GREAT EXPECTATIONS

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

It was just a little cardboard star. It fell out of a box when I was putting away the Christmas decorations. Nothing too remarkable, silver one side, plain cardboard the other, or at least it was, until my children wrote xxx's and ooo's for kisses and hugs on the back of it.

You see, that was for the Christmas Angel to take back to baby Jesus for his birthday. I had told them the story of Jesus and that we celebrated His birthday on Christmas Day. They were so upset that we didn't have a birthday cake and presents for Jesus. So they decided that they would 

send him hugs and kisses instead and of course, if we had an angel at the top of the tree, then that angel would certainly know Jesus. So ever after, that little star has been near the Christmas angel, even though the angel is worn and now a large star tops the Christmas tree. The little star wasn't used this year as we had no room for a tree this time.

I began to remember Christmases past... back when I was a child. Back on my grandparent's verandah. No matter how many people were there, there always seemed to be room. I recall all the gifts from the various families being put into baskets or a large tea chest, well labelled, so that when my Papauli handed out the gifts, it was easy to tell which was for whom. 

There were no decorations as we have now, nothing like the Christmas Wonderland I try to create normally. Instead, I remember the smell of gum leaves from the branches tied to the verandah posts. I recall the tantalising promises of roast chicken coming from the kitchen, the allure of roast vegetables, hot custard and Christmas pudding...and, what seemed to me, a giant Christmas fruit cake beckoning on the sideboard. There were piles of nuts and dried fruits, stone fruits and of course, boxes and plates of kourabiethes, baklava and liqueur figs.

(c) Crissouli

Papauli. Nona, Theo and Chris c.1952

We would gather in the morning, each finding a place to sit and then the excitement would be almost unbearable for us children. Papauli would start calling out the names...maybe one of my cousins, or a friend, or an Aunt, perhaps an Uncle... then, unbelievably, Crissouli... I'd hold my breath, but it's not mine... my cousin. 

More names, then Theo... but not my brother, rather our grandfather... then Crissouli... maybe, maybe... it's small, with a ribbon... is it for me? He hands it to my grandmother... she grins and then it comes to me... I can hardly open it. It seems everyone is waiting, and looking. The paper is soft and tears easily... I'm not yet five and I drop the small box that is held within. My older cousin lets out a deep sigh. I pick it up and open it quickly. Then I see the most beautiful bluebird necklace... my cousin is smiling... I can't believe it. She has a bracelet just like it and I've often admired it. Then I see the card... it's from my cousin. 

I've completely forgotten to listen for the other names and my grandfather is standing, smiling at me, with a few things in his hand..."for you, little one". That Christmas I also got a pocket dictionary, which I still have and use, from my cousin's sister, and a lovely doll dressed in red and white gingham for me by my Aunt. I wish my memory was better, as I can't recall what my grandparents gave to me... how I wish I could, as that was to be the last Christmas with my much loved grandfather. He passed away the next year.

When my Dad was young, Christmases were the same in some ways... a large gathering of family and friends, on the very same verandah. My grandparents were the hub of a growing Greek community from nearby towns, called Auntie and Uncle by many, as a sign of respect for the elders of the community. They welcomed all with open arms. 

Presents then were mainly clothing, always needed in a large family of nine children, and sometimes a wooden toy made by my grandfather. Dad recalled getting the old fashioned Christmas stockings a few times... that is the ones with a cardboard backing and a Santa mask on top, with little trinkets in them, sometimes lollies, and covered with red netting, similar to onion bags. I asked him what he remembered getting in them... he recalls what we called blowouts... a whistle with a tube of paper attached, that you blew out and it recoiled. Then they had a feather attached to the end. There would always be a small toy, maybe a plastic car or a tiny baby doll, a colouring book and either crayons or pencils. 

The lollies were usually little musks or hard 'candy'. There were metal clickers in some stockings.

Dad's memories are that the emphasis was on gathering around the kitchen table, or on the verandah with family and friends, and the food and the company being the main attraction of the day. There were no large Santa sacks put out, but a pillowcase at the end of the bed. Somewhere or other, he learnt to make Chinese lanterns out of Christmas cards as he and Mum taught us to do when we were children. I also asked him what he would wish for at Christmas... did he ask for anything. He smiled and said "You didn't ask, ever, you were always happy with whatever you got."

Next year, I will find a place to put a Christmas tree, no matter how crowded our place is, and pride of place will be given to that little silver star, as a reminder.

Crissouli (c)  Dec. 2007

SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS - GENEAMEME 2014..

in the public domain

SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS - GENEAMEME 2014      

Thanks to Sharn... 

click on link above to read others...



