Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Christmas Stockings

Once again, this is much too late to get into the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (hosted by Thomas MacEntee) for the December 18th installment, anyway, the topic was: "Christmas Stockings. Did you have one? Where did you hang it? What did you get in it?"

When we lived in the little block house (up until I was about 10 years old), our Christmas Stockings were filled with a tangerine, an apple, nuts (unshelled walnuts), a toothbrush, socks, and undies as well as small toys and some candy. Christmas was the only time we ever had tangerines so they were a real treat. Much easier to peel than oranges, so we could peel them ourselves. We were allowed to use a ball-peen hammer to break open the unshelled walnuts. I'm sure there were a few smashed fingers but we all still have all ten fingers!

Mom has often told the story of when my younger brother, Jack, was three. All he wanted for Christmas was a teddy bear. For whatever reason she didn't get one for him (forgetful, lack of time, lack of money?).

Christmas morning finally came and we all opened the little gifts in our stockings (the stockings were always opened first). When Jack opened his package with the toothbrush, he squealed with delight "Me got me teddy bear!" It was purely by chance that when mom wrapped up the toothbrushes that had little animals on the end of the handles, he got the one that had a bear on it!

As far as where the stockings were hung, I don't remember. We didn't have a fireplace. Now that I think about it, I wonder how Santa came into our little block house?

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