Christmas in Maine (Limington: living, food, company)

[Draconiator]

...How do YOU celebrate it? Our family actually starts getting stuff ready for the feast on December 23rd, since we open gifts on the 24th; We have hard-boiled eggs, fruit salads, macaroni salad, etc. and all that food needs to be ready for the 24th for dinner, and then we take whatever we want. We do a "Buffet-style" dinner, so you can go back for seconds if you want. After we eat, we'll all pile into the living room and start opening packages, and we all have a good time. You would love Christmas with our family, although it doesn't last as long as I'd like...

On the 25th after we get up, we have our own little Christmas where we look at what's in our stockings, and usually my parents get into it too. That night some relatives usually come over with gifts for us, so we have a mini SECOND Christmas.

Post Christmas though (26th) is usually boring though...*yawn*

[elston]

This journal entry notes Christmas in Limington Maine (1860). In preceeding entries she has talked about making presents, going to church, births and deaths and the chores of daily life. She ends on a meloncholy note...remembering happier times.

Dec.25

"Work, work now for the Christmas tree. Mrs D—has invited Mr and Mrs Lord, Mr and Mrs Clark and Mr C H Small to take supper with us. The evening has passed and all went off well. The turkey was unusually nice, also the tomatoes, cakes and pies and things. The children were all delighted and each one fared much better than they had hoped. My little girls both received a book from Mr. Lord and Emmeline a handsome ring from Mr. Dimock. Flora a [?] and a gold dollar from Grandmother. Emmeline an excellent book from mother and Flora a picture besides many other things. I had a nice pair of boots and some other pretty presents. The company broke up about half past ten well pleased with the entertainment and seeming happy, but memories of the past came over me like recollections of … troubled dream. "