When I got to thinking about the Christmas Eve celebrations, I realized that I had varied experiences. When I was young, I remember one Christmas Eve at home. I prepared a little service complete with Christmas carols. My aunt and uncle came that evening to celebrate with us since they would be with my aunt’s family the next day.

I was taking piano lessons and my teacher got me a book of easy carols to play. I felt so honored to be able to accompany the family as we sang that night.

I remember that I picked out some Bible readings too. I asked others to read those. That Christmas my aunt and uncle gave me a knitted scarf hat. There was a band of fur that the scarf fastened to. My aunt often shopped in Buffalo so she always picked the newest thing. I wore that hat to church that evening. I was allowed to stay up late that evening for church.

We went to the Christmas Eve service at the Grace Lutheran Church on Sixth Street. across from Brooks Hospital. It was at 11 p.m. That was such a beautiful church. The high vaulted ceiling accommodated a very tall tree. One year my mother provided the tree, cut from her yard.

One of those nights another girl and me were designated to light all of the candles in the church. There were candles on the ends of all of the pews. There were some up high, but we were able to reach those. The choir processed up the aisle followed by the youth choir. Only that night there were only two of us there – my aunt’s younger sister and me. We proudly followed the choir up.

At the point where we were supposed to sing the organist signaled and asked us if we wanted to sing. We both nodded in the affirmative. I think we did an acceptable job with our number – at least the congregation told us we did.

Christmas Day was spent making the rounds of the great-grandparent’s homes. I still have a little apron that was kept at my great-grandfather’s house for me.

Once I was old enough to date, I was often out on Christmas Eve. It was hard to find a place to go since many restaurants were closed. One night my date cooked for me and we ate at his house. That was really nice.

One year I got a beautiful pearl ring. I was very surprised at the gift. We had not been dating that long. I felt guilty accepting it, but I did. Everyone complimented me on my ring, but I still felt guilty. I was in college and was not ready for a steady commitment. In the end during the summer, I met him at the Point and gave it back to him confessing my guilt. He later told me he gave it to his mother so I felt much better.

Once Dick and I were engaged I spent my Christmas Eve’s over here. We usually made the trip to Dunkirk for the Christmas Eve service. That gave me a chance to be with my family.

Of course, I went home the day after Christmas for our family celebration.

I went to see all of the relatives. I especially liked going to my Uncle Dick’s house because his kids had a train set. They always ran it for me so that I could watch all of the cars that did special things.

Christmas was not an elaborate holiday. My uncle, the police chief of the Fredonia Police Department, gave his men with small children the day off.

That meant that our Christmas dinner was always late in the day when he got home. It was a nice gesture for him and the men really appreciated it.

Often, we played games. The cousins always got a new game or two. We had presents to open there later.

Ann R. Swanson writes from her home in Russell. Contact her at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.