What’s in Mrs. Hale’s Receipts for the Million 1857?
691. To make Old Writing legible – take six bruised gall nuts, and put them to a pint of strong white wine; let it stand in the sun or forty-eight hours. Dip a brush in it and wash the writing, and by the color you will discover whether the mixture is strong enough of the galls.
Christmas Traditions
My parents were of the Great Depression and WW II generation. Many of the ways we celebrated Christmas when I was growing up in the 1950s came from their experiences as young children in the1920s. One of the traditions was Dad’s insistence that we get
the tree on Christmas Eve Day and set it up in the evening before church. It wasn’t the favorite of our family’s traditions, though to late Christmas Eve service was. In fact, as adults, my brothers and I abandoned pretty quickly. It seemed that we set up the tree while Dad watch (I could be wrong~ probably grumbly from my teenage-years memories). But the one tradition that we all loved and continued to share was Christmas poetry.
What is Christmas poetry?
Christmas poetry was essentially bad limericks and riddles for giving clues to what might be inside a wrapped present. On Christmas morn, the poetry would be read by the receiver out loud and all would then try to guess what was inside. I learned at an early age how to write simple clues, often with pictures. Later, I joined the crazy before and after late Christmas Eve service wrapping and writing. It was a tradition that when really bad poetry was read, the writer would say that it was one o’clock or three o’clock poetry. Such sweet memories uncovering a box with around 40 tags at my mom’s apartment after she passed away.
I continued the tradition with my own children and now my grandchildren.
A very Merry Christmas and to all who are celebrating holidays this time of year.
Twitter handle: @jloakley
The next IndieBRAGG author on our blog tour (Thursday, Dec 10) author Clare Flynn. Happy Holidays to all and a very merry Christmas too.
P.S. Leave a comment and a lucky winner will win my latest Kindle World mystery, Coconut Island. (USA only) or a Kindle version of Timber Rose (worldwide)
CONGRATS to LORRAINE DEVON WILKE, winner of the Giveaway! And a Happy New Year to you all.
I LOVE that tradition, JL! I can’t say I’ve ever heard of it before, but it has to be one of the most creative, imaginative holiday traditions of all. Thanks for sharing a great story!
Congrats Lorraine. You are the winner of the giveaway. I think I said a ebook (kindle) of Coconut island, my Hawaiian mystery if you live in the States or an ebook of Timber Rose if you live elsewhere (including Canada) Let me know how I can get to you.
Clever idea and great images. :) What a wonderful way to remember your family traditions.
Isn’t it fun? Some of the clues are hysterical.
Such a meaningful post. This touched my heart. Thank you for sharing, Janet!
What a delightful Christmas family tradition, and how even more delightful to find the mementos of those dear times after many years. Merry Christmas to you as you recall past Christmases fondly!