Autos of the Season
My dad was a very fundamental minister. BUT one thing my dad never
did was belittle Santa Claus. However in his North Georgia language it was Santy.
I remember hearing him say on several occasions, “Hey, you can’t tell me there
is no Santy, I saw one last week at Sears and Roebuck.”
Also at our home we never forgot it was ‘Little Jesus’s’
birthday. The season really started when we went out to the country to look for
two trees. One for the Church and one for the house. Dad always got permission
but as long as I can remember we had a cedar tree. The smell was Christmas. A
few times there was 1-3” of snow on the ground, cold for us Southerners, but
what a fun time.
The old boxes of decorations came out at home and church. Everyone
was invited for the tree trimming at the church and it was always festive. There was another ‘scent’ of Christmas and
that was citrus. Exuding from that tangerine and
orange included in the brown paper bags with an apple, nuts, a box or raisins
and some candy. Those bags were called treats. A couple days before the Sunday
before Christmas some of the church folks came in to put the bags together. It
was a lot of work and FUN. That Sunday they were handed out after church.
There were always bags for what was called ‘Shut-ins’, the ones
who weren’t able to get to church. The remainder was distributed by members who
knew poor families that ‘Santy’ wouldn’t leave much at their house.
Christmas was the only time citrus was in our house and many
other mill workers homes. Citrus was expensive. Funny how
certain ‘smells’ can relate and carry you back to specific times.
NiteShipslog
This Santa is gonna be fast!
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10 comments:
Wonderful memories of a different time, Jack! We always got a big orange and a big apple in our Christmas stockings :)
betty
My Uncle who lived across the street from us when I was growing up always called Santa, Santy Claus! Great memories. I also got an orange and nuts in my stocking on Christmas morning. I'm surrounded by pine trees here now and when I mow or walk in them I smell Christmas even though we have a fake tree indoors! I love all your memories. It was a simpler time back then but the memories are vivid. Have a good week!
I love all the smells of Christmas and will miss them when they are gone. Tangerines were always a part of our stocking fits when I was growing up. Still love them too ! Real trees are mostly a thing of the pssst, but they are wonderful too. I've tried burning pine scent candles, but they don't quite so it.
What WONDERFUL memories you've stirred, Jack!
There's nothing quite like the aroma of a freshly cut tree; but only if it belongs to the 'other guy.' Last real one we had killed my Eletrolux vacuum cleaner.
Yep. Each year's Christmas Eve service, we children were given a stocking made from netting that contained an apple, orange and walnuts. Can't remember if I gave the fruit away, or threw it away when my mother wasn't looking. LOL.
Jack, I love your memories. Oranges have always smelled like Christmas to me. We rarely ever had them. I love the smells of Christmas, cookies, baking, live trees, and greenery. Blessings to you and Sherry. xoxo, Susie
One of the most vivid smells of Christmas for me was always the smell of gingerbread and molasses cookies baking. I remember the wonderful scent of cloves being poked into oranges in designs, then placed in a bowl on the table. What a heavenly memory. Of course, a freshly cut Christmas tree found deep in the woods. This year, my brothers cut a 20 footer, cut the top of for in the house at the farm, and the bottom for outside in front of the gazebo. Inside the scent of hot cocoa while we decorated, and outside, big red bows and suet for the birds. Our church did so much of the same as yours to create sweet memories. Thanks for bringing Christ back in Christmas.
love n' hugs from up north where cookies need to go in the oven.
Memories, with Christmas our Stockings, *(still have mine) were hung up, Christmas Morning there was an Orange, Life Savers in the Book, a Candy Cane, Maple Sugar Candy, Big Rock Candy ! 8 of us enjoyed Christmas morning trading stockings then we were allowed to open a present, 1 present and a nice one, Thanks for the memory Jog !!!!! Sending down Love and hopes for a Jolly Christmas, Gary an Anna Mae !
The smell remembers the time - interesting.
Awe, this post was so sweet! I loved the Christmas baggies of goodies. We rarely had citrus either, what a treat is was! Mama always said the oranges were from "Flawda" because Texas didn't grow them that sweet. Love this "throwback" post. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Love and hugs, Glenda
Yes! We always called him “Santy Clause”. I remember the churches doing fruit bags and hanging the greens. Our church still gives out fruit bags on Christmas Sunday and also to the the elderly “shut ins’.
I’m ready for Christmas
Lisa
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