Christmas - A Young Boys Fondest Memories of Christmas Eve

Christmas was a very special time as a young lad, and it remains so today. With so many fond memories of the past, it's no wonder, and each year we make new memories for the generations to come.

As a young boy, my extended family was very large. It was common for 50 or 60 close relatives to come to my Grandma's house for Sunday lunch. The house was filled with a wonderful energy. These were happy times and remain part of my fondest memories as a child.

Christmas was always a very special time. I remember how me and my cousins became increasingly excited as Christmas Ever grew closer because we know the Christmas Eve Party was going to be a lot of fun and that we were going to get to see all our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparent. It was common for the Christmas Eve Party to have anywhere from 100 to 150 relatives show up.

That's a lot of people and I can still feel the energy when I close my eyes. Suddenly I am transported back in time. I can hear the laugh of my mother and grandma. I can hear my aunt arguing in fun with my other aunt and I can see my Uncle smoking his favorite cigar. Good times. The Christmas Eve Party was sometime at our house, sometimes at my Grandma's house, and other times at one of my Great Uncle's house.

Everyone brought presents for most everyone else, and there were many gifts for the younger children. There was so much suspense. Box shaking and guessing were plenty of fun as we waited in anticipation of Santa's arrival.

Soft drinks and eggnog we're served along with a dinner of chili, cornbread, and lots of cakes and pies. The food was delicious. The room was a buzz with voices. The air was filled with happiness and as we all over ate; there was plenty of laughing and joking. It was hard to understand as a child how there could be so many yummy food choices all at one time and no one telling us we couldn't have as many helpings of cakes and pies as we wanted. After all it was Christmas - twas the season to be merry.

Around 9:00 PM, my cousins and I would hear a knock on the door. We knew Santa Claus had arrived. As Santa entered the house us kids all went wild - crazy piercing screams could be heard, clapping, and jumping all in anticipation of what was to come next.

It took a bit but we finally quieted in anticipation of what we knew was next to come. Don't get me wrong, we were so excited; we just knew that Santa, with the help of all the teenage kids, would begin to pass out all the presents under the tree once we all settled in our places. Each present had a name on it, and Santa would personally pass out a present to each of the adults, mysteriously calling them by name as if by Christmas magic.

There was fun for all ages. While the children were ecstatic about Santa being there and handing out presents to them, the adults were entertained too. They would scratch their heads trying to figure out whom this Santa was who knew them by name and had personal information on each of them. Fun times for all were had!

My family had all moved from a small village in a rural part of the state to the big city. I learned later when I was older that my grandfather or one my great uncles would go back to that rural village before Christmas to convince one of the adults that had known all the adults twenty or so years ago before the entire clan had moved to the city. None of the family had seen the chosen person since, so it kept the adults guessing.

I have such wonderful fond memories of my childhood and my teenage years. As I gradually went from a child to a young adult, the family traditions become even more important to me. As I grew older and got to participate in guessing the identity of our Santa, I loved the anticipation leading up to Christmas Eve.

My family treated Santa really well. He would be given a room at one of the family elders or put up in a nice hotel for however long he was in the city. Our family usually gave him the choice. And of course, the family paid for all his meals and transportation, as well as any other expenses.

On Christmas Day, he joined the family for Christmas dinner. He would arrive wearing his regular attire and finally the adults would have their answer to the guessing game of the night before. The children didn't even realize there was an extra guest so Santa was never put into jeopardy with the children.

To this day Christmas is a very important time of the year for me. It's a time for family and friends to celebrate and spend time together, and it's a time for the children to believe in Santa. It's a time for all to enjoy the magic of Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!

As a young boy, my extended family was very large. It was common for 50 or 60 close relatives to come to my Grandma's house for Sunday lunch. The house was filled with a wonderful energy. These were happy times and remain part of my fondest memories as a child.

Christmas was always a very special time. I remember how me and my cousins became increasingly excited as Christmas Ever grew closer because we know the Christmas Eve Party was going to be a lot of fun and that we were going to get to see all our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparent. It was common for the Christmas Eve Party to have anywhere from 100 to 150 relatives show up.

That's a lot of people and I can still feel the energy when I close my eyes. Suddenly I am transported back in time. I can hear the laugh of my mother and grandma. I can hear my aunt arguing in fun with my other aunt and I can see my Uncle smoking his favorite cigar. Good times. The Christmas Eve Party was sometime at our house, sometimes at my Grandma's house, and other times at one of my Great Uncle's house.

Everyone brought presents for most everyone else, and there were many gifts for the younger children. There was so much suspense. Box shaking and guessing were plenty of fun as we waited in anticipation of Santa's arrival.

Soft drinks and eggnog we're served along with a dinner of chili, cornbread, and lots of cakes and pies. The food was delicious. The room was a buzz with voices. The air was filled with happiness and as we all over ate; there was plenty of laughing and joking. It was hard to understand as a child how there could be so many yummy food choices all at one time and no one telling us we couldn't have as many helpings of cakes and pies as we wanted. After all it was Christmas - twas the season to be merry.

Around 9:00 PM, my cousins and I would hear a knock on the door. We knew Santa Claus had arrived. As Santa entered the house us kids all went wild - crazy piercing screams could be heard, clapping, and jumping all in anticipation of what was to come next.

It took a bit but we finally quieted in anticipation of what we knew was next to come. Don't get me wrong, we were so excited; we just knew that Santa, with the help of all the teenage kids, would begin to pass out all the presents under the tree once we all settled in our places. Each present had a name on it, and Santa would personally pass out a present to each of the adults, mysteriously calling them by name as if by Christmas magic.

There was fun for all ages. While the children were ecstatic about Santa being there and handing out presents to them, the adults were entertained too. They would scratch their heads trying to figure out whom this Santa was who knew them by name and had personal information on each of them. Fun times for all were had!

My family had all moved from a small village in a rural part of the state to the big city. I learned later when I was older that my grandfather or one my great uncles would go back to that rural village before Christmas to convince one of the adults that had known all the adults twenty or so years ago before the entire clan had moved to the city. None of the family had seen the chosen person since, so it kept the adults guessing.

I have such wonderful fond memories of my childhood and my teenage years. As I gradually went from a child to a young adult, the family traditions become even more important to me. As I grew older and got to participate in guessing the identity of our Santa, I loved the anticipation leading up to Christmas Eve.

My family treated Santa really well. He would be given a room at one of the family elders or put up in a nice hotel for however long he was in the city. Our family usually gave him the choice. And of course, the family paid for all his meals and transportation, as well as any other expenses.

On Christmas Day, he joined the family for Christmas dinner. He would arrive wearing his regular attire and finally the adults would have their answer to the guessing game of the night before. The children didn't even realize there was an extra guest so Santa was never put into jeopardy with the children.

To this day Christmas is a very important time of the year for me. It's a time for family and friends to celebrate and spend time together, and it's a time for the children to believe in Santa. It's a time for all to enjoy the magic of Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!