Christmas Past

Written by Nancy Dupuis

Reading an article on the internet recently titled “Irish Christmas in Lanark County” – Arlene Stafford Wilson, started me thinking about what it must have been like those first few Christmases for the settlers arriving from Scotland in the 1820s; did the womenfolk stash away just a few bits of Christmas memorabilia in those barrels coming across the ocean?

I now understand with more clarity my own childhood and the Christmas traditions at home, my mother being one of those descendants to those settlers – our tree was only brought in on Christmas Eve, sparse it seemed some years, almost like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, but we had a tree.  It was always cut down in a bush by my father, no buying from a tree lot like the days of now.  I remember simple ornaments, usually homemade using tatting or crochet needlecraft (decorative glass ornaments were just too expensive). 

The article I read, mentioned branches of spruce, pine and cedar being brought into the house about a week before Christmas.  A tree would have white candles on it and lit each evening leading up to Christmas Day.  I recall at home, a solitary candle in the window, the candle steeped in old traditions, lighting the way for the Holy family.