Monday 3 December 2012

CHRISTMAS's PAST AND PRESENT ..................


Christmas’s pasts and present………………..


We are in the middle of what we in our business calls “the silly season” being that the suppliers are busy stocking up the large retail shops with “Back to School” specials and the clients are rushing around wanting to use up the last of their budget, so stocking up on paper and cartridges, pens and  pencils for the new year, half the items are out of stock and delivery delays are many *sigh* ………so cannot wait for the 14th , our last official working day. I know we will still be busy and this year will not be able to take a break. Last year we went to Durban for Kerry’s wedding and it was lovely to get away from it all, even if just for the 3 nights. This year Beatrice has warned me “I am going home on the 14th, not waiting till last minute, you know the taxi was full and was late and, and, and, and ……..”  *groans*

So peace and quiet will rein in the house, we have to do month end obviously, but also stock take and year end. I finished the archiving of 2010, so that is wonderful, still have filing to do, the dreaded F Word  …………… 

Melissa and Chris are off to the Kruger National Park, Mozambique and then Christmas with Michelle in Zimbabwe ……….. Kerry is preggies and cannot travel, so going to her mother in Durban, Kenneth will be here *sigh* ……… Warren will be with Susan at her mothers with the girls and Steven and Amy cannot leave the farm.



I sit and  remember my childhood Christmas’s and wonder, where did the feeling of magic disappear to. Is it only as a child you have that anticipation, counting the days on the advent calendar……nearly having butterflies in the stomach as the big day comes closer, the magic of the decorations, the candles every night, the little rituals …… so well known and loved…..baking of cookies, making marzipan sweets by the fire and candle light in the evening. Special smells, I remember like yesterday…….oranges with cloves pushed into them, the expensive Christmas ones, so rare, we only ever bought 4 ………. The log fire with some pine cones burning with it. Today when I smell pine wood burning, I think of Christmas, the two are so intertwined………….. I wonder was it because I left home so young and came so far away, that the whole  magic disappeared, a change of continents and rituals…………. 


(Christmas 1967, I was 12, with my favorite aunt that I secretly thought was my real mother.My sister 9, my mother and my dog, Pelle, a fox terrier)


Still so dear to my heart the memories of days long gone, people gone, forgotten……………. The Church Bells ringing to service at 4pm on Christmas Eve, the people frantically running for the last shopping, the harried shop keepers also wanting to go home to their families.  The twinge of frost in the air and the first snow flakes falling. My legs all itchy and I am fidgeting on the church bench while my mother gently tries to quiet me …………..got angels hair stock in my thick red Christmas stockings, the new ones, like a pantyhose, so the tops don’t fall down and they are nice and warm around my bum and back as they were bought a bit big to grow into. The itchy Falklands jersey under my blue pinafore that mother made herself, on the machine with a new pattern bought. I can see it; it was a lovely royal blue corduroy material, ever so smart. At home the special dinner is simmering in the oven, roast pork and medister polse, like a seasoned pork sausage, sugar glased baby potatoes , boiled normal potatoes, pickled red cabbage and lovely rich gravy. We are allowed a nisseol each , (this is a non alcoholic rich beer brew with a rich white foam head on) ………………. Soft carols are playing in the background and we have a special rice pudding for dessert ( ris ala mande) made with pudding rice, cream and almonds. One whole almond in the bowl, the winner gets a marzipan pig. We carefully chew or suck each piece, cannot break the special almond, have to be whole to claim the prize. We had to wash the dishes and pack all away too, oh the anticipation, I got a tummy ache and needed the bathroom, every year ( my father convinced just to avoid washing dishes and would wait for me)………. At last, finished, we wait in the hall , there is rustling and whispers and I hop from one leg to the other, while my sister fidgets beside me…….the door opens………..aaawww, it is beautiful, the best tree ever, the biggest, the star on top reaching right up to the ceiling, just touching, silver, gold and red and green crystal balls, angels hair, the Danish Flags on string draped around it and the live candles burning bright. The tree was brought all the way from the forest on the other side of the island, we went to buy it last weekend, with the neighbor in their truck and the forestry delivered the tree we chose just 2 days ago, while it stood outside, by the tool room waiting just for today. Underneath is piled high parcels in lovely wrapping paper and gaily colored ribbon in bows with twirls on the ends. My mother taught me how to make the twirls on the ribbon with the back end of a pair of scissors.


I remember more recent Christmas’s, when the children months in advance would ask us what are the plans for Christmas Day ………. As per usual, was my answer, everyone comes here ……….we had up to 30 people on Christmas day, everyone brought something. Russell’s ex –wife always did the Glazed Ham and Lesley her sister, who passed away 2 years ago in January, did a cheesecake. I always made the bread and did a fruit salad. Peter, the brother, would buy a ready cooked Turkey from Woolworths and all the cousins would come too. My children went to their father that day, the first couple of years we were together, but slowly started drifting over here as we had so much more fun. Granny Pam always did the coleslaw, her secret recipe with yogurt, fresh cream and peanuts. Yummy. The older cousins would bring sweets and the young wife of Craig, would bring a salad. The very first great grand child for Granny Pam.

