[Billcat]

I was born in 1952, so most of my memories are from the late 1950s or early 60s.

Of course, we kids would wake really early, about as soon as the sky started to brighten (NJ is considerably south of the UK's latitude and the sume comes up earlier here during the winter, so figure about 7 AM, give or take). We'd all pile in on the parents, who would usually make us wait until about 8 AM - after all, they had been up late getting the toys put together, stockings stuffed, etc. Dad would go downstairs alone to investigate what Santa had brought. Invariably, he would report that thieves had broken in and stolen our stockings, the tree, etc. Big panic for small kids, an annual laugh once we caught on! Dad would bring the stockings upstairs and we would see what Santa had left us. Then downstairs for Christmas breakfast, followed by each of us taking turns opening presents.

Later, a 45-minute drive up into the country for Christmas dinner with the grandparents, singing "Over the River and Through the Woods, to Grandmother's house we go...." Ginger ale for the kids and drinks for the adults, as we gathered in the parlor to open more gifts. Often, the attendance was increased by the presence of Aunt Chris, who had the most wonderful jolly laugh, especially after a couple of drinks and lvoed having kids around on Christmas, and Aunt Elise, who was always interested in what we were reading and learning in school and Aunt Grace, who would conclude her visit by happily demanding "Take me back to my tenement." Some of these were real aunts, or older distantly-related cousins, while others were friends of my grandmothers who we widowed or never married. Despite the relatively small size of our family, we always had a good supply of "Aunts!"

Always, memories of oddly-shaped Christmas trees, as my grandfather always went up to New Hampshire and cut trees off his vacation property. These were not the tree we get today, which have been shaped and cut back to encourage a dense growth of branches and greens, but trees that grew wild, often with significant gaps or holes between branches. Dad and I often picked an over-tall tree, cut off the excess branches, drilled holes in the trunk and added these extra branches. When I go to NH for Christmas, still use these wild Balsam Pines from the property. Not the best-looking specimens, without a doubt, but the fit in with the family traditions.

Then, of course, the youngest child would get the bell from Grandma and ring us all into the dining room. Christmas dinner always included a great big roasted turkey (when I got to be a teenager, I was always drafted to move it from the roasting pan to the platter, taking great care not to drop it or cover myself with turkey drippings. Not easy with a bird that weighed 20 pounds prior to stuffing), cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, mom's infamous squash and carrot ring, green beans, etc. Dad always carved the bird, and noboday was allowed to ask for seconds until he'd had the chance to eat. Then, after dinner, a walk around the farm (unless there was too much snow) before returning to the table to tackle the holiday pies.

On the way home, mom would usually keep the tired gand entertained by telling us one of her many stories, "Willoughby Whale," or "How the Beavers Stopped Traffic," or "Hippopotnik" (a tale about the first hippo to go into space, just as the Russians had done with a dog on Sputnik). Fortunately, most of these stories were eventually produced as radio dramas for kids, so mom's grandkids have all been able to listen to them on recent Christmases. At home, washed up and ready for sleep, Dad would play us the record of Dylan Thomas reading "A Child's Christmas in Wales." I don't think any of us kids managed to remain awake through the end of the story.

Of course, we in the USA do not observe Boxing Day. Unless the 26th happened to fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday (in which case the legal holiday for Christmas was on Monday), Dad was off to the city for work. Boxing Day, this year in Oswaldtwistle, will be something new for me!