Tag Archives: Advent Calendar

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

I asked my father and sisters what we did for Christmas Eve when we were young but, oddly enough, none of us remembered the same things. While my family can’t really agree how we spent Christmas Eve when we were young, I remember that … Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Ghost of Christmas Past

I found today’s topic for the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories, Â Christmas Sweetheart Memories, a bit difficult to write. I’ll just say that this gift from a sweetheart of long ago tends to dig up thoughts of the Ghost of Christmas … Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged | 2 Comments

Christmas Snow

Living in Albany, New York, I always wished for a White Christmas. In 1966, though, chances of that happening were looking a bit bleak. We hadn’t received more than a dusting of snow until 3.5 inches fell on December 14. But, even that didn’t last. On December … Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged | Comments Off on Christmas Snow

A Child's Favorite Christmas Songs

“All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” was written by Donald Yetter Gardner in 1944. All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, My two front teeth, see my two front teeth. Gee, if I could … Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged | 3 Comments

Visiting Mom's Grave

My family never talked much about deceased relatives around the holidays. That changed in 1980 when my mother died. Christmas 1980 was not a particularly happy occasion for us . I flew back home from Oregon where I attending graduate school. My … Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged | 4 Comments

The Great Christmas Shopping Mystery

On Christmas Eve, my sisters and I would unwillingly go to bed, urged by the television newscasts reporting the sighting of Santa Claus over some state or province. Fearful that Santa would pass us by if he came to our … Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged | Comments Off on The Great Christmas Shopping Mystery

Santa in the Furnace and Stockings on the Radiator

“Mom, can we get Christmas stockings?” my sisters and I begged. There, in the store, was a woman displaying fuzzy red stockings with white trim. She asked her customers how they wanted their stockings personalized and then she carefully applied … Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged | 2 Comments

Midnight Mass and Incense

As an altar boy, my favorite job was as thurifer. Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Shepherd Chief

Sister Marie DeLourdes finished her list of the characters in the first grade Christmas pageant and stepped back from the blackboard. Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Polka Christmas

On one particular evening close to Christmas, my father brought out our portable phonograph and set it up on the floor in front of the tree. He brought out his 78s of Polka music and placed one of the brittle black discs on the phonograph. Continue reading

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged | 2 Comments