Back to Traditions....

After lunch the kids would play outside, weather permitting, or on the enclosed back porch otherwise. The adults would sit together and talk until the kids couldn’t stand it any longer. Then we would exchange Christmas gifts.

As farmers my grandparents couldn’t afford gifts for everyone but all the kids received a “Poke” (a brown paper bag)) which contained an apple, an orange, a pear, a tangerine, pecans, and the old fashioned Stick candy in peppermint, sassafras and cloves. (How I wish I could find some of that candy again!) And no, it wasn’t individually wrapped but there were no such thing as germs back then! I think we looked forward to those sacks of goodies as much if not more than anything else we received. This is one tradition that I have continued with my own family although now I have upgraded to gift bags! I also add small gifts, candy, gum, raisins, bananas, cheese crackers and anything else that might fit!

Eventually each family would head for home. Things would be winding down and each of us would settle in to play with our gifts. Dinner would consist of leftovers and then an early night. I am sure my parents were glad to have it over with but I think they enjoyed it all as much as we did.