The way he stomps up the front stairs laden with packages when Dad lets him in. What a paradox that Santa is; noisy and bold, yet apparently too shy to be seen by us.
The bathroom reverberates with our nervous laughter and excitement as we get all dolled up and dressed in our finest clothes under Mom’s careful supervision. And just as quickly as Santa comes, he is gone. We know this because we hear the door open and then slam shut.
Down the stairs we scramble. And into the living room we go. Wide-eyed staring at the Christmas tree all lit up, with presents laid below. Over at the dining room table our places are set with the finest dishes and the crystal glasses. At the center of the table is the Advents Kranz that Mom made by shaping a hanger into a circle and fastening evergreen boughs on it with wire to form the perfect wreath. Dad made the stand from wood. It has a base for balance and a round stick like that of a broom handle sticking up. The Advents Kranz is wrapped with red ribbon and the long pieces are stapled to the top of the stick holding the wreath, seemingly, in mid-air.
Before the present opening, we light the four candles on the wreath and eat our meal and Mom’s home-baked Christmas goodies for dessert while listening to Bing Crosby and Perry Como albums playing on the old console stereo.
Yes, we really just want to get right to the present-opening part of the evening. But there is something so magical about taking the time to look at the Christmas lights and candles and how they make the garland and tinsel icicles shimmer and sparkle.
But then after our meal
FINALLY
It is time to open our presents!
I didn’t know it then, but looking back, the best part of Christmas was really all of us being together.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
I’m gonna do myself a favour this Christmas. I’m gonna look at those whom I spend the holidays with. I mean really sit back and see them. And I will make a conscious effort to recognize the gift of being all together. How about you?
On behalf of the Schwenks, and from my home to your home, have a very Merry Christmas regardless of the day you celebrate it on.
Patty B said:
Almost like ours, except mom would ring a bell and it would tell us the Krist Kindt came to deliver our gifts. I remember many Christmas Eve’s waiting to hear that bell. On Dec 6 we gave our lists to St Nicholaus as he brought bag full of goodies (candy, little toys) or switches if we were bad. We had an advent wreath we would light and yes Bing Crosby and a German artist by Heinje (spelling may wrong) would play in the background.
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dianasschwenk said:
We did St. Nicholaus day too, but we had to polish our shoes and leave them outside our bedroom door. If the shoes were well polished St. Nick left goodies in them. Thanks for sharing your story here Patty! ❤
Diana xo
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Patty B said:
My mom said they had to do that when they were younger, but we never left out our shoes. It is fun talking to you about German traditions!
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dianasschwenk said:
I agree!
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Inger said:
Very true, the best about Christmas is the time we spent together. I am saying this as I am sitting in an airport waiting to board a plane taking me home to visit family for the Christmas:)
Loved the story, and also seeing the old photos.
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dianasschwenk said:
I hope you had a wonderful time Inger. ❤
Diana xo
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cyclingrandma said:
Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day and New Year to you and yours.
As Jews we didn’t really celebrate Christmas– however, it was a time when everyone was off school and work and we’d get together as a family. That seems to be continuing to some degree. I did get my daughter a small tree this year– and she’s thrilled with it.
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dianasschwenk said:
Any opportunity for family to get together is great in books Lisa! ❤
Diana xo
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Jean said:
Merry Christmas. I read the Advents part to my partner who is German-Canadian. His mother used to bake dough wreath and put 4 Advents candles, plus eggs. Fresh evergreen bough wreath on bough. 🙂
Every Christmas, my partner buys stollen from a higher end bakery. He ended buying 3 …1 for his daughter and the rest for us. :0
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dianasschwenk said:
Sounds lovely Jean – I love Stollen!
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Wyrd Smythe said:
Merry Christmas, Lady Di!
We also did the Christmas presents thing on the Eve rather than the day. But we did get stockings filled with little toys and candy in the morning of the day. The filling of those was always mysterious. Empty when we finally went to bed surrounded by presents; filled when we woke up.
But we knew it was our parents. They never did the Santa Lie with us (an odd place of religious fundamentalism in otherwise pretty mild-mannered Lutherans — they considered Santa a “false idol”), so we never believed in Santa Claus as anything other than a fictional character.
