Through the years Christmas customs change. Some changes are caused by marriages. Some are changed by relocation. We have been through it all.

When I lived at home Christmas Day was spent visiting the Great-grandparents. In the morning we went to Grandmother’s mother’s house and in the afternoon, we went to great-grandpa’s. We had dinner at great-grandpa’s house.

When they both passed, we began having Christmas dinner at my grandma and grandpa’s house. That was where I lived so it was at home. I helped grandma get her house ready for company. One thing I remember is that grandma always had ribbon candy. She usually had Plantation Dainties too. Usually, we had my aunt and her family. Sometimes my uncle and his wife were there. It just depended on where they spent Christmas.

Finally, grandma gave up Christmas dinner and we moved to my aunt’s house. I remember that Mae got very nervous. She really lost it when the dog and the kids knocked their tree over Christmas morning.

Once I married, we began to go my family’s on Christmas Eve. We opened gifts then went to church. That is until the children came along. One Christmas we narrowly escaped a bad accident on our way to Dunkirk. That was the last year we went over at night. It was just too dangerous.

My husband’s family gathered at my mother-in-law’s. My sister-in-law’s family came down which of course included the cousins. The children enjoyed playing games while the men did chores. Then we had dessert.

When my mother-in-law no longer wanted to host it, it moved to Hickory Heights. Each of us had our favorite dishes to share. My sister-in-law usually made a yule log. My niece made her baked beans. I made potato salad and of course, the meat, which was either ham or turkey. Grandma made rice pudding. Grandpa and grandma always brought boxes of candy for the families.

Our family had our Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve so that we could be free the next day. Santa came early. He never filled the stockings though until after the children had gone to bed. We did like our stockings!

My sister-in-law made stockings for us one year. My husband’s was made of flannel and jeans material. Mine was made of silky material. The toe on mine was very small so the orange or apple really clogged things up. Todd’s was also made of flannel and jeans. Jill’s was made with material like some pants she had.

One year I had 27 people for dinner. We ate all over the house. I think that was probably about the last time we all got together. It was just too much with all of the spouses.

The last Christmas that my Dick was alive, we all went to grandma’s house. We helped her clean and contributed food for the event. Dick died that February.

One year we entertained Don’s sons, grandsons and families. I made three kinds of soup paired with salad and cookies for dessert. What a good time we had. Don was so happy to have all of them together. Some had not even met before. The boys from Alaska were down to hunt. I know we took pictures, but I do not seem to have any. I guess I was too busy to take any.

We have kept our tradition of celebrating on Christmas Eve. We always went to church then came to Hickory Heights for supper and gifts. Last year our minister changed the time of the service – after fifty plus years – so it made it pretty late to eat dinner. It was so late that I fed Don just so that he would eat. He stuck around at the table to visit while the rest of us ate. I made a decision then, that things had to change. It was too late to eat a big dinner. We were going to have to just have appetizers or meat and cheese.

This year we made another change. The grandchildren were with their significant other’s families. So, it was to be just me and my children. As we assimilate others into the family things must give. Traditions that we hold dear have to change. That is life. That is what happens in all families that get together for Christmas dinner.

Christmas Day for the last few years has been a quiet day. Before Don and I married he would often come up to eat dinner with me. He cooked for his family on Christmas Eve at least a couple years. After we married, we spent a quiet day together at home. Of course, COVID caused some of that.

Merry Christmas to all from my family to yours. May you experience the blessings that the birth of Jesus brings to all of us.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.