Hide and Seek, Santa Clause, & Family Tradition



My brother, Mickey, playing with his
gift at Mamaw's Christmas Party,
Christmas Eve 1975.

Tradition...  Merriam-Webster defines tradition as: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom).  Until recently, I've never given a lot of thought to the traditions that grew out of my childhood.  They are and have always just been there.
 
Because the traditions of my family have always been a part of my life, it feels like they have been steady and unchanging.  Looking back, I realize these traditions have actually been subtly ever changing over the years.  

Throughout my childhood and as a teenager, we spent every Christmas Eve at my Grandmother's house.  Mamaw had eight children, all with children of their own, so there was a plethora of cousins running around.  Each year, we would gather, eat, play and later in the night Santa Clause would make an appearance and distribute a present for every child.  At the time, I just accepted that this was the way we spent Christmas Eve.  It never occurred to me how much thought and preparation and work went into this night.  It seemed that everything just magically appeared for the enjoyment of my cousins and me.  And I have to say that we made great use of it. 

My oldest son Ryan at Mamaw's
(he calls her "Big Ol' Mamaw")
Christmas Eve 1998.

Another tradition I enjoyed as a child was, of course, that Santa came to visit on Christmas Eve and left presents for us to discover Christmas morning.  It was generally understood that this happened in every house throughout the world --  I never doubted it as a child.  In my childhood home, the presents that Santa left were all unwrapped, out of any original packaging, with batteries in them, ready to use.  (No Walmart packaging from Santa's elves.) 

When my own children were born, I continued that tradition, never stopping to think that it may be done differently in other households.  I realize now, of course, that some people wrap the presents from Santa and some put it out in the original packaging, and the sad fact is that there are some children that just don't have packages under the tree at all. 

As a young child, I really never stopped to consider if we were rich or poor.  When my parents had to struggle to buy our Christmas, it was not something they shared with me.  One particular year, Christmas tradition was changed drastically for us.  The year before, just after Christmas, our house had burned.  We were out of town at my Granny's house at the time and lost everything including the beloved toy kitchen complete with stove, refrigerator and kitchen sink that Santa had brought me.  I can only imagine, looking back, how terribly hard that must have been for my parents, but I don't remember feeling anything but secure and that everything was okay.

Me, with my Christmas Kitchen,
Christmas 1976. 

When the next Christmas came around, we were still living in a tiny (and I mean tiny) trailer.  My Papaw had used the trailer at his fish camp, and allowed us to live there while rebuilding.  The trailer was no wider than my Daddy was tall.  He could lie down in the main room and touch both sides.  My brother and I shared a bedroom, no bigger than the bathroom in my house now.  With bunk beds on one side, there was just enough room left to stand up beside them. 

Even in that small space, I can remember my parents lying in their bed at the front of that trailer (that was actually the only place to sit, no room for a couch or even a kitchen table and chairs) and play hide and seek with Mickey and me.  They would have me lay down on the bed with them and hide my eyes while they helped Mickey find a place to hide, then we would repeat it again with me hiding from him.  Such a simple game. I can't tell you how long the game actually lasted, but the memory of it has lived with me for a lifetime.

So, we are living in this tiny little camper, and it is Christmas time yet again.  Mom and Dad both have full time jobs to keep the bills paid and are working on building another house for us in their spare time.  Yet, they found the time and the money to buy Christmas for me and Mickey.  There was still the problem of where to hide it, however!  As you can imagine, a trailer that size has very little closet space.  And two active children were all over the place.   So, one day a couple weeks before Christmas two presents showed up.  They were wrapped and had a tag.  One said, "To Mickey from Santa."  The other, as you can guess, said "To Sheila, from Santa." 

Mickey and I were extremely curious about why Santa was leaving wrapped presents at our house two weeks before Christmas was even here.  But Mom explained it, "There are many, many children that Santa has to visit on Christmas Eve," she said. "Sometimes it's hard for him to get to them all, so I told him that you would understand if he brought your presents early."  We did understand, and I never questioned it.   It was that way because Momma said it was so. 

Nicholas, my youngest, with Santa 2002.

Many of the traditions in my family center around food.  Mother's Macaroni Casserole at every family gathering, the fact that we always serve Fried Pork Chops and Turnip Greens with Hot Tamale Pie, Chocolate Cake with 7-Minute Icing, the Pineapple Cake Roger's Aunt Louise always makes, my Granny's Seven-Layer Chocolate Fudge Cake, the Divinity my Papaw Cantrell loved so much, Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies that Momma always made because her Momma always made them, too...  so many dishes that have been handed down through generations in my family. 

I bet you have a few food traditions in your family, too.  If so, share them with us by commenting on this blog.  And, in the meantime, enjoy these recipes from my family to yours...

Seven-Layer Chocolate Fudge Cake
1 Duncan Hines Cake Mix (plus ingredients to prepare per directions)
4 cups sugar  
4 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons white vinegar 
4 tablespoons white Karo (corn syrup)
1 cup milk
1 stick butter  
2 teaspoons vanilla
Prepare cake according to directions, baking in 3 even layers.  Cool, then cut each into 2 layers, making 6 total layers.  Cook sugar, cocoa, vinegar, Karo and milk over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, to soft ball stage on a candy thermometer (or until a small amount dropped in cold water, form a soft ball).  Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla.  Beat with an electric mixer until thick. Spread between layers and on outside of cake. 

Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
1/2 cup shortening  
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk 
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon soda
2 (8-ounce) packages chocolate chips
Mix shortening, sugar, and peanut butter until creamy.  Add egg and milk; mix well.  In a separate bowl, sift together, flour, salt and soda.  Combine the 2 mixtures into a soft dough.  Roll out on floured waxed paper to 1/4-inch thick.  Melt chocolate chips and spread over dough.  Roll up and refrigerate 1 hour or longer. Slice cookies 1/4-inch thick when ready to bake.  Place on treated cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until light brown.  Cool 3 minutes on cookie sheet them remove to serving dish.  

Note from my Mom says, "This recipe was given to my mother in the early 1950's. It still is the best cookie ever."

Note from me says, "My mom would keep the large roll in the refrigerator and slice off just enough to eat at one sitting, so they were always hot and delicious." 

Momma Nita's Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

1 (16-ounce) package elbow macaroni
1 stick butter, melted
Salt and Pepper
2 1/2 cups shredded cheese, divided
2 cups milk
2 eggs, beaten
Cook macaroni in boiling salted water to al dente (macaroni should still be firm and not completely cooked); drain.  Combine with melted butter and salt and pepper to taste.  Add 2 cups cheese and mix well.  Pour macaroni mixture in a treated 9x13-inch casserole dish.  In a separate bowl, combine milk and eggs; mix well.  Pour evenly over macaroni.  Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until set and top is lightly browned.