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Simple day of special season remains treasured memory

By AUDREY LANSKI STOYLE

I love Christmas. It has nothing to do with the hunt for the ultimate bargain, the battling crowds at malls or wrapping presents for hours on end.

It simply is the feel of  the Christmas season. Houses lit up with unimaginable decorations, a simple wreath placed on a door, antlers on a passing car, that is what I love.

My absolute love of Christmas season began when I was in grade school. I attended St. Hedwig’s School and Christmas was a big deal.

Previously, St. Hedwig’s Church housed the church, (second floor), the school (first floor) and the “social center” (basement).

On the last day of school before the Christmas break, the Mothers’ Club would work feverishly to provide a Christmas party for all of the school’s children.

We would have a half day of classes and at lunch the party began! We normally went home for lunch so having lunch with classmates was a treat! I can still remember our class being led downstairs to a decorated basement with long  tables for each class. I can still envision the mothers carrying trays of hot dogs, potato chips and little cartons of orange drink. And of course, the little Dunkirk Ice Cream vanilla cup with wooden “spoon” followed.

My best friend, Donna (who to this very day is still my best friend) and I would exchange Christmas presents at the party. Presents that were maybe $2 purchased at Ludlum’s Variety Store. The Mothers’ Club also gave each child a small, wrapped gift.

If memory serves me right, I believe we also sang Christmas carols and performed our class Christmas play. It could be a song or dance or re-enactment of the 3 Kings, Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus. These “productions” all took place on the stage that was no higher than one foot high! But all these things made it all worth the remembering.

It’s funny how after all these years, every Christmas my mind wanders back to a simple day at school where such wonderful memories were made.

Audrey Lanski Stoyle is a Dunkirk resident.

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