Christmas Songs and Happy Memories

I always had favorite Christmas songs. But what I remember most about Christmas besides "Mary's Boy Child Jesus Christ", "Do you hear what I hear", and "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.." and many other awesome Carols, was waking up Christmas morning and seeing all the presents!

There were 10 of us kids. We didn't get super expensive presents but it didn't matter to us. We got some cool things. My brother got a race car track set. I think we got games and maybe clothes too- usually from an aunt or uncle. You know how they are, lol. My uncle Joe used to pass out $10 to each of us which was awesome. He also knew how to dance well and taught me and a few others the Hully Gully which is pretty simple but I felt proud to know a dance. I think I demonstrated it in school :)

I remember my Aunt and Grandmother came. Aunt Josie baked apple pies, nice delicious ones. And it was fun having them come. But they got much older and didn't come so much. My Uncle Joe would pick them both up as they lived together and drive them to our house.

One year I got a pair of grey elephant slippers and a small grey elephant in my stocking to match. But the small elephant had some dirt on it- probably a used gift or something- and I asked Mommy "Why" and she said "Because Santa dropped it from his sleigh and had to pick it up!" What a cool quick response that was!

One thing we always did was to find which gifts were ours out of the huge piles everywhere and sort them into "our own pile". Then it was so exciting cause we had about 10 gifts or so. All of us bought gifts for each other too. I think we opened one up Christmas morning before Mass and then the rest in front of company later. We always had to have that person present who gave us the gift to have them see us open it and thank them. That was part of the fun.

A lot of little kids are actually afraid of Santa when they see him at the mall ha! Well My Mom had me believing in Santa till about 5th grade. All the other kids knew except for me. But believing in Santa is fun for kids, I think that it's a great idea while they are young and innocent to allow them that pleasure to be more imaginative. Yeah, Christmas always was and is my favorite Holiday. Playing in the snow, throwing snowballs, building tunnels, ice skating, sledding, it's all fun. My favorite songs by Popular Artists are LAST CHRISTMAS by George Michael, HAPPY XMAS WAR IS OVER by John Lennon, and the one DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? Have a Happy and Merry Christmas

Written by: Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)

It is now the tradion for many American families to read the poem on Christmas Eve

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"