The Huron Expositor, 1983-12-21, Page 3•
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'h E NOR* EXposmos, 00000 or *3
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COOKIE CUSTOM—Peg De Jong has Christmas. She ho the fradition will
always made cookies for her relatives for 'Continue with her daughter Esther.
iHundertmarkphoto)
Chdstnte this been g better eve
l t year' fcr Pei De Joeg o Seafotth., but there
WAS ',$ thna whim She hated the holiday
• season Ab9t016 years ° age. her first
ttterriaia woo filIiui apart around Christ:
toss,'
Sick With rbeutnaticfeve r, she was staying
at her parents': home in Burlington and was
unable to rare fa her dao hters, Elizabeth
andEstherwhowere then three and late and
a half years 'old. Since her husband had his
ahantdsxfup With.a tricking business the
'children -spent Christmas at a foster home.
"It was the worst Christmas I've ever
had says Peg. "I really missed my
children.' l
Soon r, rmarriae brokas
the eldestafteandhethe first onge in here faupmilyand to
get a divorce,she felt like she'd let down the
whole family. And, at Christmas, which is
supposed to be such a happy family time,
she especially- suffered from depression.
"We all have pictures of the perfect family
sitting around a beautifully decorated tree at
Christmas time. The tables are perfectly -set
and the 'meal is wonderful and we think
that's the way Christmas 'has to be done.
But, most people can't live up to that and
probably don't even want it that way. The
perfect family is the exception to the rule,"
Peg..says.
From 1968 to 1974, when it was just the
ree of them, Peg and .her daughters
e closer than ever. Some Christmases
ere wasn't a lot of money, but Peg used
her love of cooking to provide thgt'amily with
presents. She baked several kinds of cookies
and packed them in tea boxes. She continues
the tradition today but uses colorful cookie
tins now, that her finances are in better
shape. -
Another tradition that started during
those years was the annual gift of
underwear in each *of the three stockings.
Christmas morning. the three would clown
around modelling their gift. That tradition
ended when Peg, remarried.
Early Christmas helps
Eckert family get together
° After she in,ltiled Dlck the start d toshe ,.....,.
doting Me CC � seism h 'Pere Ohio} o
travelling to the `.homes Of relatlac as Ow
and her first hatband did. _
ACM 1 neactually had s..Cbtisintit ip my
own home before I was remarried, *be
says. 'Since we always' put the, tree pp
Christmas Eve 'tFad take it down Jan: 6. we
didn't evaraee the tree one Christmas. But, '
now I want Christmas in my own home; Id's
hard to get me, oft the;dor.
o" •
"If you try to please everyone. you Mt
end up with a big gguuilt trip. Now, IBy to do
what I Want at Chris, sq i enjoy lf."
Up until two years ago, the family went
'llatWiethflefweetlletrit Pees> sfacia
to cutdown hilittbdthey IDA
• tree. '../And aver though her detts are
nowlnt> urate tuns, the family all :Kers s
relent ;frotnt $ •. , .
"'f ttgdre that Ils.long u I believe in Saints.
int nt from bim, ,r says , -
mar Dlck,. abe has trig to
co:tt>line the h and Ditch customs of
their backgrounds. Dutch chocolate letters
now go' Into the stockings sod the family
enjoys, an , almond -filled .wreath. On the
spoosh. side, 'Peg still makes shortbread
from her grandmother's recipe. And
the tree comes down on twelfth -night (Jan.
6).
i• � 'made;tifc
041estoieharforhe Prat that.
$ometbing Peg hopes will *throe .asis new
tredItdaa, espeelallyslnce Esther wits
'this ytar::-
"NOW Bather should1he able to start her
own tuiditoas with het hutbandi 1 tell her
she shouldbe Mete dowhatshe wants with
herown family. And I am lookin forward�so
spending Chrwtmai with a grandclilld,
sa" sbe
ys,
With last Christalaa thebioit oneyet, Pei
is sure this one should be jolt as.gooQ..
'PYe got s lot mitre hope for the .futq*
taw," she says.
Newly*€ds look forward to christii•as
The first Christmas together for newly-
weds is a .time for compromise and lots Of
travel. But, it's also a time for new traditions
for "just the two of us".
"We both really like Christmas and this is
going to be the best Christmas yet," says
Gayle Coleman who (married her husband
Bev on May 14. "We're starting our own
tradition this year by having a little turkey
*e night the Grinch Who Stole Christmas is
The Colemans put their tree up on the six
month anniversary of their marriage and
Gayle enjoys Christmas so much she put up
her tree last year on the day after
Hallowe'en when she was away at univer-
sity. -
They won't have much time during the
week of CCltristinas to enjoy their tree
though since they'll be on the go. They'll
spend
Eve
house in S with a gathering
of about
70 people in the Vander Velden family.
"It's a lot of fun. In our family, it's the
more the m errier and Bev fits in great." she
says.
-Christmas day they drive back to Seaforth
to enjoy a turkey diner, it Bev's sister's
place where the Coleman family congregate.