Then I remember back to my marriage to the children’s father  and Christmas juggling between my Danish traditions and his family get together. The family always seemed so divided, the daughter in laws fighting for attention from GrannyM, , the age differences between their children and ours were huge, as he  was the youngest of 5 and we married late, so where mine was babies, theirs were already teenagers. The closest in age was a cousin who married young and had twins when my twins were 3 years old. Early in our marriage I would try to enforce our tradition of Christmas on the 24th. The tree was up and soft music playing in English, strange to my ears. I bought a Danish Christmas music tape the one year I went to visit, but he did not like it, could not understand the words





       Crystalle, my step daughter , here 4, had the mumps, Michelle is just 8 months old.

Everything red, green and gold, nisser crawling and elves in corners, I would take some branches from the fir tree in the park and decorate. 


Christmas in 32 deg C is very difficult …………. Roast leg of pork with crackling, glazed baby potatoes, pickled red cabbage and gravy. Rice Pudding……….. I tried so hard …………


Kenneth and Melissa , 6 years later, their first Christmas........look at the wonder and joy in those little faces, just for a teddy bear. *smile*

Strange one of the traditions my children always settle on is the Rice Pudding and a Tree up on the 24th. Otherwise it would not be real Christmas and Russell is so understanding and sweet, he happily tries to sing with to the Danish Carols.



Over the years the children drift off and have to try to juggle celebrations with their partners family too, which is not easy either. We always had the understanding that we had an open house, let us know the week before, we will fit in. Now we are lucky if we can gather half the clan together on Boxing Day. It seems so much trouble to go to, just for 3 or 4 of us, not the same ………….. Kenneth has asked can Meghan come. She is welcome, but I don’t know if we are doing anything special the  24th. “at least make rice pudding” he wails. 25 and the one thing he wants is rice pudding.*smile*




 I spoke to Amy’s mother yesterday, Amy is married to Russell’s youngest son and I get on well with her parents. We chatted a bit and I broached the subject, that Amy and I had spoken about Christmas Day and was she coming by to the farm too and so on ………… “Of course, Amy told me you are coming down, to help with the horses again, is going to be so nice to see you, what should we cook?” …………. and blah and blah and so heartwarming and welcoming it was, no longer feeling like a lost fart but needed and welcome …………… “ hope you are baking the bread again”, was her parting shot ……… “and please bring the twins if they are around” We will take Kenneth and Warren with us again, they can help Steven with the sheep and maybe we can go on an outride down to the river, time my riding boots got dusted off and my bum in the saddle again …………… yes , it will be Christmas again and yes , we are a family and we will all cope, with the ones not with us and missing or gone beyond being thought of and my mother so very far away……it might not be the same as in years gone past, but time for new traditions, a new life…….all will be okay …………….anyway in my little corner of the world.



18 comments:

  1. Wow, what a lot of Christmas memories!! Some good, some maybe not so much, but through it all there you are trying to keep the special traditions alive :-))

    I don't really remember the Christmases of childhood all that much now. Since I became an adult and left home I have always gone to visit and stay with my parents at Christmas. Over the years I only missed seeing them at Christmas twice. Both times because bad weather stopped me from travelling.

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    1. I hope and pray for yours and your parents sake, the weather will behave this year, so you can go and see them. Time spent with parents are precious time and the years fly past. Hugs

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  2. My Christmas memories were great - the whole family together in the East End of London. It was more like carnival than Christmas. Lots of dancing, singing and a large tree with lots of presents for us cousins. Grandad was the center piece and he had the complete family round him. Today things are quieter, just me my husband and the boys but I don't mind. Less stress. We also celebrated on 24th December in Switzerland. Funny how the food memories always remain.

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    1. I think in those days food were such a luxury in a certain way, so a special meal was long remembered. Meat on the table, wow, celebration indeed.

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  3. I had Christmas in the orphanage and it was not a giving type. Prayers and Hymms morning noon and night.
    When mother finally decided she wanted us back there was never a Christmas that I can remember.
    I was in a violent marriage so Christmas never happened either.

    You have some great memories here Marianne.

    Huggles.

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    1. I pray that you and Minx will have a wonderful Christmas together, Shayna and stamp out all those bad memories, no use dwelling on them. We cannot change yesterday and it is up to us to shape tomorrow. Can you email me your postal address?????

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    2. Ooooh, a card from Africa. Clap calp and big huge Huggles. Will do my friend.

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    3. Wonderful Memoirs i so enjoyed your blog about your Christmas's past present and future

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    4. so pleased you dropped in to say hi

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    5. @ Shayna, so where is that e-mail??? Bugger Blogger for not having pm's !!!!

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  4. Wonderful pics and lots of Christmas memories!!! I believe the magic is still there. ! It helps to see it shine in little ones eyes and is kept alive with love. I wish you a very merry holiday season. Lots hugs

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    1. enjoy yours too, believe you are off jetting again ???

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  5. It is after The greatest birthday celebration of all the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior

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    1. Church early in the morning, then the ride *smile*

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  6. Although I must admit I do hope you get to ride

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  7. I remember last year's outing, and so glad you'll do it again! The memories are precious, but the attitude makes it work.... seems like being together with others is going to make the holiday for you!

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    1. it is wonderful, that we are making new memories together, I treasure that, but oh jeiks eish, could smack all the kids one for dilly dally with the arrangements, just for heavens sake tell me yes or no !! Now Melissa says her and Chris might be here anyway, tight with the cash ......... might ......mind you !!

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  8. Sounds like some wonderful memories. It was interesting to read of your traditions. Rice pudding, never had it for the holidays but I might have to try my hand at making some (I never have before!).

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