HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1985-12-23, Page 17May your joys be many,
as are our thanks to you
Jim and Thelma
Wilson eir J. ••,,, aJ
THE CITIZEN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1985. PAGE 17.
Christmas: the way it used to be
Continued from page 16
same old, slow horse was pulling
her lines trying to pass every horse
ahead of her. She was anxious for
home and it certainly didn't take
long. A warm stable and feed was
waiting for her.
This was Santa Claus night and
certainly no trouble sending my
younger sister, my brother and Ito
bed. "If you don't go to bed Santa
may not come, %' we were told.
After hanging our stockings on the
back of a chair knob we hurried up
BY WONG YEE FUN
In the coastal town of Sandakan
in East Malaysia two weeks before
Christmas, the Christians gather
in an open field, each carrying a
candle. They sing Christmas car-
ols. On Christmas day Christians
have an open house for friends
from different religions and races.
They serve cookies, candies, nuts
and Christmas cakes. They also
have parties at night. They have to
bring a present also. There will be
someone dressed as Santa Claus
who gives out treats. They some-
times end their parties with some
cheerful singing. Sometimes peo-
ple even lit beautiful fire works in
the countryside.
At night the whole town is
decorated with beautiful lights and
ornaments. Two years ago while I
was still in Sandakan the whole
town was decorated from top to
bottom and street to street with
thousands of lights.
Everyone was very cheerful on
Christmas day. Sometimes there
are even children going from house
to house singing Christmas carols.
As December is a rainy month,
almost every year there was a
rainstorm late at on Christmas or
around eight o'clock. Thus the
carol singers are always thorough-
ly drenched.
Now that we are thousands and
thousands of miles away from our
the stairs listening with all our
might, if we could hear the sound of
Santa's sleigh bells in the distance
or hear the sound of reindeer on the
roof pawing with their tiny hoofs.
Sleep came and the train whistle
on the nearby track wakened us.
Slipping down the stairs half awake
and half asleep, and a little
frightened we made our way to our
bulging stockings with an apple, an
orange, some nuts and candy.
Yes he had brought me a small
doll that shut and closed her eyes.
hometown, we don't know how bad
the weather is. We wish our friends
and relatives a Merry Christmas
from far away. I also hope that
Santa Claus will bring a gift to my
friends too. But bring a raincoat, a
pair of rubber boots and a boat
instead of the sleigh because there
might be a flood.
Hung over the chair was a red scarf
with matching cap and mittens
which looked so much like the ones
my grandma had been knitting by
lamp for weeks.
Pine branches and cones were
pinned to the curtains. The smell of
goose starting to cook in the old
stove's oven, the smell of pudding
and cookies, my grandmother
stoking the stove with wood, the
homemade mat at the door and a
broom to sweep our feet. The
company would soon be here.
There was a last minute rush to
the outhouse, to clean a path.
Eaton and Simpson's catalogues
were piled in a wooden box in a
corner. Our company would soon
be arriving and our plumbing in
those days being modern to us,
wasn't really the best. The granite
pail was full of fresh water from the
well, the old cistern pump was
working and an extra dish pan in
sight. The reservoir-on the back of
the stove full of boiling water. The
cellar was cleaned and fresh
papers were put on the shelf, this
was our fridge.
The work those days were not
magic, not buttons to push here
and there or a tap to turn. We were
happy Christmas came and it
certainly was time well spent. I
often think about those days and
wish for them once more, to see the
ones we loved so much, the ones
who have gones before Christmas
through the eyes of childhood, held
great joy in store. Christmas time is
for dreaming thoughts of long ago.
But let's live in the present and
enjoy it just so. The same old Santa
is coming and still loved by all.
The way Christmas used
to be in a far away home We share with all our
sincere wishes
for a heartfelt
h4day season.
5reateilte
P4 eVUOC aelt
Brussels Legion
has bingo
The Brussels branch of the Royal
Canadian Legion held its third
turkey bingo on Dec. 13.
Winner of special games for $25
were Sherrie Heuther, Vicki Wei-
gel and Lois Whittard. Brenda
Wheeler was the share the wealth
game. The door prize was won by
Mrs. Jim Rose.
Winners of regular games were:
Mrs. Ohms (two games), Mabel
Bauer, Muriel Garniss, Cathy
Burkholder, Calvin Krauter, Ray
Brennie, John Simpson, Jean
Bewley, Norman McClinchey,
Mary Lowe, Velma Stephenson,
Barry Blake and Kathy MacDon-
ald.