Childhood Christmas Memories

Growing up in the late 70s and 80s Christmas was the best time of the year full of magic and wonder.
Christmas Eve was always the same sacred ritual in our household; trip to Granny and Grandad whose patience must have been severely tested by over active children full of chat about Santa and what he might bring, followed by midnight mass that was always more bearable than usual thanks to the wonderful carols that gave the old cold church a sense of warmth and communal joy. You always remember people just being that bit more friendly and happy at Christmas.
Travelling home in the car we would excitedly look up to the dark sky to see if Santa was flying about and on more than one occasion convinced ourselves we saw or heard him high above. Before bed we’d leave out a mince pie and a glass of beer (Smithwicks or Guinness) and a carrot for rudolf. Quality street in the real metal tin always wrapped in Christmas paper would be opened and we’d be allowed a few before bed. Always loved the green triangle and long gold chocolate toffee!!
Sharing a room with my brother we would try to stay awake as long as we could with the aspiration to sneak up on Santa but every year we inevitably failed in our task and fell asleep. Still the excitement would mean sleep was short lived and by 5am one of us would wake the other and we’d collectively or in turn call our parents a thousand times to be allowed up,but being routinely ignored or eventually shouted back at increasing intensity to go back asleep or Santa won’t come. By about half six and their resistance broken we would be allowed up. Dad would always have to go first and gently open the sitting room door just in case Santa was still there and of course to add to the theatre he’d pause just long enough till we were dancing giddy with nervous excitement to ask if Santa was gone and if he’d left an toys before opening the door to reveal the black shiny bin bags full with whatever we had asked for and somethings we hadn’t.

Now I do the same for my kids although beer is now milk but I always insist on opening the door first just in case!!... being a parent really makes you appreciative the efforts your own made especially in more difficult times but for that one day you never felt poor. And to them for creating wonderful traditions and memories that are some of my most cherished.