Growing up in Co. Limerick in the late 1960's was quite similar to growing up anywhere else in rural Ireland. Many traditional aspects of country life were disappearing but to a child, Christmas held all the magic and wonder it does for any child of any generation.
Christmas was a very special time of the year. As the beginning of December dawned postmen would be seen on their bicycles, laden down with parcels from far-flung Boston, New York, or London, bringing with them gifts to every home in the parish.
The Christmas cakes and puddings were prepared in September. As a child I loved to help my mother wrap these gifts for friends abroad and relatives at home.
Of course the real reason for the season of merry-making was not forgotten. The crib was erected in the living room on the first week of December - Mí Na Nollaig, to serve as a reminder to one and all of whose birthday we were celebrating. Later that month the Christmas tree was positioned in its usual place by the window with its fairy lights twinkling for all to see.
The Christmas wreath was hung on the door and my father brought in a huge Christmas log for the fire, which was to last for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (This was a time before central heating)
At the beginning of our Christmas holidays each year in primary school, the sixth class students staged the Nativity Play, under the guidance of their teacher. Much rehearsal went into this to ensure its success. The play was followed by a concert, where some students would sing a song or recite a poem for the assembled audience of parents and guardians who sat crammed into the small wooden desks quite oblivious to their own discomfiture. As a finale, a raffle was held with almost everyone winning a prize. It was a great way to begin the Christmas holidays!
During those Christmas holidays I was taken to see Santa in his grotto in Tots to Teens or Cannock's. Long lines of expectant faces formed a queue to tell Santa of their heart's desire for Christmas morning. We had our photograph taken with Santa, sitting on his knee and proudly displaying the present we had received from the man himself as a "foretaste and promise" of what was to come on Christmas morning.
Each year, when Santa invariably asked me what I would like for Christmas, I replied "a surprise please", and not knowing what I was about to receive - it certainly was a wonderful surprise.
As Christmas Eve approached my father would have been carefully discerning the timber he had cut down, examining it for that certain piece, which would be suitable to hold the Christmas candle. When he found a suitable log, he flattened one side of it, to ensure it would stand alone, and then hollowed out a hole in its centre, decorated the log with holly and ivy and tinsel and placed it on the window-sill. Then on Christmas Eve the large white candle, lit by the youngest member of the household was placed on the window, to supposedly "light the way for the Holy Family on their journey".
Midnight Mass on this night was heavenly with the church packed to capacity. The life-sized crib was assembled in front of the altar and the marvel of the Christ-child coming among us as man on that first Christmas night filled the congregation with wonder and awe! This was echoed in the words of Scripture and in the carols, as everyone joined in and sang along with the choir. Young and old walked home together, along the dark and winding roads with joy and warmth in our hearts, as we children eagerly awaited the coming of Santa Claus next morning.
On Christmas morning as the ground lay covered in a thick blanket of snow I went out and lo and behold, witnessed two tracks leading from the gutters to the chimney. They were, I believe to this day, the imprint of Santa's sleigh. I honestly forget what Santa brought that Christmas morning but seeing his sleigh along with those cherished memories made my Christmas.
