Winters in Upstate New York are COLD. That is really the best way to describe them. Since I love the cold weather, this isn’t a problem for me.
I love it when it snows here! Call me odd, but I really do love the snow. I love watching the snow fall from sky. That first snowfall of the season is always exciting to see.
Then there are the snowstorms. These are the days when the kids get to have a day off from school. I like these days. We get to sleep in and in the afternoon we go outside and play in the snow. Even I get my snowsuit, gloves, hat and scarf on to go out and play in the snow. I have many great memories of playing in the snow with my kids.
Of course, there is more to winter than just the cold weather. At the beginning of winter we celebrate Christmas.
I love Christmas time here in Upstate New York. Yes, it’s cold. Yes, we usually have snow. But there is more to Christmas than that.
My family has a tradition. Every year, on the first Saturday in December, we buy our Christmas tree. We always do our best to get the fullest-looking tree we can at the lowest price.
After we pick it and pay for it, my husband and our son secure it to the roof of our car. We bring it home and get it set up. After my husband makes sure the tree is secure in its base, we all gather around to decorate it.
As we put the decorations on the tree, we reminisce over Christmases past. We look at the different baby ornaments and I do my best not to cry.
When we are all done with the decorating, we all have a cup of hot chocolate. It always makes a nice end to a nice day.
Christmas for me, growing up, was completely different. It was as different as night and day. Coming from a large, Roman Catholic, Italian family made for a big Christmas celebration. At least on my dad’s side of the family anyway.
Every Christmas Eve we would wait for my dad to come home from work. After that my family would get ready for the big Christmas Eve gathering at my Great Aunt’s house.
When I say big, I mean big. My sister and I were the only grandchildren at the time. However my dad had a lot of aunts and uncles who were married. Some had kids, some didn’t.
This was also the only time of year I got to see my second cousins who lived in Ohio.
We all got together on Christmas Eve and had a twelve course meal. Literally twelve courses. It was so much fun. Eating until I couldn’t eat anymore. Getting attention from all my great aunts and uncles. Getting to spend time with my cousins.
Then, when it was time for the christmas presents, we all gathered together in what we called the “store.” We waited patiently for “Santa” to come walking into the room, bearing gifts.
It was so much fun. Hearing all of our names getting called numerous time for a present, then getting to open each one with excitement.
I think we stayed at my great aunt’s house until at least 1am on Christmas Eve. Having a blast.
The next day, Christmas Day, was spent with my mom’s family. She had a big family too, but in a different way. My mom was one of five children.
So, on Christmas Day we celebrated with my aunts and uncles and their kids, my cousins.
It was a completely different atmosphere with my mom’s family being Irish Catholic, along with some English and Italian. The Irish tended to come through more than anything else.
So Christmas Day was a one course, meat and potatoes kind of a meal, with dessert to follow later in the night.
There was no “Santa Claus” on Christmas Day. Instead when my aunt was ready, she would hand out the present to all the nieces and nephews. We all usually got a pair of pajamas or a top and jeans. It was always a nice Christmas Day, but I have to say, growing up, Christmas Eve was the day I looked forward to rather than Christmas Day.
I am amazed at how Christmas time can change for a person. As much as I miss my Christmases past, I love all the Christmases I’ve had with my husband and our children. I love the memories we have made as a family.
The above is from my book — Brooklyn Raised / Livin’ Upstate — My book can be read on all e-devices and paperback.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
