My Irish Christmas

In October, my mother would begin her preparations for Christmas.  She would pick up her ingredients to bake the rich fruitcake and we all had to help her. Two weeks later, the cake was mixed and baked in the oven for five hours. The aroma going all through the house gave us that special Christmas spirit that stayed with us for the four weeks of Advent.

Three weeks later, the fruitcake was decorated with marzipan icing and across the top ‘Happy Christmas ‘ with a little ornament of  “Santa Claus;” and around the sides of the cake was a fancy paper band. It was displayed on a cake stand on the sideboard in the dining room until Christmas Day.

The following week, the plum pudding was prepared, and the ingredients mixed and set up for boiling for five hours. As soon as it was cooked and cooled, it was put into a bowl, covered with wax paper and hung up until we were ready to devour it. Before it is brought to the table on Christmas Day, a glass of brandy was poured over it and a little holly for decoration.

On Christmas Eve, two fresh-killed turkey’s were delivered by the local farmer, as was the custom for many households. My mother would prepare her potato stuffing with fresh spices mixed in, to give it a special taste. The turkeys are then set for the oven.

I would accompany my mother on her shopping trip to the store for the many special Christmas items she required, and her planning would be complete for the festive occasion. My sister and I would pick the holly and I can still recall those bright red berries.

We would put a sprig of holly on each picture in our dining room, and we would put fancy streamers and balloons tied around the ceiling. Then we decorated the Christmas tree with my mother’s family ornaments, and we would always add two new items.

As was the custom, I would put a large red candle secured in a brass bowl on the window to guide the traveler’s on their journey. That represented  the Holy Family on their way to Bethlehem.

On Christmas Eve, my parents always received a special invitation from the  Mother Superior of the Presentation Order to attend the Midnight Mass in their private chapel. It was just so beautiful to hear the nuns’ choir and it had a certain atmosphere  in that chapel. Afterwards, the nuns would greet us wish us the Blessings of the Season.

Finally, Christmas Day arrived and it was all hustle and bustle around our house. It was time for dinner and the special china was set on the table. The silver vegetable bowls gleamed, and turkey was dressed with little socks, which my mother insisted on doing. The meal was so delicious and we always complimented my mother, as she was a great cook and hostess.

After the dinner, my mother would play the piano, classical music and carols , as she loved to sing. The neighbors would visit and join in the singing. Afterwards, we would discuss our gifts and play some of our games with our friends. Billy, who lived across the street always received the new edition of ” Curly Wee and Gussie Goose ” the same book from his sister every year. The result was that we could not stand to hear about it anymore.

All our neighbors were just like our family and we were always with each other for special occasions.We never wanted Christmas Day to end, and it was an honor for us to celebrate Jesus birth.