These people had to decide if they would have a depressing
Christmas or a joyful celebration.
Christmas was not filled with bling-covered gifts or designer
clothes. Gifts were handmade. Toys were carved from wood. Dresses were sewn
from flour sacks while hats and gloves were knitted or crocheted.
The real treat on Christmas morning was an orange in the
stocking. Buying an orange was a sacrifice parents made for their children
because this fruit was so expensive.
Tree decorations were handmade out of paper, wood or scraps
of fabric sewn together.
But Christmas was still Christmas. Families joined together.
They went to church to worship the newborn King. Their focus was on the
giver of life instead of lack. They were thankful.
My parents lived through the depression. As children during
this era, they knew what it meant to do without certain things. Therefore, they
wanted my brothers and I to have whatever they could give us at whatever
sacrifice they had to make.
I can still remember the Christmas when I was nine years old.
