Holiday Tales & Traditions Blog Hop
When Bernie from Needle & Foot invited me to be a part of the Holiday Tales & Traditions Blog Hop, I couldn’t say no. What a great idea as we wrap this unusual year – sharing memories of past holidays and traditions that give us security in our otherwise upside down world.
I was born and raised in a small little town in South Dakota. In the 60s, the total population of my little town was 155. Told you it was small! While South Dakota may make you think of long prairie views (which there are), my little hometown is actually nestled on the Coteau des Prairies, a ridge that runs primarily in South Dakota but also into parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. Unlike other parts of eastern South Dakota, my little town and its surrounding area had hills.
Those hills were a significant part of winter fun for me and my friends. One particular hill in the town was the sledding hill. During the winter months we often had a significant amount of snowfall. (It was not unusual to have snow drifts that were 4-6 feet high.) So the hill was the place to be with runner sled in tow. I have very fond memories of those days – runner sleds were the best. One of our favorite things to do while sledding was having one person run and flop onto the sled, while the rest of us would run alongside and pile on top of him/her to see how many we could get on the sled. If you were the person “driving”, you would wait for the opportune moment, then take a hard left or right and see if you could topple the pile. This was always followed by hoots of laughter and screams of fun. Frankly, it’s amazing no one was ever injured. I recall one particular year when my brother and his buddies blocked off the lower end of the hill, diverting the traffic (using that term very loosely – more like diverting the few cars) so that we had the hill to ourselves – and you know what? The townspeople put up with it – for a time – and just let us have our fun.
When we weren’t sledding on the hill, we were in school. We had a schoolhouse in the town, with four grades in each of the two rooms. One teacher for each classroom, of course. I was at that school until the end of my 5th grade year, and my class consisted of me and my second cousin, Susan. While we were busy making Christmas decorations and other activities in school, we were also busy memorizing our lines for the Christmas plays at our churches. (We had two churches in our small town, but that’s for another story some other time.)
Of course, you can imagine the excitement around the holidays with all that going on. Waiting to see if you got that really big item on your Christmas list that you were waiting for was the hot topic of discussion during our school days.
Finally Christmas Eve arrived, and here’s how it played out in our family.
Our family celebrated on Christmas Eve, so that particular day was one of excitement for us kids and much to do for the parents. For my grandmother (seated on the left in the photo) hosting the evening festivities, there was much to be done, but it was a day she always enjoyed. It also happened to be her birthday, so it was a special time for her to have her whole family at her table. The table was always set with the best china, and on each plate was a little glass of cranberry punch. I still make this recipe, and it always makes me think of her and our times around her table.
Our meal had some special dishes, only served at Christmas. No Scandinavian table would be complete without lutefisk. While I never ate it, I have a strong nostalgia for the aroma, which smacked you in the face as soon as you opened the door. Grandma’s mashed potatoes were a favorite dish of all the boys in the family, and they all still talk about the mashed potatoes to this day. I don’t know that she made them any particular way, they were just Grandma’s mashed potatoes, and that was enough.
By the way, that’s me in the red dress, looking back at the rest of the family. My grandfather is in the plaid shirt. My mom, dad, and brother Steve are the three in the upper right corner. Next to my mom is my Aunt Alice (whose mash potatoes were also legendary). The fellow in the red striped shirt is my cousin, Lee. Seated by him is his sister, Linda. Next to my grandfather is my Aunt Grace and, next to her, my cousin Larry. My Uncle Lyle is behind the camera, taking the picture. These were the “out of town” cousins (they lived a little over an hour away) and it was always exciting when they came to visit!
Once the meal was finished, the dishes needed to be done. As a kid, I was convinced Mom, Grandma and Aunt Grace were taking their sweet old time getting them done, while I was itching to get to the presents. The dishes finished, it was time for the kids to recite their presentations from their Christmas plays. This, of course, was a bit torturous to us kids because – presents, y’know?
The evening was not complete without the reading of the Christmas story from the book of Luke. I have fond memories of my grandfather reading the story to us. We still carry on this tradition in our family.
