When I was a child, Christmas had many meanings for me. Presents of course. but there was always so much more. At my youngest until I was 10 we lived in Upstate NY, which always meant snow on the ground, cold windy raw days and the worry that we had to drive somewhere for a Christmas Dinner, or the preparations that preceded people coming to our house.
Preparations usually started in the fall, with decisions being made as to who would hold Thanksgiving, and who would hold Christmas. Tradition held that a stranger, or family of strangers must be invited to each. A feast for 20 or 30 was not unusual until we left NY.
Cookies were Diane’s specialty, and she would begin in the first week of December, She made dozens of dozens of cookies, put them in baskets as presents for our doctors, friends, etc.
Christmas was always stressful for the ladies in charge of the cooking, but they enjoyed it to. As most of the family left the area I suggested that we go to a local restaurant for thanksgiving one year shortly before we left. I thought it was great, no stress, no dishes to clean up, they even sent leftovers home with us. The ladies didn’t like not having control so we went back to the usual.
