The Rural Voice, 1981-12, Page 27THE RURAL FAMILY
Christmas with the Feldmans
by Dean Robinson
Commercialism aside, there are many
who wish the Christmas season could last
forever.
Well, in the farm home of Gertrud and
Hans Feldman, every effort is made to
stretch it to at least five weeks.
The Feldmans, of R.R. 3 Listowel,
grew up in rural Germany (she in the
south, he in the northeast), and when
they carne to Canada in 1953 they brought
with them some strong social and
traditional Christmas customs.
And they've been practising many of
them each year since, first in the Elmira
area and since 1964 on their present
150 -acre hog operation.
"We came over here when we were
quite young," says Hans, "And we have
adopted Canadian ways. But for us,
Christmas reminds us of home more than
anything else; parts of us are still
German."
For the Feldmans (three teenagers are
still at home, while another, Hans Jr., is
off at university in Waterloo and Peter, 22
lives in Montreal), the festive season
officially begins on the fourth Sunday
before Christmas Day — the first of
four Advent Sundays. This year that was
November 29.
On that day they hang horizontally, a
fresh, homemade spruce wreath (about
two feet in diameter) from the ceiling in a
corner of their living room.
Gertrud and Hans Feldman
Sitting on the wreath are four fat.
no -taper, red candles. One of these is lit on
this day, usually around the supper hour.
The family members who happen to be
home gather round to watch it glow.
Sometimes they sip coffee, sometimes
they sing Advent songs, sometimes they
read about John the Baptist, and
sometimes they crack nuts and eat
apples. The candle is extinguished after
about half an hour.
The next Sunday that candle and
another are lit, and by this time there can
be no doubt that Christmas is fast
approaching. Good food smells float from
the kitchen with increased regularity,
smells that come only with the baking of
those special cakes and cookies.
Sundays three and four are celebrated
in similar fashion, with candles three and
four adding more light and warmth.
When the fourth Sunday coincides with
SMYTN SNOWBLOWERS
Cutting Req'd
Width H.P. Auger
Fan
Approx.
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Rear Mount
72" (6 ft)
35 & up
Single
24 x 8"
700 Ib
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16"
84"
55
Single
30" x 8"
800 Ib
Manual
20"
96"
70
Single
30" x 10"
950 Ib
Hydraulic
20"
96"
100
14"
36" x 10'
1200 Ib
Hydraulic
20-
108"
120 & up
20"
36" x 12"
2000 Ib
Hydraulic
20"
SMYTH
Welding and Machine Shop
RR 2, Auburn, Ontario (519) 529-7212
THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1981 PG. 25