Memories of my childhood Christmas.
Some Christmas childhood memories in Valley Stream
I grew up in the town of Valley Stream, New York. (1948-1966). We would always a wonderful Christmas. My parents and my Grandfather would make sure of that. We started right after Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad always said “Nothing until after the Macy’s Parade”. A sentiment that I follow.
Our Christmas tree was always HUGE, at least to my small viewpoint. My Father and Grandfather would buy the tree about the first week of December and store it in the separate garage for about week.
About the middle of December, the tree was brought into the house. According to Dad, to let the branches settle. I can remember the wonderful evergreen smell.
The tree ALWAYS was set up in the living room, which made some creative furniture rearrangements.
First, Dad and Grandpa would put in the lights. In later years bubble lights and specialize lights would be add. We always had a lighted star on top of the tree. I am told that I came down from our bedroom, and proclaimed: “Tree up, lights in, no pretties”
Later, with Mom’s help, we kids would decorate the tree with certain ornaments. Mom would hang her special ones that she had as a child. They were too fragile, being the old fashion glass ones especially the ones imported from Germany. (Germany before the War). Sometimes I thought the tree would fall over with some many ornaments.
After all of the ornaments, then red and silver ropes and the tinsel was put on. The adults would do the rope and we kids did the tinsels. The tinsel was not today plastic, they were silvers of metal. They made for an interesting time when they fell on the train tracks under the tree.
When one of us kids in our exploring the attic, we found the old Christmas town, train set and figures that Mom had as a child. Mom said: “Being older now, we could place them under the tree now.” I think I saw Mom shed a happy tear when we did. I think she was remembering her Christmases.
Every year since that time, there has been a Christmas village and train set that was under the tree. I carried on that tradition with my family.
We would decorate the outside of the house with Christmas lights. Mom and Dad had a special lighted wreath that Mom had as a child. That was always hung in the front window.
PRESENTS, PRESENTS, PRESENTS.
There were always lots of presents. Mom would take us out to buy Dad’s and Grandpa’s presents. Then Dad or Grandpa, when they could, do the same for us to get Mom’s presents. Of course as we grew, we were given money to buy our parent’s presents. I remember biking to the downtown area and the local shopping center to do shopping by myself.
Everyone would wrap presents. My Mother did. My Dad did, when he could, as with my Grandpa. Later that task fell to us.
There were train trips into New York City to see Rockettes and the Radio City
Christmas show. We would also window shop at all of the wonderful displays. We would eat at the Horn and Hardart Automat. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automat). Watching the change person just throw out the nickels was fascinating. Getting your food from the coin operated windows was equally fascinating.
During the month, Mom and Dad would drive us around town to look at all of the outdoor light displays. Some were very impressive. We would come back for hot chocolate.
Weather permitting, that is when the lake (Henderson pond) frozen over and deemed safe, we would try to do ice skating. Mom could skate, I always fell down. There were many memories of cold outdoor activities in that park and around town, especially after a snowfall. We made snow forts, ready for snowball fights. Later there would be hot chocolate. Sadly the lake is closed now to all these activities.
After most of the presents were unwrapped on Christmas day, Grandpa would take us out to a Restaurant called “The Railroad Inn” which was located under the train tracks in downtown. Grandpa explain that this dinner was his present to us so Mother could have a Christmas.
After the dinner, we would return to open more presents that were sent in the mail from other relatives.
Christmas dinner we would go look at the local manger near there.
With the train set, we had a homemade bridge with lights in the posts. It was always included in the train set up. I think the bridge is still in the family.
I grew up in the town of Valley Stream, New York. (1948-1966). We would always a wonderful Christmas. My parents and my Grandfather would make sure of that. We started right after Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad always said “Nothing until after the Macy’s Parade”. A sentiment that I follow.
Our Christmas tree was always HUGE, at least to my small viewpoint. My Father and Grandfather would buy the tree about the first week of December and store it in the separate garage for about week.
About the middle of December, the tree was brought into the house. According to Dad, to let the branches settle. I can remember the wonderful evergreen smell.
The tree ALWAYS was set up in the living room, which made some creative furniture rearrangements.
First, Dad and Grandpa would put in the lights. In later years bubble lights and specialize lights would be add. We always had a lighted star on top of the tree. I am told that I came down from our bedroom, and proclaimed: “Tree up, lights in, no pretties”
Later, with Mom’s help, we kids would decorate the tree with certain ornaments. Mom would hang her special ones that she had as a child. They were too fragile, being the old fashion glass ones especially the ones imported from Germany. (Germany before the War). Sometimes I thought the tree would fall over with some many ornaments.
After all of the ornaments, then red and silver ropes and the tinsel was put on. The adults would do the rope and we kids did the tinsels. The tinsel was not today plastic, they were silvers of metal. They made for an interesting time when they fell on the train tracks under the tree.
When one of us kids in our exploring the attic, we found the old Christmas town, train set and figures that Mom had as a child. Mom said: “Being older now, we could place them under the tree now.” I think I saw Mom shed a happy tear when we did. I think she was remembering her Christmases.
Every year since that time, there has been a Christmas village and train set that was under the tree. I carried on that tradition with my family.
We would decorate the outside of the house with Christmas lights. Mom and Dad had a special lighted wreath that Mom had as a child. That was always hung in the front window.
PRESENTS, PRESENTS, PRESENTS.
There were always lots of presents. Mom would take us out to buy Dad’s and Grandpa’s presents. Then Dad or Grandpa, when they could, do the same for us to get Mom’s presents. Of course as we grew, we were given money to buy our parent’s presents. I remember biking to the downtown area and the local shopping center to do shopping by myself.
Everyone would wrap presents. My Mother did. My Dad did, when he could, as with my Grandpa. Later that task fell to us.
There were train trips into New York City to see Rockettes and the Radio City
Christmas show. We would also window shop at all of the wonderful displays. We would eat at the Horn and Hardart Automat. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automat). Watching the change person just throw out the nickels was fascinating. Getting your food from the coin operated windows was equally fascinating.
During the month, Mom and Dad would drive us around town to look at all of the outdoor light displays. Some were very impressive. We would come back for hot chocolate.
Weather permitting, that is when the lake (Henderson pond) frozen over and deemed safe, we would try to do ice skating. Mom could skate, I always fell down. There were many memories of cold outdoor activities in that park and around town, especially after a snowfall. We made snow forts, ready for snowball fights. Later there would be hot chocolate. Sadly the lake is closed now to all these activities.
After most of the presents were unwrapped on Christmas day, Grandpa would take us out to a Restaurant called “The Railroad Inn” which was located under the train tracks in downtown. Grandpa explain that this dinner was his present to us so Mother could have a Christmas.
After the dinner, we would return to open more presents that were sent in the mail from other relatives.
Christmas dinner we would go look at the local manger near there.
With the train set, we had a homemade bridge with lights in the posts. It was always included in the train set up. I think the bridge is still in the family.