Written by Diane Taylor Roberts
It is well into December, and I have received four Christmas cards. This is a first. We usually receive so many that they line the door facing on both sides between our kitchen and dining room. Each year, we receive less and less. Years ago, Christmas cards were a very important part of the holiday season. The cards depicted street scenes, some had glitter, some had Currier and Ives country scenes, a jolly red cheeked Santa, carolers, or nativity scenes all with heartfelt wishes for peace and joy written in elegant calligraphy.
The rising cost of postage and the cards themselves may be a significant deterrent. We live in the age of digital communication with email, social media and text, so we are always in constant connection with one another, sending our holiday wishes. However, a Christmas photo card is something else entirely, for they allow us to see children and families grow year to year and always bring a smile as we keep this photo long after the holiday is over.
Christmas memories of long ago also include candy. Old-fashioned Christmas candy included ribbon candy, hard candy, raspberries with a hint of jammy goodness inside. They were colorful and in a metal tin. If any happened to be left over after Christmas, you would try to pull out one candy and find they were all stuck together. Chocolate cream drops are a sweet vanilla candy that was a favorite of many. It was a mound of vanilla cream with a light chocolate coating. Candy canes were individually wrapped and sometimes used as a decoration on the tree. Chocolate covered cherries in a box were sometimes called cherry cordials. They were a standard gift, easy to wrap and economical. Either you loved them or hated them. There was no in between. Brach’s Peppermint Christmas Tree Nougats were especially popular. They were round and individually wrapped in clear cellophane paper. On the outside, they had a red and white stripe, the middle was a solid white nougat with a green Christmas tree right in the center.
A Christmas treat bag is still an Appalachian tradition among many churches in the south. A simple brown paper sack was given to children and adults, and was provided by the church to be given out after the service. The treat bag would contain an apple, an orange, English walnuts in the shell, and possibly a few hazelnuts or Brazil nuts. That wasn’t all. That little brown sack also held a 5-stick pack of chewing gum, a candy cane, and a full sized candy bar. I spoke to the pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Janus Jones, and we discussed the importance of the infamous treat bags throughout the years. He said the Sunday before Christmas is the hardest Sunday of the year to preach. Children were anxiously waiting for the service to end as they squirmed in their seats in anticipation. They were patiently waiting to get their hands on those treat bags and enjoy their goodness. Leftover treat bags were taken to shut-ins, neighbors, etc. and were always welcomed with a smile.
Popular Christmas cookies were gingerbread cookies that were in the shape of a gingerbread man and had extra spice. Others were spritz cookies, which were buttery and made by a cookie press. My mom liked making Christmas sugar cookies, they were all the same kind, just decorated differently. They were cut out with metal cutters in the shapes of stars, candy canes, a bell, Christmas trees, or a mitten. They were then decorated with red or green sprinkles and stacked strategically on a plate.
Christmas trees were a bit different years ago as well. Tinsel decorated the tree, which was a laborious task, as it had to be placed one strand at a time. Bubble lights adorned the tree and looked like candles with the bubbles rising and falling, giving a magical candle like effect. Most of us had a real tree, not an artificial one. Round glass bulbs were placed on the tree, which were fragile and easily broken. Garland was homemade each year out of construction paper, scissors, and a stapler. A needle and a long thread were a must have to string popcorn garland to encircle the tree. The angel on the top said it all.
When I attended Cumberland College in the late 70’s, I had a class with Professor Chuck Dupier. I needed to turn in a paper to him before Christmas break, and he told me to just drop it off at his home. My husband drove our Volkswagen bug up the steep driveway amidst scattered snow flurries. He waited in the car, and I walked up to the front door with paper in hand. I knew something magical was about to take place even before I rang the bell. I could hear Christmas music playing and I smelled something wonderful. I knocked on the door and a beautiful lady, Evelyn Dupier, answered it with a warm welcome. I wanted to just hand her the paper and then leave quietly, but she would have no part of that. She invited me in, and I went. I was in awe. I stood in the foyer, and what I saw was a scene out of a Christmas movie. The smell of something baking, the sound of Christmas music, the multicolored lights of the massive tree, and the tasteful decorations went on as far as the eye can see. Within minutes, Professor Dupier arrived wearing a Christmas sweater and a bright cheery smile. We briefly talked about the paper, he excepted it, and I was on my way. It was like briefly visiting the kindest Santa and Mrs. Claus in the most beautiful setting imaginable. When I got back into the Volkswagen to leave, I told my husband, I had just gotten a glimpse of what I wanted our lives to look like after college. Professor Dupier gave me more than a good grade on a paper, he gave me a cherished memory.
My friend, Larry Hart, shared a story of his close friend that left way too soon. Terry Shelby was a former Corbin police officer and a true beacon of public service. He had just been elected city commissioner and was a beloved friend to many. He volunteered his time and for years he was the one that had replaced the lights of the Christmas fixture that is on top of the Kentucky Hill Water Tower. Tragically, at the end of November 1979, Terry fell to his death from the Kentucky Hill Water Tower while replacing bulbs for the large Christmas star fixture, as his safety harness failed during the maintenance. Each Christmas season Larry fondly remembers his friend Terry, as he looks toward Kentucky Hill and sees the bright star atop the water tower and the Corbin Christmas lights.
As we are filled with unforgettable Christmas memories of days long ago, of the beauty of the traditions, of the sights and smells of the season, we again celebrate the birth of our Savior. We also remember those who have touched our hearts through the years, and those we have lost along the way.
