Tony:
Love your idea. We all have so many memories, and I love to hear them all, especially the "strange" ones!
Most of my Christmas memories revolve around the tree, as suggested in my earlier reply to a query by graciegirl.
For years and years, our fresh tree was decorated with great care, often over a period of a couple or three days. No theme, just careful placement of cherished ornaments, some dating from very early in the 20th Century. Lots of lights, heavy tinsel.
And, most important, real candles! These were, of course, lit only occasionally, and with great care. But, how amazing was the sight. They were lit for sure on Christmas Eve, after dinner. Again on Christmas Morning, after brunch and its accompanying mimosas.
Again, on New Years Eve, just before midnight. Last, on Three Kings Night, just before the tree was undecorated and all was put away until the next year.
Had digital photography been my bag in those days, I'd probably have access somewhere to some images so you could see how beautiful a tree is with all the glittery ornaments behind the wonderful candlelight. I could unearth old-fashioned prints and scan them, but frankly am not quite up to such a project.
Suffice to say that the tree was always the center of Cristmas in my house. The candles came from my in-laws, and were a wecome addition to my own traditions.
Another tradition: at Christmas Eve Dinner (once upon a time, a formal black-tie event in my in-laws home), a small individualized present for each person. Always wrapped identically, though the presents weren't. Followed, of course, by English crackers.
I still observe the individual gifts and English crackers when I serve my brother and his family a "formal" Eve dinner. After his many, many years in Florida, it is sometimes hard to get him into long pants, so black-tie is out of the question! :-)
Thanks forasking!
SWR
