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Childhood Memories Of Christmas Cards

Think back on some of your earliest childhood holiday memories. What comes to your mind? I recall when my mother would pull out of the back of the closest all the holiday paraphernalia, packed away from the previous year. There were boxes of what, to a child, seemed to be a prequel to Christmas itself. I had of course seen the contents every year before but, still, that new unveiling, opening of the boxes, was like its own tradition.

In those days, we sometimes went out and bought a live tree but, as often, we had a fake tree. That, of course, had its own box. Always something of a real procedure . . . pulling limbs and limbs and the trunk, and then finding the stand, and getting the whole thing up and ready for the next box. . . .

The lights. This, along with pulling the heavy tree limbs out of their box, was the only real task taken on by the man of the house. Daddy would grunt and groan, and fumble and futz, but ultimately the tree would twinkle with brightly colored lights. He’d stand back, give it the eye, and pronounce it ready for decoration. Then he’d go off and leave it to Mama and us kids.

Next were all those sparkling, fascinating-to-a-child, ornaments. Some of them had special meaning to my mother, others were simply pretty little doo-dads which she had collected over the years. It was our job, as the children, to carefully take each ornament as she pulled it out of its specific boxed home, put it on a hook, and then we became tree designers—finding that one specific, special spot for that particular ornament, a spot where no other ornament would do. This ritual was repeated over and over, until just about every decoration in almost every box my mother pulled out of the closet had found a temporary new home on a tree branch.

Hmmm. . . . What next? In those days, days before everyone was concerned about fire prevention and what was, and wasn’t safe, tinsel was unequivocally next on the list. Silver tinsel. Nothing else would do. Each of us kids would carefully receive a handful, and we were instructed to take only a few strands at a time—not big handfuls!—and lightly fling those strands onto the tree branches. It was to look as if long delicate icicles precariously held on, very much in danger
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of falling to the ground at any minute. This was an art, an art my mother strictly adhered to and which we, as her students, learned the finer points from her, the Master.

Last, always last for the tree, was the angel. Always an angel at the top of the tree—nothing else would do. No star, no Santa Claus, nothing else but an angel. And at this point Daddy would come back into the picture, since he was the tallest, place the angel on the tippy-top of the tree, and he and Mama would declare the tree officially decorated. He would again retreat, and she and us kids would stand back and admire our beautiful creation, for what seemed like hours.

It wasn’t hours, though, and we weren’t finished. The process of holiday home decoration had only just begun. The tree was simply the starter. There were still boxes filled with Christmas goodies. Out would come Santas for the mantle, ceramic trees with lighted bulbs for the hallway, thick garland for the staircase, and, of course, the mistletoe for the doorway into the kitchen—always the best place, it seemed, to catch someone unaware for a big holiday kiss!

And even amidst all the glitter and color and bright lights, all the fascinating and fun decorations with which a child could become mesmerized, there was still one last item that, every year, was a staple of our home’s Christmas decor. My mother was a dedicated sender of Christmas cards. She had a list which she religiously moved into an old card box, from year to year, crossing off who she sent to the year before and who she added to the list that next year. When the list became too old, too many names crossed out with new ones added so that she could barely read it anymore, she transcribed the names to a new list, and that one would go on and on until it, too, needed replacing.

Cards received every year became part of our decorating process, yet this piece of the process was ongoing since cards were received almost every day from roundabout December first until well after Christmas day. We received lots of holiday cards. Mama had a red-and-white, bought-at-the-store string on which new cards were hung with tiny little red plastic clothespins. Each day a new card came in, it was read, oohed-and-ahhed over, the sender was checked off on the card list, and then the card was pinned up on the string. This string had been placed above the fireplace early in the process, and it allowed for each card to be enjoyed for the duration of the holiday period. I think those holiday Christmas cards were my favorite part of the season. I loved that string and the cute little plastic clothespins. I had one of my own, when my kids were growing up.

What are your memories of holiday traditions? Do you, as an adult, carry them on now that you’re grown? Bring those fantastic recollections into your child’s life . . . they’ll thank you for it, and love being able to continue them as part of their family ritual.

By: LJ Alexander

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LJ Alexander enjoyed the entertainment scene of the ‘seventies. After doing the hustle, watching the Mod Squad, and listening to the Monkees and the Herman’s Hermits on her Duster’s car radio, El Jay grew up to interview and write about the people who engaged her imagination . . . those entertainers. These days, she sometimes does the entertaining herself through her own writing. A good print company is essential for her business, and El Jay uses 123print.com . El Jay appreciates all the reprints, as long as this bio box is included.

Educational Program Services

All Pittsburgh Schools Early Childhood Programs cover five days a week, for at least six hours a day. The goal of the program is to ensure that preschool children develop the skills that they will need for attending kindergarten, including self confidence, physical abilities, increased academic awareness, and social interaction.

This free program is open to children between three and five years old. Pittsburgh School Head Start Programs accept children between three and five, while the Pre – Kindergarten accepts children who are three and four years old. Children must be at least three years old by September 1st of the current school year.

Health Program Services

Children participating in the Pittsburgh Schools Early Childhood Program have access to a variety of health services to evaluate their health needs and identify problems early on. All students entering the program must provide complete medical records, including immunizations. Follow up care on the health condition of the child is provided.

The Pittsburgh Schools Early Childhood Program recognizes the need for mental and psychological assistance to preschool children in order to develop the emotional and social skills necessary for attending school and being successful in school. Parent and mental health professionals work together to recognize the special needs of each child and prepare special courses of instruction or treatment for those children who require special attention.

Children in the Pittsburgh Schools Early Childhood Program receive two meals every day. A nutritionist helps prepare the meals as well as help parents design meal programs that suit the needs of their preschool students. Special services are also provided for students with disabilities involving diagnosis, therapy, consultation, referral, and follow up treatment. A minimum of 10% of the children participating in the Pittsburgh Schools Early Childhood Program must be children with disabilities. Staff and parental counseling is provided to ensure that these children can participate in the program.

Childcare Partnerships

Many working parents can take advantage of subsidies for childcare for children that are eligible for the Head Start program. Pittsburgh Schools have developed partnership agreements with a number of child care and early learning agencies throughout the city. These programs provide learning opportunities for children that are similar to the school based programs in the Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Program. These childcare providers have been screened by Pittsburgh Public Schools and been provided with curriculum, materials, and training to match the school based programs.

The Pittsburgh Public School Early Childhood Program Selection Process

All City of Pittsburgh residents who meet the age criteria are eligible to participate in a lottery for places within various classrooms in the Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Program. These lotteries will take into account whether children have a sibling who is already attending a Pittsburgh Public School. Children who do have siblings are given priority over those who do not. Many of the special classrooms, such as the one at the Children’s Museum will have other conditions to ensure that there is an equal racial and gender mix of students.

About The Author

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.

View their website at: http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh/index.html