Sheila's Potpourri
News from Huntington
Sheila Scogin

Thinking about Christmas made me remember when I visited with folks who were not from our country to get their customs: at this time of year, The celebrations in their homeland are different yet all put emphasis on the true meaning of Christmas: celebrating the birth of the Christ ciild. So I decided to write this article again even though several of the people I interviewed are no longer living.

When Rose Pinner was at home in Ahabeg, Lixnow, County Kerry, Ireland, Christmas was a gala time. Holly with berries was used abundantly in the house for decoration. Colored paper chains were made by the children and placed around the windows. Windows had a wide rock ledge and a candle was placed in each window so the children would know that Santa could find their house. Santa Claus was no different in Ireland and he entered the house by way of a chimney. Presents were usually an orange and some candy. Milk chocolate candy was a very special treat.

Though presents were rare everybody was happy. If at all feasible, kinfolks came home for a visit but there was not much work in the small towns and many family members would move 'away to find a job and could not return home. Mass was celebrated arid carols were sung. Each family who shopped during the year with a merchant always received a gift of jam, butter or some kind of foodstuff from him.

Several farmers raised geese and the neighbors always were given a goose for Christmas. The goose was then stuffed and cooked to be eaten with carrots, parsnips, gooseberries, black currents, plum pudding, rhubarb pie and apple pie. Although there was food aplenty, and lots of love and happiness, Rose never saw snow until she came to the United States because snow never falls in County Kerry, Ireland.

The late Erica Stone told me that In New Zealand business places closed on Christmas and the day after which was know as Boxing Day. The school holiday began the week before Christmas and the children returned to their classes in January. Many people took advantage of this and spent the time at their country or seaside cottage.

Families visited and gifts were exchanged. Not many decorations were used and children's stockings hung on the mantle piece or toot of the bed so Father Christmas (Santa Claus) would surely find them and leave fruit and small toys.

In Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Bori Nerren looked forward to December 5 as the day school would be dismissed at noon so that St. Nick could bring gifts that day and then the children could play with the gifts at home on the sixth. On the twentieth of December school was dismissed again for Kerstfeest (Christmas) holidays. Christmas Eve, the family attended Mass from midnight to three o'- clock.

Always a live tree was decorated and live greenery such as holly made the living room pretty. There were no parties but family get-togethers at Christmas time. No gifts were exchanged at this time because the birth of Jesus was celebrated. Nuts and fruits were enjoyed at this time but all had to be imported.

The children skated on the frozen lakes; winters were terribly cold. About four in the evening the family sat down to a Christmas meal of rabbit or chicken (usually rabbit), boiled potatoes, gravy, fresh cauliflower, green peas and beans, brussel sprouts, coffee and puffed pastry made with almonds and raisins. There was only candlelight to dine by and there would be breaks in the meal so that carols could be sung.

The late Joe Hanna was born in Bethlehem, the city where Jesus was born His family was very close and at Christmas it was a must for each family member to visit the grand- parents because older people were very special. Each family went to the huge cathedral and attended a lengthy Mass. Children were visited at home by Santa and gifts would be exchanged among family members. Such foods as lamb, turkey, stuffed cabbage and stuffed squash graced the table at holiday time.

Among the many blessings our family has received is the birth of baby Amber Marie to Kimberly Scogin and lack Childers of Longmont, Colorado. Her grandparents are Mary Scogin of Longmont and Tim Scogin of Littleton. Great-grandparents are the John Courtenays and Bettie and Preston Westbrook of Lufkin and Beamon and Sheila Scogin.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our faithful readers!