Then finally – the opening of the gifts. It was a cacaphony of paper being ripped, exclamations of happiness, and laughter. I recall paper and ribbon all over the floor. Each of us girls always received a new flannel nightgown with a matching nightgown for our dolls, all handmade by my grandmother. I can still remember the soft feel of the flannel against my skin. In fact, as the evening came to a close, I’d go home in my nightgown, coat over the top, boots on, while I trudged to our car in the cold winter night.
Well, if you’ve stuck with me this far, you know that my growing up years are very fond memories for me. Thank you for walking down memory lane with me.
Bernie, thank you for inviting me to be a part of the Holiday Tales & Traditions Blog Hop!
Here are a list of the others participating today. Grab another cup of coffee or tea, and visit them too!
Sew Preeti Quilts Quilting Jetgirl Confessions of a Fabric Addict Academic Quilter From My Carolina Home MMMQuilts Pieceful Thoughts Devoted Quilter The Colorful Fabriholic Me & My Quilts Kathleen McMusing Sarah Goer Quilts Needle and Foot Wendy
To Do Tuesday 43
31 Comments
Cindy Pieters
Thank you for sharing your family and traditions with us! It brought back memories of going to my own grandparents for Christmas.
Melody
I loved your story! What great memories. And what a nice photo, too. I don’t think I ever knew your dad, but I think Steve really resembles him. I remember your mom, I worked at the Thrift store with her once and we had coffee break together, and a nice conversation. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Wendy!
txquiltgal
My husband and I have always had a fascination with South Dakota, so I love reading anything you want to write about it! No matter how different our food customs, that cozy warm Christmasy feeling is the same one that I had growing up, and reading how you went home in the cold in your flannel gown with your coat over it strikes a chord with me. I enjoyed the photo and introduction to your family on Christmas Eve. Thanks for a lovely post Wendy.
Carol S.
This was a beautifully written memory, Wendy, with such sweet stories. I grew up with Norwegian Christmas traditions, but no lutefisk was ever served thank goodness. We did have lefse, though! Thank you for sharing!
Cocoa Quilts
Wendy this is a great ride down memory lane. I enjoyed reading your post and the picture. As I grew up my Dad took lots of pictures, but we have very few with the whole family in them. (pre selfie time) I know that new flannel feeling, it was so warm and cozy.
Nancy Bekedam
Fun memories, Wendy! I love the family photos! And the sledding–yes!!! I can relate, as my dad made a “toboggan hill” on our property and we did similar shenanigans going down that hill.
Vicki in MN
I loved another glimpse into your life Wendy, especially the sledding part. I remember loads of snow the winter of ’68-’69, lots of school closing that winter. Bring on the sleds, LOL
karenfae
parts of our life seem the same – I too remember the big hill sliding down with all the kids piled on top – only it was our very long drive way and it was brothers and sisters piled on we had a very long toboggan and sleds – going to grandma’s house and all those sorts of memories are so great I wish I had more photos of those years, I have some but not a lot – but the memories are there. Your memories of the schoolhouse too is much like mine too –
Helen
Nooo!!! You didn’t give us the cranberry punch recipe! I want to make some!
Gretchen
Thanks for sharing, sounds like a lovely happy time. Happy Christmas!
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! Your tale brought a tear to my eyes in a good way. What a wonderful family and such strong traditions that you are still able to carry on now. That cranberry punch looks good and festive, and I just imagine how good the food, especially the mashed potatoes, was. Of course, the sledding fun sounds fabulous. I can just hear the laughter ringing through the air – good ‘ole fun. {{Hugs}} Thanks for sharing this piece of your Christmas memories with us, and Merry Christmas to you and your family. ~smile~ Roseanne
Needle and Foot
The sledding sounds wild – I feel for the kid on the bottom of the pile!! Wendy, you have always lived in really cold climates – sounds like tons of snowy memories. The family picture is wonderful – I want to know how you make the cranberry punch too.
Your Christmas Eve sounds so special – each step of the way filled with tradition and family. Just wonderful. Love hearing about your little town and the tiny school. Thank you for sharing this with us. Really touching.
