Sepia Saturday - Dec 21

I'm posting at Sepia Saturday today. This week's challenge:

No theme this week just my best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and a new year filled with peace and happiness.

I have no memories or photos of our Christmas in Dublin before we came to Canada.

My favourite memory of Christmas as a child was waking up with my younger sister early on that magical morning and finding that Santa had come and left presents at the bottom of our beds.

It never occurred to me that this was quite a feat for him to be able to leave our gifts in our bedroom without waking us.

I remember being surprised that he didn't did this at everyone's house!

Mom's handwriting on the back of the photo.

Montreal 1957

Baie Comeau - 1958

Mom and Dad

December 1961

A Christmas card from Dad to Mom

Card from Ireland - Nanny Mac to Mom and Dad

Money was tight growing up but my parents always ensured that we had a very special time. I know that our gifts were often bought on the "layaway" plan.

Mom would often make us some presents as well. One of my favourites were the clothes she made for my Barbies (not  real Barbies, too expensive, but lookalikes). The British magazine,

Woman's Weekly, would have fantastic knitting patterns for doll clothes. My uncle had married an English girl and she received the magazine every week so we got to read them.

She even made a fur coat for my doll out of scraps.

I am so disappointed that I don't have any photos but the memories are there.

Growing up, as the oldest cousins, our house would be the place for dinner.

Nanny and Grandfather

 

My mother was a Christmas nut, and as money got easier and we grew up Mom would go overboard with gifts which she would buy throughout the year and she continued to make us stuff.

Tree skirt

Mom saved the wrapping paper that could be re-used from year to year, no dollar stores then. This paper ended up as a gift tag!

Sweater and throw

As film and processing got less expensive we would take group photos.

On Christmas Eve since we were the eldest cousins (on the maternal side we were 12) we would go out for Chinese food (the only thing open those days in Montreal) C-est La Vie in Parc Extension and then deliver gifts to my two aunts and my uncle's families.

As the cousins got older and their families developed their own traditions, the family would then come over after dinner on Christmas Day.

Cousins

 Friends who didn't have any relatives in Canada would always be welcome.

 Silliness - Three sisters doing Sweet Alice Blue Gown

You can listen to a version here

Mom would always serve her pudding and brandy sauce. Click here for the recipe!

More Christmas food photos here!

And of course there would always be a sing song! Just a random selection of some of those songs.