Christmas At My House? What Was I Thinking? | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Christmas At My House? What Was I Thinking? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sara Beth Campagiorni
10/24/08
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

All my years of growing up in the suburbs of Detroit we had traditions like other families, but one of ours was unique. Most families get together over the holidays. Mine did, too. We did Thanksgiving at my paternal grandparents’ house where my Grandma Clemence always made everything. My mom and the other in-laws were allowed to serve. But it was always loud and fun

The unique tradition was my mom’s family getting together every Christmas Eve. The tradition started in 1953 when my mom’s dad, being a widow for over seven years, remarried and wanted his new wife to enjoy his then eight children (with five spouses) and eight grandchildren. He was trying to bring back the tradition he did with my mom and her siblings during World War II when things were lean. He would have a friend dress up as Santa Claus and bring the children one gift to open on Christmas Eve. It was very difficult when Grandpa Campbell just a few years later, but the sisters here in Michigan decided to continue the tradition amongst them. And so the tradition continued and grew as many more grandkids came along. Not unusual, except that there were 41 of us and most of the families had small houses. (There were actually 51 but two of the eight families lived in Arizona.) So the sisters decided to take turns hosting the Christmas Eve party.

When it came to our turn to host everyone, there was nothing but togetherness. My parent’s house was very small and only had a living room that measured 11 by 22 feet and had an upright piano, sofa, chair, TV and a bookcase in it. Then we’d add the fresh Christmas tree and decorations. So there were cousins, aunts and uncles everywhere! Our basement was not finished (the dungeon) so we were very “close” during that evening of fun and fellowship in our tiny house bursting at the seams. But none of us kids minded. We were used to each other and the big cousins would convince us little cousins to go get more cookies for them.

One tradition that came out of that time was what I called the cookie contest. My mom and her sisters would each bake a minimum of seven different kinds of cookies. I think they were having a contest to see who could make the most different and the most quantity to feed the clan. We always loved it because we would have our favorite and if there wasn’t enough at our house, we knew one of our aunts would have it later in the week when we would visit each other to see what “Santa” brought them at their house.

We continue this tradition of getting together on Christmas Eve to this day, only it now falls on the responsibility of all of us cousins since 1994. There are now 5 aunts & uncles, 35 of us grandkids with 22 spouses, (24of us grandkids still in Michigan), and 51 great-grandkids totaling 108 at this point in time. I’ve lost count on the great-great-grandkids and the spouses of the great grandkids . So, my cousin, Frank, took the first year figuring, he’d never have to do it again and I chose the second year.

We had just moved up to Oxford in 1994 and had a nice size little ranch style house with a nice size basement. Problem was by October 1995; I had our fourth baby and still had 2 in diapers, plus a large Dalmatian dog. What was I thinking to invite the entire side of my mom’s family? Had I really lost my mind after having a fourth child in five and a half years? Where was I going to put all of them? But the Lord showed me what to do. We kenneled the dog, used the garage to store cold food and just opened up the whole house. We ended up having 53 people, including my cousin’s two week old baby. It brought back so many good memories of the “togetherness” we shared as kids and it blessed the aunts and uncles to see the tradition being carried on in their kids and grandkids. The Lord has since allowed us to live in a larger home, so I’m looking forward to this Christmas as we gather once again to thank Him for His most precious gift to us, His Son and allowing us to be in His large family.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.