Christmas in the hills of north Louisiana

Christmas is near-- only about a week away and I’m excited. I just can’t wait, for the day. I’ve been to Sunday School and church and I know that it’s almost baby Jesus’ birthday. My teacher again read us the story. I’ve heard it many times but it always seems new. I just can’t wait, but I’ll have too. Papa let me listen to some Christmas songs on our battery radio. I especially like “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Jingle Bells”. I don’t have a Christmas tree, but I know what they look like coz I’ve seen them in the Sears Christmas catalog. We’ve never had a tree and I know we don’t have all the pretty decorations to put on one. Mama tells me to count my blessings and be thankful for what I have. She reminds me that Baby Jesus was born in a manger with the animals and he was the Savior. I was just happy Christmas was coming, and all the family would be coming to celebrate.

Christmas was always special. Mama would order us clothes from the Sears catalog. The boys might get flannel shirts, socks, a knife, yo-yo, ball or bat. I might get stockings, panties, a flannel gown or material for a new dress and, in a good year, I might get a doll. Papa always took the wagon to town and bought fruit, candy and nuts. The fresh fruit was always so good on Christmas Eve and all of it was such a treat.

I mentioned earlier about the battery radio--it was mostly saved for hearing the news of World War II. But on Saturday night we always listened to the Grand Ole Opry, Papa really liked Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys--especially Oswald on the dobro. We also liked Ernest Tubb, Red Foley, The Carter Family, Little Jimmy Dickens and Faron Young. So I grew up on country music, church hymns, soulful blues and folk songs such as “The Red River Valley”.

Mama was ready for Christmas, her fruit cake, was ripening and most of the other cakes and pies were made. There was always a full house, on Christmas Eve. I was lucky to get to sleep at the foot of the bed. And scared that someone in the bed with me might wet the bed. On Christmas Day dinner was prepared--not lunch, but dinner--we were country. We always had chicken or turkey and dressing, ham, chicken and dumplings, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and giblet gravy. We also had every kind of pie and cake imaginable. The women set the table and all the men were seated first. My, how I hated that custom. The children would have to wait with our mouths watering for all the men to get their fill and leave the table. I thought they would never get through getting second helpings. I remember praying, “Lord please save something for us”. Somehow we all got plenty to eat, but I promised myself when I had children they would always be fed first.

I wonder if maybe I’ve written too much about the holidays, but they were so important in my life. I’m writing this as Christmas approaches because I wanted you to know how it was celebrated at our house in my world growing up. This is being written as a gift for you that you may know how it was for me back then. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year…. I love you. MawMaw Faye.