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Archiver > MD-BALTO-CUL > 2005-12 > 1134139606


From: "Edward Arthur" <>
Subject: Re: [MD-BALTO-CUL-] Christmas in Baltimore
Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2005 09:46:46 -0500
References: <JNEBKKLOOBNBKPHIMDCPEEFOCFAA.thinker@atlanticbb.net>


Mark,

I lived in Baltimore (Hamilton) during the 40's and 50's. We did not have
television, refrigerator or phone service but we existed very well. Radio
was the center of Saturday night life. Christmas was not celebrated until
the week before Christmas. People actually worked until late in the evening
on Christmas Eve. My father would put the Christmas Tree up on Christmas
Eve. We had to wait until he came home to put the lights on but the
trimming was done by Santa Claus after we went to bed. Christmas morning
was always a delight. I had one brother and five sisters so we had lots of
presents to deal with. Wrapping paper was not used as much as it is today.
To see the Christmas Tree with all of the trimmings on it was a splendor to
behold. Remember we only saw it with the lights on the night before Santa
blessed it. When we got old enough to go to midnight mass things got more
difficult for my parents. Coming home after midnight we were shuffled by
the tree and presents so that we could enjoy the next morning. We may even
have been blindfolded but I don't remember that very well. I know that we
did not open anything until the next morning. My father did not go to the
mass so he was Santa Claus. Of course a big Christmas dinner followed later
in the day with visits by grandparents and cousins. Getting the same old
muffler from my Aunts year after year was the joke of the day with my mother
constantly reminding us that it was the thought that counted. I have passed
these customs down to my children and their children. They all have the
special feeling that I had on Christmas morning. However, the tree is put
up weeks before Christmas and gifts are splendidly wrapped. Opening gifts
usually involves throwing away lots and lots of paper. The feeling is still
there but has dimmed through the years. My thoughts! Thanks for asking.
It brings back fond memories.

EA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Zepp" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 9:27 PM
Subject: [MD-BALTO-CUL-] Christmas in Baltimore


> Hello Everyone
>
> I am wondering if any of you can share your holiday stories of living and
> growing up in Baltimore. I would love to hear how you decorated the tree
> and the house, and what was for dinner. Did everyone put up trains around
> tree and eat sauerkraut with dinner? What was for desert? Did it snow a
> lot? Did you go see Santa Claus and where? What kind of presents did you
> get? My grandparents lived in Woodlawn when I was growing up in the late
> 1950 and 1960. I am just anxious to hear the stories! What was Baltimore
> like in the 1930s during Christmas and New Years? Anything you could tell
> me I would like to hear about.
>
> I am anxious to hear from you!
>
> Thanks
>
> Mark Zepp
>
>
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