Carole @ From My Carolina Home
What wonderful memories! You are so lucky to have those photos to remember by.
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
What a lovely post, Wendy! It was fun to read about your growing up years in such a small town, especially in a two room school. Sledding is a memory for me growing up, too. Love the family photo! I bet we all have something similar – the one where the photographer is trying to get everyone to be ready at the same time!
Sandra Walker
I wonder if that is the ridge that runs through Minot. It is just beautiful country there. Lutefisk – my friend who married a Scandinavian (his family is ‘just’ north of you in southern Saskatchewan) talked about this and some other traditional food. Ah, sledding, though we called it tobogganing, yep tons of fun and crazy! Speaking of crazy my aunt would tow us four cousins on the upside down hood of an old car behind her ski-doo!
Mari
What great stories, and your vintage picture is just wild. So nice to have those old photos, isn’t it? I can relate to the sledding and snow, and even the lutefisk. I’ve eaten it once, but smelled it many times. You’d definitely remember it! And I think you definitely need a new flannel nightgown this year! 🙂 Have a wonderful Christmas with your family, and best wishes for a great 2021.
Rochelle Summers
Such wonderful Christmas memories. It’s nice to have them to unwrap and hold on to when times have changed so much. We did have it good when we were kids! Thanks for sharing them with us.
Barbara
Your Christmas traditions sound very similar to mine right down to the dishwashing before opening Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. It was the longest day of the year. Our tradition is Danish, rather than Swedish, but I don’t remember any Danish dishes on the table. We usually had oyster stew because it was easy, and then a big dinner on Christmas.
StoriedQuilts
Thank you for sharing your lovely Christmas stories. That family picture is so precious. Everything seemed so much more brighter and more fun when we were young.
TuNa Quilts
You have Wonderful memories! The stuff that Hallmark movies are made of. I too think my mom took too long in washing the dishes on Christmas Eve and often accused her of cleaning out the cupboards and washing every dish at least twice just to delay the package opening.
lapaylor
you brought tears to my eyes…. lovely and close. What I always dreamed of…minus the lutefisk
The Joyful Quilter
It’s lovely when the entire family comes together for the holidays. Thanks for sharing your special memories, Wendy!
Louise Hornor
I can just picture you in your new nightgown and boots! Sweet memories for you 🙂
Carol Andrews
Wendy your Christmas memories are so wonderful! I can almost imagine the smell as you walked in to your Grandparents house and hear the laughter and the kids frustration as the dishes took forever to get done. The memory of going home in your new flannel nightgown brought a tear to me eye as it is a memory of mine for two special Christmases as a kid. I was raised in an armed forces family so we only went home to Gramma and Grampa’s twice that I remember and both times stayed at an aunts house but walked to and from my grandparents down the road on Christmas Eve. 😉 Carol
Quiltdivajulie
I grew up in MI so I know all about sledding on a sled with runners in deep snow – good memories. We celebrated on Christmas Day – and my mom’s birthday was four days later (she always said she got ripped off because she would get ONE present to cover both while her brother and sister got different presents for both occasions). Merry Christmas!
Kathleen McCormick
I love the family picture and I was sure that was you in the red dress! We had a similar hill and it could be treacherous as there were a few trees at the bottom. There does seem to be a theme of parents taking too long to let kids get to the presents!
Danice G
Thank you for the sweet memories. Family is so important.
Cheree
Such fun memories to read about! Wow, a very small
town—But sounds fun! I don’t spend a lot of time really thinking and talking about those early years but they do cross my mind a lot in small bits. It would be interesting to start writing some down as you have done! Christmas would be a great place to start, too.
Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty
What a fun post to read … I’d be up for more stories from that little hometown of yours! : )
Kathy Swallows
What a great post! I love the family picture. I’ve got a few of those in my photo albums too (with the same fashion statements and hair styles, so you can guess when I grew up).
Preeti Harris
The sledding story had me laughing. That sounds like so much fun. I am adding Lutefisk to the list of things I must try – even if it is just once. Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year.