The Rural Voice, 2005-12, Page 22RECOLLECTIONS OF
CHRISTMAS PAST
Two generations, growing up under diverse
circumstances, bring different memories of
celebrating Christmas
By Barbara Weiler
"1'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know
Where tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow."
— From White Christmas
by Irving Berlin
y father was the second
M
youngest in a family of 10,
growing up on rented farms
in Scarborough Township, now part of
the urban sprawl of the city of
Toronto. These are his memories of
Christmas circa 1910.
"When I was a kid, we hung up our
stockings. There would be an orange
and some peanuts in them, and maybe
one toy.
"I remember a little horse and cart
we had. They would repaint it and it
would be in someone else's stocking
the next year. My little brother had a
milk can half full of empty spools from
thread. He called them his cows and
gave them names, Dolly, Bess,
Blossom.
"We went to church Christmas
morning in the big sleigh. Someone
would have to stay home to do chores
of course. We had one of our own
geese or a duck for Christmas dinner
and pies from the berries picked in the
summer by my mother and sisters.
That was our Christmas celebration."
My mother, on the other hand, lived
in Toronto east of Yonge street. Her
father took her downtown to see The
Eaton's Santa Claus Parade,
sa" a,...
18 THE RURAL VOICE