Christmas brings back many memories. Most recently I've been thinking about my years at St. Sylvester School in Brooklyn and our Christmas celebration.
There was always a play, followed by the Nativity scenes. When everything was over, each student would process with his class to the back of the auditorium where our Pastor, Father Smith, would sit and give each child a box of hard candy. The box was the size of a box of Animal Crackers and the candy was varied. There were some peppermint sticks and some filled with either peanut butter or fruit flavored gel.
It's funny what you remember from childhood. Father Smith was reassigned when I was in 4th or 5th grade, and I don't remember who gave us our candy after that, although I do know we got it.
2 comments:
MOM, YOUR CHRISTMAS MEMORIES STORY STIRRED MINE AS WELL. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH CHRISTMAS AT SCHOOL, THAT I KEPT ALL THOSE WONDERFUL TIMES IMBEDDED IN MY MIND, NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN. AS I READ YOUR STORY I PICTURED THE WHOLE SCENE. I FELT IT WAS MAGICAL. I OFTEN THINK ABOUT HOW MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND ALL THAT WE "OLDSTERS" LEARNED ABOUT THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS, EVEN THOUGH I TRIED TO IMPART IT TO THEM. SOME SAY THAT AS YOU GROW OLDER THESE MEMORIES SEEM MORE WONDERFUL THAN THEY ACTUALLY WERE. BUT, IN THIS CASE, I MUST SAY THAT IT TRULY WAS ESPECIALLY WONDERFUL. THANKS FOR STIRRING UP MY MEMORIES. I TREASURE THEM. MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!
PF/SSS
I agree with each and every thought that the two of you shared. And, I strongly feel that we're not embellishing our memories. We didn't have much materially, compared to today, but we had an abundance in spirit!
Three last memories that I wanted to add were:
When Father Smith or Father O'Sullivan were not there to give us the candy, then our school principal was.
Somtimes, an orange accompanied the box of candy, too. Remember?
And finally, there was an occasional year when it would actually start to snow on our way home from school.
Ahhh! Those were the days!
ms/sss
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