Unwrapping Holiday Memories
The turkey platter is no more washed and placed back in the cabinet than it is time to bring out the holiday decor. Box after marked box, makes its way from the attic where it has spent the past eleven months. We are not alone in this treasured activity. Many years ago, I began organizing our holiday decorations by room. Each box with its label has a tidy assortment of collections of memories wrapped in tissue paper & tagged with its origin.
“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas time.”
~Laura Ingalls Wilder
I recall my childhood Christmases the moment I unwrap the sweet glass angels with room for candles. They graced many a holiday table. Ceramic Victorian carolers painted by my mother in their unusual 1970s color palette. The set of joyful elves I unwrap each year and place on a stack of holiday books. My mother must have acquired them over 60 years ago, long before the Elf-On-A-Shelf phenomenon. A red felt stocking with “Pam” stitched by my dad’s cousin. (1 for each of the 3 of us). I still can feel the connection with my great grandfather Willie, with his addition of a Silver Dollar each year to its contents of simple treats.
“Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future.”
~Gail Lumet Buckley
A number of treasures awaiting their unwrapping are less about my childhood, and more about remembering loved ones. A tiny sweet nativity, made of brown plastic & glitter is one of my most cherished family pieces. Given to me from my Great Aunt Alice, along with 2 porcelain ornaments. I remember her smile & kindness in wanting me to have something of hers. Holiday books over 120 years old from my mothers godfather, Dr. John, reminding me we were all young once. Postcards addressed to both great grandmothers Laura & Olive, as well as Olive’s sister Raye. Holiday greetings from family far away, delicately written on the backs of the festive cards. I tuck then into nests, garland & amongst bowls of ornaments. Finally, a cherished lamb candle holder from my late friend, Alison. It makes me smile of our innate way of showing up in the same clothes for our lunches or picking up the phone to call each other at the same moment—it connecting without ringing.
“What is Christmas?
It is the tenderness of the past, courage for the present and hope for the future.”~Agnes M. Pahro
A final collection of treasures are from my own sons childhood. The tiny clay snowman, pictures with Santa, the holiday plate & mug that held the Christmas Eve gift to Santa in the form of cookies, milk & carrots, holiday children’s books, and handmade ornaments—stars, snowflakes, trees, tiny hand impressions. The addition of ornaments collected from our trips, excursions & hobbies along the way—seeing the years unfold with each unwrapping—from Whidbey Is. to The Netherlands, New Orleans to DC, Chicago to Italy & everything in between. A time of late nights, secret wrapping sessions & tag decoding hints, Santa visits, Christmas light excursions, cooking, baking & matching pjs. The tenderness of the past comes flooding back & our new celebrations settle in that include puppy stockings, festive holiday parties & community service.
For me this is my Christmas morning. As I remove the tissue from each cherish object. It is the gift of seeing the faces of loved ones, of a young family & my own journey.
