by John Straka
This is my fourth Christmas without my wife Helen. I try to enjoy the holidays as best I can and I really appreciate the care and concern of friends and relatives at this special time of year.
I think about the Christmases we had together. Helen would decorate the house with lights in the windows, wreaths on the doors, festive tablecloths, fancy towels, a garland of holly draped over the living room mirror and lots of gifts.
Every year we had a large cut tree decorated with lights, ornaments, tinsel and icicles. At first the lights were the kind when one bulb burned out, the whole string went out. Then came larger bulbs and after that, minilights.
Ornaments came and went. Old ones wore out, were broken or just lost their appeal. New ones replaced them and after a few years, they, too, were replaced by still newer ones. I remember little birds clamped to tree branches with spring clips. Some lights were filled with a liquid that bubbled when heated. Some had little propellers that rotated as air, heated by nearby bulbs, created an up current.
The topmost ornament changed over the years. I remember an angel, a star and a spike-shaped blue and white ornament that slipped over the tree tip.
Under the tree we always had a crib scene. For our very first Christmas together I went into a nearby woods and cut a few branches that were about 5/8 of an inch in diameter and built my own stable. It had a plywood back wall and roof with little logs on both sides and part of the front. We covered the roof with either straw or white cotton to look like snow. We went to a gift shop in Garfield Heights and bought small figures of Mary and Joseph, which was about all we could afford at the time. I made a crib out of thin masonite, and I don't know where Helen found a tiny Baby Jesus.
In following years we added a shepherd and some wise men. One time, the saleslady said that line of figurines was discontinued and she offered us all her remaining pieces at a bargain price. The whole set, cow, donkey, sheep and angels, was under our tree every year until recently. I even rigged up a little light inside the stable. It was always my job to put the tree up, fill the tank with water and string the lights. Helen did the rest, until our daughter was old enough to help.
More than 50 years ago, Christmas trees were mainly balsam or fir or other short-needle types. A balsam is scrawny compared to a Scotch Pine or a Blue Spruce. There were many lots where trees were sold. I remember they were priced as low as $5 each. Once artificial trees became popular, there were aluminum trees, white and pink trees and lots of outdoor lighting.
I remember we once had a couple of glass ornaments that were at least 6 inches in diameter, maybe larger. I don't know what happened to them.
As a child, our family tree appeared like magic on Christmas morning. We kept that tradition for many years. A tree would be in place from Christmas Day until the feast of Three Kings in January. I remember the time I tried to burn our dried-out balsam in the furnace. That was a dumb idea. It burned so fast it was more like an explosion than a fire.
It's hard to believe people once lighted their trees with candles. However, the candles on a tree were treated a lot like candles on a birthday cake. Light them, enjoy them for a few minutes and blow them out. Homes were not as well heated then, and trees were very fresh cut so they didn't dry out so much. People in those days were more accustomed to dealing with open flames in furnaces, lanterns, gas lamps and kitchen stoves.
The time between Thanksgiving and New Years was more of a religious and family-oriented time than it is now. Church and prayer and togetherness were more important than they are now. Children grew up, married and started families of their own.
It's nice to remember the time Helen's sister had a turkey in the oven for hours before finding out that the oven wasn't heating. Or the time our little dinette was so crowded the best way for some guests to get to the bathroom was to go out the back door and come back in by way of the front door.
Here's wishing all readers a Happy Holiday Season!
May you enjoy old memories while creating new ones!