Christmas Traditions
In the City of Brotherly Love
Christmas Traditions
In the City of Brotherly Love
Chestnut Hill, the town where I grew up was a well-knit community of families and friends. The Hill, as many of us called it, was in the northwest quadrant of the city of Philadelphia. Although Philly is a large city, it had many neighborhoods which felt like small towns.
“He’s from Mt. Airy but is married to a woman from West Oak Lane.”
New Yorkers often found us provincial and backward, but we were proud to be from Philadelphia. We were and are The City of Brotherly Love.
During Christmas season, Chestnut Hill was artfully decorated with tiny white lights on the trees of the main street Germantown Ave. Few things have been quite so captivating as The Hill decorated for Christmas. So subtle and quiet and understated.
We could walk everywhere on the Hill. Small businesses lined the Avenue and we kids could choose Christmas presents close to home. I think most fathers received shaving cream or a necktie and many a discount was given to children by the local shop owners.
Our parish church, Our Mother of Consolation, was a centerpiece in our lives. My parents were devout Catholics and we attended the parish school taught by nuns.