"I love the closeness of Christmas; you
can express emotions during this time of
year that you wouldn't express any other
time," snyGayIe,
Vicky and Roger Morrison. who were
married 'Aug.JO will also be travelling
around a lot this Christmas.
Christmas Eve will be spent at Vicky's
parents' place in Kippen since the Bells have
always celebrated that day in the Danish
tradition.
Following European custonis, the Bells
have pork lam or fish instead of turkey for
Christmas dinner. Dessert includes an
almond pudding - the first person to find the
almond wins a prize. ,
"That's a tradition; Pd like to carry on
myself," asys Vicky, "When we were Mae,
we used to ram through supper so we could
start in on the pudding. My slaters and I
Please turn to page Ail
•
The second Sunday of December, about 35
people arrive at the home of Conrad and
Clair Eckert bearing- presents 'and specially
prepared goodies. For the Eckerts, their
seven children and their families, that
Sunday is Christmas Day.
After trying to celebrate on Christmas Day
and then on Boxing'Day, the Eckerts decided
the middle of the month was thebest time to
get together.
"Christmas Day was no good since
everyone had other places to go. Boxing Day
was a disaster because the children are all
keyed up. and tired of being good and the
adults don't want to eat or drink; they're so
toed they just want to find a comfortable
char. The weather is usually better in -the
middle of the month, although it wasn't this
year." says Mrs. Eckert.
The seven children bring their spouses
and 19 children from Hamilton, Waterloo,
London. Clinton and Dublin. Each person
comes with one gift after drawing names in
the summer. They arrive around noon and
stay on into the evening. -
"We're lucky our families live close
enough to get here. I think it's important to
get home for Christmas," she says.
And, something special is planned each
year. Last year, Santa came from Clinton to
hand out the gifts .and all the grandchildren
got their pictures taken with him. This year,
a friend of the family brought over a team of
horses and a sleigh and everyone went for a
ride.
"Some of the grandchildren had never
been in a sleigh before and 1 know it's been a
long time since 1 had a ride in one." she
says.
-Sim ttt�a;,Resr ate- fit.
advance Teverynne trie'�s'..f8iin 4a• gift- thar
especially snits the recipient:
"Once someone got a golden eggwhich
was really a bank. and immediately he was
looking for the goose. Sometimes, the gifts
suit the petson so well that it's quite
hilarious,' says Mrs. Eckert
We're busy as elves,
building up holiday spirit
and warm tidings for
our most valued and.
" appreciated customers.
J J•
CARPENTRY
R.01, Seatorth
527-1520
110
f"�Kf
a,t
1•trrn. ►�
5
Th
It was on that night
His miraculous birth
took place. Let's
hold this Holy time
close to our hearts
now and forever,
•
If it's.
front
Anstett's
it says,
*ere
special'
When Dec. 25 , cotnesi each family i
celebrates its own Christmas.
"The early celebration here gives'each of
them time to recuperate for Chnstmas. Their
own cozy family Christmas has a different
spirit.'.
"The early celebration makes the season
longer," says Mrs. Eckert's daughter-in-
law, Christa.
And, for Clair and Conrad. Christmas
has become a quieter, more spiritual time,
They listen to Christmas programs on the
radio and let those caring for the livestock
get away for Christmas by taking over their
duties. Dec. 25th rs more relaxing and
simpler than it was when their children were
.little.
An early Christmas Celebration works for 8
the Eckert family.
"it seems like we've been doing it forever.
1 don't know how !hag it win carry on but I'm
sure for a long, long time. The only problem
is the day goes by much too fast says Mrs.
Eckert.
4
dne of the real joys
Of the
Holiday Season
is thb opportunity
to say Thank You and to wish you the'verybest for the New:Year.
SEAFORTH
Best wishes and
our sincere
gratitude far a
cheer -filled
hohday season
_,opqit
May peace, love and contentment decorate .
Your holiday as you share in the fesitive
happenings with those you hold most dear.
NOEL:
0,0
ARNOLD STINNISSEN
527-0410
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
a
/VIIIT.6#4
Underwriting a
¥holiday fallof
'health, happiness
and prosperity
4W/ for our
• valued friends.
JOHN MOORE
INSURANCE
BROKERS
LTD.
TOWN OF SEAFORTH
His birth inspired
all mankind with
renewed faith and
hope. May pili
each experience
the inner serenity
and enlightenment
that this special
holiday brings.
MAYOR: Alf Ross
REEVE DEPUTY -REEVE
Wm. G. Campbell - Bill Bennett
COUNCILLORS:
Wayne Ellis
(resin Johnston
Henry Mero
CLERK TREASURER:
Jim Crocker
Hazel Hildebrand
Bill Martin
Paul Ross
POLICE CHIEF:
Hal Claus
FIRE CHIEF:
Harry Hak
P.U.C. MANAGER
Tom Phillips
KEN R. CAMPBELL FARMS
SUPERINTENDENT OF
WORKS
• John Forrest
Dublin 345-2512
527-0249
R.R. 1 Dublin