Calling All Genea-Musings Fans:
It’s Saturday Night Again –
Time For Some More Genealogy Fun!!
Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision.
1) Today’s challenge is to share memories of December holiday gatherings and celebrations with your families (as a child, a young adult, a parent, a grandparent, a great-grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a nibling, a cousin, an in-law)!
2) Pick two or three questions from the list in my blog post: Ask AI: “What questions can I write about concerning family gatherings and celebrations during the December holidays?”
Who traditionally hosted holiday celebrations in your family, and why?
As a child, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were always celebrated at my grandparents house. While we never discussed ‘why’ we always went to my grandparents, I’m guessing it is because they had a table big enough to seat everyone. Thus, I never experienced the ‘child’s table.’
Christmas morning began at our house on 5th street in Dodge City. However, we were not allowed to open any presents until grandma and granddad arrived. Sometime after the present opening, we ventured to my grandparents house on second avenue for Christmas dinner.
What dishes were a staple at your family’s holiday celebrations? Who made them?
As a child, the menu for Christmas dinner rarely changed.
- Turkey and dressing
- Scalloped Oysters
- Mashed potatoes and gravy
- Candied (fried) sweet potatoes
- Cranberry jelly
- Green Beans
- Relishes
- Rolls and butter
- Pecan, Pumpkin and Cherry Pie
Were non-family members (e.g., friends, neighbors, or community members) invited to join your celebrations?
Often times, my grandmother Crawford would ask her friend Mary Hoffman to join us. At times, one of the college students who rented a room from my grandparents would also join us.
Did your family ever celebrate the holidays at a destination away from home?
We spent a few Christmas vacations in Texas. My parents wintered in Hondo Texas after they retired. One Christmas, they flew the family to San Antonio for Christmas.
A few years later, we flew again to Texas. This time it was to spend Christmas together in cabins outside of Austin, Texas (where my niece lived).
Was there a funny or memorable mishap during a holiday celebration?