1.WHAT KIND OF CHRISTMAS DID YOU HAVE AS A CHILD?

Christmas for us has varied a lot over the years, sometimes we went to church, though these days we don't. It has always been about family gatherings, the more the merrier, though as time goes on, the numbers are never consistent.


2. WHERE DID YOU SPEND  CHRISTMAS?

When we were small, it was breakfast at home, then pack up all  and go out to our paternal grandparent's home. How I loved that, there would be so many Aunts and Uncles and cousins... all bustling around preparing the last minute things for lunch, while organising endless cold drinks or cups of steaming Greek coffee. The gifts would be placed into large tea chests, ready for our beloved Papauli (grandfather) to hand out. The verandah would have tree branches tied to the posts, mostly decorated with crepe paper, unless my Aunt and Uncle from Sydney had brought up some tinsel. The kitchen dresser would be ladened with special treats, such as kourabiethes, shortbread dusted with icing sugar and with a clove inserted. There would be pots of preserved figs in their rich syrup, trays of baklava, still warm and fragrant with cinnamon and honey. Always there would be jars of preserves or jams, each with a fabric 'hat' and either a ribbon or string, waiting to be slipped into bags as a 'little something' to take with you.

 We have never had a Christmas without family. 


3. A LETTER AND SOMETHING YUMMY FOR SANTA

I have written so many letters to Santa, all dutifully posted by my Mum as only parents know Santa's address... though one year, my beloved Aunt Mary W. helped me to write one as well as I really wanted to be sure he got it. However, she told me the quickest way to get to Santa, was to put the letter in the fire and let the ashes be drawn up the chimney, straight to the North Pole. 

 There was always a plate of biscuits or cake for Santa, along with a glass of milk and carrot for the reindeer. Santa was quite messy though, as there were always a few crumbs and a dribble of milk left... that was because it's hard to drink from a cup with a full beard.


4. THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Our Christmas tree was always real, there weren't any artificial ones in our small town. Dad would get it by himself when we were very small, often whatever well shaped tree he could get from near the lake (now called a lagoon), later we would go with him and select a pine sapling from the bush or when we had a vehicle, we would go to the nearest pine forest and select one from beside the road.

The tree never went up before December. We children helped Mum to decorate it, though Dad always put the star on top if he was home, he was on the road a lot between Urunga and Sydney. That is something we still do, the Dad puts the star on top. 


5. DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Most decorations were home made, from milk bottle tops, as a few others have mentioned, or from crepe paper or old cards. We were very inventive, anything that looked shiny or pretty would be added, including borrowed strings of beads, feathers, fresh flowers or the like. I also recall making silver stars from cardboard boxes, but can't remember where we got the silver paper from. 

Some years, we would make snow from Lux flakes, add a little water and beat as much as you can with a hand beater till fluffy. Mum decided to add silver glitter one year, I think we were still removing glitter till the next Christmas. It's surprising just how far it can spread. I recall one time when we simply couldn't afford the Lux flakes, but the 'chooks' were laying well, so Mum came up with the idea of beating egg whites to decorate the tree... it looked great at first, but soon dissolved into a sticky mess. Funny, that never happened again.

 I do remember receiving a parcel of glass baubles from my Aunt in Sydney one year, they were real treasures and there are still some of them tucked away at 'home' now. 



6. DID YOU DECORATE OUTDOORS?

Mum almost caused a riot one year when she strung some tinsel around the letterbox.. that wasn't the done thing... so, of course, she added more... No one had any decorations outside then, it was almost daring to put things on the inside of the windows, though once Mum did, just a few coloured stars, then a couple of her friends did the same. We kids decided to put red crepe streamers on the white fence... they looked great till it rained. Sugar soap eventually got the red streaks off. After that attempt, we would pick flowers or small branches to decorate outside.




7. CHRISTMAS CARDS


 Christmas cards have always been a part of Christmas for us, but it wasn't a mass of bought cards, we used to make our own.
The only bought cards were from distant relatives, we used to string them up across the window. Beagle eyes may have noticed that some looked the same as the year before... there weren't many that came by post. The prettiest ones were kept, the rest were made into chinese lanterns, as were any old coloured magazines we could get hold of. 

courtesy of Kidspot

8. CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

 The only real stocking that we had in our very young years was a giant one that our Aunt and Uncle, who were then newly married, won in a raffle. We had never seen anything like it, it was dutifully sent by rail from The Entrance to us... what fun we had with that. We did have pillowslips at the end of our bed. They usually had a piece of fruit, a shiny red apple or orange, a book and a small gift or a chocolate... that was from Santa. The rest of our gifts, usually three, were under the tree. 





9. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Santa put some in the pillowslip, then under the tree would be gifts from Mum and Dad and sometimes a parcel that had been mailed by a relative who wasn't able to come home for Christmas. Our next door neighbours to the side of us would always give us things like a pack of coloured pencils, or maybe a book, always with a 3d chocolate wrapped in as well. The neighbour across from us would give us children something handmade. I would get some dolls clothes or an apron, my brother would get a small carved wooden car or once, a handmade pencil case.

I can't remember a time when I wasn't making gifts... I would make my Mum things like brooches, with rolled fabric flowers, maybe with some beads sewn on and a safety pin to fasten them. She always wore whatever I made, even the terrible scarves I would knit for her... I had a fascination with increasing and decreasing, so the shapes were interesting and the wool was  whatever I could scrounge so the colours varied. For Dad, I made little boxes covered with paper or bookmarks... he had so many, but would always act as if it was the best thing ever. We were allowed to open anything in the pillow case as soon as we got up, but the rest were opened after breakfast, then it was a rush to get to our grandparents... there, presents from the rest of the family were opened before lunch.



10. YOUR FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Two stand out.. and both in the same year. Dad made us a table and chair set, which we loved. It was painted light blue and had some transfers on it. I remember a bear and a flower, not sure what the others were. It was years later that I found out he had made them from packing cases. My presents under the tree were a sewing box that I'd always dreamed of owning, and still have, along with a collection of them.. but the most precious things were within... a tiny pair of scissors, some needles and threads and simple patterns for dolls clothes, made from stiff cellophane. It was quite a while before I realised that the reason Mum wouldn't tell me where they got them, was that she had painstakingly made them. I must have been worried that I would damage them, as I traced them on to cardboard from a cereal box and carefully stored them. I often wondered what happened to them.  


11. WAS THERE A PRESENT YOU WANTED BUT NEVER RECEIVED?

I longed for a bookcase full of books and an art easel... I did get a bookcase when I was 10, but for my birthday, made by the man across the road, Mr. Rose... it was painted white and stood about a metre high. I made a curtain for it, strung up by stretch wire, so that my books wouldn't get dusty. No easel though. 

I also longed for a used magic wand, with just enough magic left in it to make my Mum better, as I couldn't remember a time when she wasn't ill. I even wrote to Fairy Bluebell, as I was told she was the Queen of the fairies' helper. I got a note back from Fairy Bluebell, written in silver glitter, (and egg white I later found out) saying that I couldn't have a magic wand as then a fairy would die... but fairy wishes were sent to make my Mum better instead. Mum got over that crisis at least.

courtesy allfreedownload.com

12. DID YOU GIVE GIFTS TO TEACHERS AND FRIENDS AT SCHOOL?

We sometimes gave handkerchiefs or hair ribbons to a best friend. Only once do I remember giving a teacher a gift, that was to my then favourite, Mr. Ron Buck, our headmaster and Gr 6 teacher... I made him some biscuits. 


13. CHRISTMAS FOOD

Christmas lunch was always a full roast, with chicken and vegetables and most times, some ham. My grandparents had a very long table, after all they had raised 9 kids there.. and we lined up on the pews either side, with only my grandparents on chairs. I always loved the Christmas pudding. The late afternoon tea was the best part, there would usually be visitors then, so out would come the baklava and kourabiethes and my 
Aunt Mary's rich fruit cake...


14. A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS RECIPE

 I learnt to make kourabiethes the traditional long way, but much later, my Aunt Heather came up with a simple recipe, which I use to this day, with a slight variation of course, as anyone who watches me cook would realise. I'm always experimenting.

Chris's Greek Shortbread        (heat oven to 180'C)

6oz butter  (190gm approx.)

3oz icing sugar, well sifted  (95gm approx)

8oz plain flour (250 gm approx)

1 dessertspoon arrowroot or cornflour                   whole cloves              extra sifted icing sugar

Cream butter and icing sugar until white and smooth. Gradually add sifted plain flour and arrowroot OR cornflour.

Blend well, then shape in to walnut size balls, then into crescent shapes.

Insert a whole clove in to the centre of the biscuit, then bake on a lightly greased tray 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Allow to cool on tray until just warm, then loosen on tray and dust very well with extra sifted icing sugar. When completely cool, store in airtight container on a bed of icing sugar. (That's if you can resist them). They are wonderful with strong Greek coffee by the way. They are a celebration biscuit, served at every occasion other than funerals.