(And to be honest, I’m fine with that. If I would have had kids, I wouldn’t have subjected them to the Santa Lie, either. It really does mystify me a little why parents practice such a strange lie on their kids. Way to mess up a young mind! 😮 )
((Not that I’m trying to party poop on Christmas. I love Christmas! I just think it’s already filled with joy and wonder without having to make anything up… And I really, really hate lying.))
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dianasschwenk said:
I loved believing in Santa, it was magical for me Smitty! Merry Christmas to you too and may 2016 be your best year ever! ❤
Diana xo
I'm off on a road trip now to see my kiddo 🙂
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Jim McKeever said:
Great tradition, Diana! Merry Christmas (Eve)!!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks! Merry Christmas to you Jim and your tribe! ❤
Diana xo
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Jennifer's Journal said:
Lovely, Diana. Merry Christmas! ❤️
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dianasschwenk said:
Merry Christmas Jennifer and may 2016 surprise you with many moments of laughter, joy and love! ❤
Diana xo
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Val Boyko said:
Love the shared memories and the photos! So adorable…
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas Diana 💕🎄💕
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you Val! ❤
Diana xo
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Denise Hisey said:
Merry Christmas Diana!
Cute pictures, and a lovely reminder to cherish time together.
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dianasschwenk said:
Merry Christmas Denise and all the best in 2016! ❤
Diana xo
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joannerambling said:
We din’t have a chimney either, but Santa doesn’t need a chimney doors just magically unlock for him
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Chatter Master said:
Merry Christmas to you and all of yours Diana!
Thank you for these memories and the pictures. 🙂 I love the sharing of our memories. It adds to our presents. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes memories are wonderful, thanks Colleen. ❤
Diana xo
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russtowne said:
May your Christmas be filled with love, joy, and good health, dear friend.
Russ
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you and same to you Russ. ❤
Diana xo
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russtowne said:
Thank you for this delightful post, your reflections of Christmas’s past, and reminders for this year and every year, Diana.
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dianasschwenk said:
You’re welcome and thank you Russ!
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susielindau said:
Ah. The simple days of childhood. We made our kids wait on the steps until we were dressed and ready for the gigantic video recorder. Merry Christmas!
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dianasschwenk said:
Haha that’s awesome Susie, Merry Christmas to you and yours! ❤
Diana xo
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George said:
Great photos and yes you’re right, Diana…the best part of any holiday or celebration is being together.
Have a wonderful Christmas…:)
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you George, you too! ❤
Diana xo
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April said:
I love hearing how others celebrate the holidays. Merry Christmas!
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dianasschwenk said:
me too! Merry Christmas to you too April! ❤
Diana xo
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Louise Gallagher said:
What a beautiful and delightful reminiscence Diana! I can just see you and Mike squirming at the table, being told to sit still and eat your meal slowly — not snarf it down! 🙂
Thank you so much for dinner last night. What a delightful tradition we have of welcoming in the holy season!
Much love and a very very Blessed and Joyous Merry Christmas to you and your family.
PS. I think I had that same doll when I was a little girl!
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dianasschwenk said:
❤ You are like healing balm to me Louise – it was simply wonderful to spend time with you. Sending the happiest of Christmas wishes to you and yours and may 2016 surprise you in amazing ways! ❤
Diana xo
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roughwighting said:
Ahh, the memories this post evoked. Yes, our Santa came down the chimney, but I do remember the excitement of racing down the stairs with my brother and seeing the gifts and the sparkling lights and the well-dressed dinner table. But as you say, the most fun was that we were together. Family. Lastly – seeing the tinsel on your childhood tree truly brings those years back to me in all wonderful ways. Merry Christmas with your loved ones!
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dianasschwenk said:
(smiling) Glad you enjoyed this post. 🙂 Do they even still make tinsel? ❤
Diana xo
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roughwighting said:
Haven’t seen it in years. 😦
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dianasschwenk said:
Me neither… a choking hazard for cats, if I recall correctly.
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