This is a tribute to My Mother-In-Law who passed away on Memorial Day 2008.

The very first Christmas that I went to the Allen’s, I was a New Bride in 1997. I had just married Dennis Allen, their youngest son, the month before. The first Christmas with them was exciting and intriguing all in one. I had been there before but hadn’t experienced their Christmas Traditions.

Their big house was always full of wonderful nooks and crannies and I could just imagine the children growing up in that big house playing hide and seek. There were lots of places to hide in that 100 year old house. I loved the stairs. They wrapped around the kitchen and around to the front room. She used the kitchen stairwell for a pantry. That was a very good idea as she didn’t have a lot of cabinet space to hold everything for a family of six.

We would always arrive on Christmas Eve. It was pretty cold and there was always snow on the ground and the streets was pretty well covered with slush. We parked behind the other family member’s vehicle’s who had arrived there before us. The brick sidewalks were always a favorite thing and they seemed to take you back in time when you walked on them. We were greeted at the door by Den’s Mom, a petite woman such as me. She always made you feel at home when you were there. The first thing you saw as you go into the house is the small table that a small, decorated Christmas tree sits on. On the right hand side of that and behind the front door was the big Oil Heater. It looked like a big radiator that you find in many older homes in the North East. This got used a lot as people would play a game of “how long you could sit on it before it got too hot to sit any longer.” It was also used to get warm after being out playing in the snow or shoveling it elsewhere than where it fell. In the front room (as they called it), there was a big, old, red-brick Fireplace on the left of the room. It was so big they could have used it for cooking and I am sure that it was used for that a few times since the house was 100 years old. There was a roaring fire in the fireplace that sent warmth and cheer throughout the Front Room. Once in a while they would throw something into the fire that would send up ribbons of colors and it was a beautiful sight to behold. Just beyond the Front Room was the huge dining room with a very old, black, German styled table. This table was used for far more things then just having meals at. We played cards (hearts was the game of choice) and other games there. There was always a new tablecloth on it and a centerpiece in the center of the huge table. Oh and I can’t forget the shadow-boxed picture of a bird near the back corner of the room. It was set into the wall and everyone imagined that there was some money hidden in there. It was there before the Allen’s moved there.

We would take our coats off for a little while and sit and greet each of the others that were there. Jane would always have something nice to say and she is a very loving and funny type of person. Then there was Sandy who appears to me to be a care-giving and matriarchal type of person and her husband (who has passed away at this writing) Gene whom was very jolly and fun-loving and would always throw a joke or two to break the ice and welcome you. Bill, Jane’s husband, would be next and he would just say Hi and go back to his hobby at the moment. Bob, Den’s dad would always get up and give me a hug and I always thought that was nice. They sure are a bunch of characters!

At about 10:00 p.m. we start getting ready to go to Midnight Mass at the church that his mother and family have gone to for many, many years. This is an exciting and joyous time and I just love to listen to Father tell his homily. It is so amazing to me how he can say the whole homily without having to be at the podium to look at a cheat sheet. He stands right in front of the congregation and says it just like he is talking to the congregation and not preaching. It amazes me how he can do this without a paper in front of him or notes to let him know where to take his message next. Oh and the lady that sings the Christmas anthem, “Oh Holy Night”, she would give me goose bumps all over. This lady had a wonderful, clear voice and her song would ring throughout the church walls and I do believe that those in the city could here her sing as well. It was just the most amazing and awe-inspiring singing that I had ever heard which I am glad to have been a part of and something that I will never forget.

When we get back home there is another tradition! Eating much deserved snacks after coming home after midnight when the roads were really bad and getting up Division Streets was a nightmare.. These snacks were Chicken Nuggets, Mini Bagel Pizzas, and her famous Polish Mistakes. We would always have an assortment of pepperoni, cheese and crackers too.

The first night that I was there Dennis’ mom was giving him a plate full of cheese, crackers and pepperoni for him to snack on. She told Dennis to share with me. He shared ONE with me and his mother pointed her finger at him and told him to share with me. She did that to show that she was serious and meant what she said, but we thought that it was funny. To this day when I point my finger I am reminded of her on that night. It was funny, but at the same time showed Dennis that she was on my side of things in that house.

Afterwards the men usually went to the basement to watch TV and I believe they put the gifts under the tree while down there. The Allen's didn't open their gifts until Christmas night. That was a tradition and so no one but the men were allowed downsatirs at all. If someone needed something they had to ask one of the men to get it for them. The ladies usually went to bed.

Christmas Day was a relaxed kind of day and we were allowed to get up at anytime we choose and eat a small breakfast. Mom Allen always had Sticky Buns and other assorted breakfast items to munch on as everyone got up at different itmes. She always had a pot of coffee percolating and lots of different kinds of homemade cookies and pies. The guys usually went to the movies during the day and that is the guy’s tradition. The ladies would go visiting relatives.

Christmas Dinner started with a slada dn jello. Now Den's nephew had to have jellow with no skin. Mom Allen would put a layer of plastic wrop on it the night before so there would be no skin on the top of the Grape Jello. Everything was brought out to the table before anyone would sit in their assigned places. I can remember the first time I wnet there I sat in the wrong spot. I had no idea na dno one told me there was a pecking order to where one could sit. They all had a good laugh. Den's nephew always cooked a small raost of beek on a spit in the basement for dinner too. We had Turkey, bread stuffing, Mashed potoate, Turkey Gravy and Beef Gravy, Green beans, and a host of other side dishes. The one that I liked the best was Mom Allen's Baked Corn Pudding. It was to die for. I have the resipe but it just isn't the same as how she made it. She puts lots of love into her cooking and baking. She made homemade pies--all of them she made them herself right down to rolling out thecrust. We woud always have a choice of Pumpkin, MinceMeat (which was Genes's favorite), Apple, and Cherry, which was her specialty. After dinner there is a comraderie like no other that I have seen! All the ladies, start from the back of the table where our father sits, brings the dishes and food towards the front of the table next to the Kitchen. From there the food is put on the small kitchen table where it gets put into containers and put in the refrigerator. The dirty dishes then get put in the dishwasher and the Pots and Pans get washed up. It all is done in a very timely and cooperative manner. After the Christmas Dinner is cleaned up we all gather in the basement.

The first thing that you see when you get to the bottom of the staircase is the huge Christmas Tree all lit up and full of many traditional Ornaments, some made by the hands of the siblings when they were younger. Under the tree are lots of presents to be opened up. We all have our assigned seating and go to them and wait until everyone is seated. The gifts are then distributed to the names of the person on them. After they are all finished a coin in flipped by Dad Allen to see who goes first in the rounds of opening the gifts each person has gotten. We start with the person who is to go first and they start by opening just one gift. Then we go around the room in the same manner until all the gifts have been opened. It is a wondrous time and it is more exciting to see what others have gotten then what you have gotten. Somene is always taking pictures. I love to see all the surprised faces as they opened the neatly wrapped packages in front of them. The best part is opening the presents that Bob Jr. and his family who live in Florida sent up to everyone. They are all gag gifts and most likely bought at the Dollar Store—but they are the most fun. He always puts something in writing telling you why you got such a gift.

After we finish opening our gifts we gather them all together and put them in our rooms. The men go off and play games or watch Football and the ladies usually sat in front of the fireplace and chat about the activites of  the past year. I always sat on the couch in the front room where the big fireplace was and read something and listened to the chatter that goes on throughout the house.

Christmas was a very fun time with the Allen’s in Oil City, PA..