For variety, omit the arrowroot (which makes them crisper) and add 2 tablespoons of ground almonds. I always make at least a double batch, several times...

15. CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Bon Bons were something that weren't a necessity, but appreciated when we had them. I can't remember having them when my grandmother was alive, but we often made our own in later years. I guess I took for granted the mix of cultures as it was just part of our lives. I knew no difference ... didn't everyone have kourabiethes and baklava and plum pudding and custard? No carolling for us and as our parents were working 7 days a week, we did't get to Carols by Candlelight, even on the rare occasions they were held in our small town.


16. CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Our house was always filled with music. Mum had a lovely voice and Dad loved accompanying her, perhaps on guitar or violin or mouth organ, perhaps ukulele or accordion. Dad would also have the radio on when the carols were playing and Mum and I would join in.



17. YOUR FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL

My choices have changed over the years... Away in a Manger was my favourite as a child, though I also loved Silent Night and Partridge in a Pear Tree. The latter is one I think my family have heard more than enough of. I've almost haunted them with it, as we used to sing it in the car... with our children, niece and nephews and grandchildren, all of whom have delighted in changing the words so that I would pretend to get annoyed.


18. CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Only Sunday school end of year parties and the town parties that were held the week before Christmas...they were held in the park near the river and consisted of races, treasure hunts and a visit from Santa. Every child got a gift, so we were all happy. 


19. CHRISTMAS CONCERTS/PLAYS

We did for Sunday school, we had concerts and Nativity Plays, alternating each year. I so much longed to play the part of Mary, but always lost out to a pretty little blonde with long curly hair. 

However, my long dark locks were much sought after in a concert as one of the Two Little Girls in Blue. "Mary" had her cut short, so another little blonde girl was chosen to be on the second swing. The swings had flowers wound around the ropes and we were dressed in the prettiest of blue dresses, flowers in our hair, and all we had to do was to swing. It was all so idyllic, however we had never rehearsed with hot glaring footlights, and one swing over those and I took off, crying... and I couldn't understand why the audience were all laughing.

Next year, I got to be one of the Three Wise men.

20. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Mostly we stayed at home, we were lucky enough to live beside a lake, now called the lagoon. It was our own private playground, we set traps for poddy mullets, and crabs, made cubby houses in the reeds, fished with string wound on a stick and bread for bait. Surprisingly, we sometimes caught a fish.
As the lagoon is tidal and was fed by the river and was close to the ocean, we were already at the beach, whenever we wanted to be. 

We did sometimes visit relatives, mostly after packing up all we needed on to the back of the truck, which Dad had covered with a tarp and we lived on there when we travelled. As far as I recall, we only ever made one long train trip, from Urunga to Sydney, then down to Kiama and Jamberoo, where my maternal grandfather and his second wife lived. How we loved the train trip with fold out basin and beds, wonderful timber panelling and leather seats... and the dining car of course. We had to get through all the sandwiches that Mum had packed first. It was a rare and exciting treat.


21. WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST CHRISTMAS MEMORY?

My first recollection is of finding a set of Reeves paints in my pillowslip.  I was so proud of those... and was almost reluctant to use them. However my strongest memory is of the last Christmas before my beloved grandfather, Papauli, died. It was like all the others. I have written a little about our Christmas Days in my response to Q.2. I can see Papauli sitting on the verandah, beside the tea chests filled with gifts and calling out the names... "Chris...anthe..", not me, my grandmother... then it seemed ages before " Chris...sie"... darn, my older cousin... eventually my name was called. The gifts I remember most from that year, 1953, were a small navy blue covered dictionary from my older cousin, Stella, which I was so excited to get. Her sister, Chris, gave me a bluebird necklace... not quite sure what happened to that, though I loved that also. Sadly, I have no idea what my grandparents gave me.

I will always remember one of Dad's older brothers, Uncle Dave, being the first to grab the honeycomb which we loved. Papauli kept bees, so real honeycomb was something we looked forward to. My brother and I longed for it's sweet taste but our Uncle teased us by biting into that first piece. Pity he didn't look first. He let out an almighty yell as a bee stung him, and was jumping around. We thought it was a great laugh, till we noticed that the adults were rushing around as his face was swelling. One of my Aunts wanted to apply a blue bag, but as the sting was inside his mouth, he wasn't keen. I guess something worked, as he survived...

An unforgettable Christmas, not the least because my beloved grandfather passed away the following May. Christmas was never the same again. I miss him till this day.


Merry Christmas to all, and thank you, Sharn, for creating an interesting Geneameme.