21 -1964 Early December Ushers in the Season
Once again I offer a glimpse into the life of a seventh grader just living life in small town GA. I wrote a few words about each day of my life from January 1964 through December of 1970. My days were much like the days of my friends and perhaps offer echoes of similar stories of small town America in this decade of change. As with 12 year olds of current day, I was absorbed with family, friends, school, church, and community events. Our main means of coordinating time together came from phone calls, letters or a neighborly drop in visit next door, across the street or around the corner..
School time bustled with the excitement of the Christmas season. Teachers allowed students to help decorate trees in various homerooms. The use of the term “Christmas” was no issue. I think culturally most people just didn’t think about the fact that someone might be offended. This part of the country was predominately Christian; those of other affiliations shared in the celebrations almost as if it were a courteous thing to do. Now and again, folks of other traditions joined in celebrating by sharing some of their traditions, as well. My opinion (perspective of a junior high girl) emanates from a couple of annotations about enjoying the story of Hanukkah or a memory of reading about and discussion of the traditions of other cultures or countries as a part of history or geography class.
The buzzwords of my writings for December were Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, Christmas trees, decorations, family and friends. Other significant items revolved around report cards, tutoring math, basketball, boy scout camp, and community events.
When I looked through my diary entries for the month of December, I clearly understood why back in these days, the spirit of Christmas seemed to “begin earlier” and last longer. That isn’t the case, however if one is looking strictly at a timeline. Most Christmas decorating in stores, in towns, and in churches happened in the month of December. It wasn’t tied as much to the commercialization which now in the last couple of decades occurs from right after Halloween until Christmas Eve. I observed that from early December right up through Christmas itself, events unfolded in this small town that created atmosphere and wove the spirit of the season into our everyday lives.
On Thursday Dec 3, the Lumpkin elementary grades 1–5 held their school Christmas party at the regular PTA (Parent Teachers’ Association) meeting. Parents of the children along with many other town folk, attended that special PTA meeting and celebrated watching the children gather around a central Christmas tree and exchange gifts and sing Christmas songs.
On Saturday, Dec 5 the local Garden Club held their Christmas Bazaar where the local folks displayed arts and crafts related to the season. The town citizens supported local talent by moseying through the booths and purchasing small ornaments, wreathes, freshly baked cookies, or other Christmas themed knick knacks.
On Wednesday, Dec 9 Laurie invited me to the Methodist church family night which was Christmas themed and families had brought pot luck items for a delightful family dinner celebration.
Monday, Dec 14, the ladies’ Missionary Circle of the Baptist church held their Christmas Party. My mom went to the weekly missionary meeting, so she was enthused and spirited about going that evening and socializing with her lady friends. Names were typically drawn and the women exchanged small craft related gifts. She brought home a set of a napkins suitable for the card tables she used when playing bridge.
The last day of school, Dec 18 was filled with celebrations as well. The junior high school hosted Christmas parties in each homeroom. Razz drew my name for the gift exchange and I was delighted to receive a gold ‘initial’ pen which I could wear on my blouse or a matching sweater.
The highlight of celebrations in most families was the “putting up’ of the family Christmas tree. On Dec 19, Mom and Dad brought in a freshly cut tree and we decorated it with ornaments, icicles, garland, and beautifully colored stringed lights. I recall one year that my dad had blinking lights. These were not randomly placed lights; the entire tree blinked. One year he had a spinning stand and the tree rotated. He was always up to something! Most seasons he mounted a large lit Santa Claus on our front door. Two small identical Santa’s graced the two smaller windows which framed our living room picture window. Some years a string of lights could be seen along the bannisters on each side of the brick stairway leading to our front entry door. After getting my brother and me all excited and settled in with the tree, Mom and Dad made a late evening trip for Christmas shopping in Columbus.
The local churches held their respective Christmas programs that Sunday, before Christmas, December 20th. I did not annotate a ‘combined’ Christmas program for the Methodist and Baptist during this 1964 season. In later years, those two main denominations in town did combine for joint Christmas services. The black churches also celebrated separately during this time frame.
The month of December offered many chances for celebrating with family and friends. As would be expected, even in the middle of all the merry-making, everyone experienced the normalcy of everyday. Stand-by for more of the happenings in small town GA during this exciting, spirited season.
