New Years Traditions
| Holiday Traditions in our Family are
remembered by Judy and Del. Holidays were always special
family times together. Living near family was very special. Our first parish in St. John's in Nebraska was of the
Danish tradition.1962-1965 Very early 5 AM on Christmas
Morning the young people went caroling to all the shut-ins and other elderly in the congregation. Every church we
attended starting at St. Luke's Lutheran in Sioux City,
Iowa1952-1956 and including Swedesburg Lutheran in SE
Iowa 1965-1980 this tradition was followed one way or
another. In Sioux City we caroled as youth at the
hospitals, In Swedesburg the youth visited all the shut
ins with their carols. Other times we visited nursing
homes and hospitals, Mental Health Institute and the
Prison.. We did not worship at a Church
Christmas Eve when I was 13, but I organized our own
pageant at home with my brothers Jon and Gene each having
a special part in it. Baby Charles was baby Jesus. Later we opened gifts starting with the youngest person and moving up the line to the oldest each opening only one gift at a time until all had been opened. "Just what I always wanted." was a familiar comment each year. This was a tradition that stayed with our family all of my life. A Special Time during the evening was when We listened to stories of how Christmases were celebrated when our parents and grandparents were young. These are special memories to this day as a very special times we spent together. My father "Waldro" told how
they had to make a list of what Santa might bring. One
year he only wanted a rifle. Nothing else. That year he
didn't receive anything! He was told that he had
to give choices because it might not be possible to give
even that one thing which he desired so much! The next
day he was given $10 and was able to buy a pool table for
60% off. That was quite a learning experience! From then
on he had several choices. Gma Judy said she was taught to make a list of things she and her brothers might like to receive for Christmas. The list was hung on the wall for all to see and could be added to or changed. We didn't have much money to spend so liked the little choices that others would put down so we could surprise them with our special purchase. For years we each made gifts for others. It was a secret all year as we made our special projects. (That was especially true with the extended family.) My grandfather, dad's father, Ben Haag together with
his wife Maude (My grandmother) went to a lot of work to
bring their son and daughter the message that there was a
Santa Claus. He would go up on the roof of the house; and
On the snow covered roof he made sleigh tracks near the
chimney and big boot prints. He also made animal tracks
for the reindeer. Then he would ring
the sleigh bells and call out MERRY CHRISTMAS! These grandparents always did a lot of outdoor displays and decorating entering the City Contest in Eau Claire. They were often the winners or runners up every year and so proud of it all. A lot of work but it was their celebration! Del often talks of
Christmases past with his family and relatives. Most of
the relatives lived on the farm and everyone congregated
at the grandparents home every holiday and every SUNDAY.
It was their time to relax during the week and they would
get together for a big meal. The women did the work in
the kitchen with Grandma and the men sat around and
visited and played cards near the stove in the kitchen.
The children (cousins) played outside. Chimney Chin Chin
was a favorite game. They loved going into the haystack
but Grandpa wasn't too happy when they did it. My maternal grandparents, Johnson's, decorated their Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve. The children went to bed early because Santa came to their house during the night and when they woke up in the morning the Tree was decorated and lit and many packages appeared under it. They had cocoa in the morning and then passed out the gifts. After we were married in 1956, we went to our parents (Del's or mine) every Christmas and Thanksgiving and Easter. When our children were all gone and had families of their own we often had them with us on these special days in the year. One fond memory is having all of the children and Judy's father and Aunt Betty at our home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It is one special Christmas Season we will always cherish. Now the children have grown and we often see them for short times Christmas Eve.
1992 was
the last time we were all together like this. Chi, Del, Matthew, Stephanie, Gpa Buck, Wendy, Jackie, Cindy, Aunt Betty, Joey, , Paul in front, Julie behind, Rosa & Big Minh, Judy. Little Minh was the photographer. |
Family Experiences on Cold Winter Days 1922 Grandpa Buck, Judy's Dad Tells a special cold day Memory. Snow would get to be 6-8
foot deep. To get the cars into the
garage from the driveway, "My Dad would dig a tunnel
all the way from the streetcar tracks to
the garage. It took a long
time." I remember jumping in and helping Dad dig
out. As Gpa Buck got older he played hockey and skied. One day when playing hockey he got hit by the skate and got a pretty shiner. Lucky he didn't lose an eye. Really got ribbed at school with that black eye. Judy Haag Carstens remembers building a snow fort every year and having snowball fights with the protection of our fort. We also played Duck & Goose in the snow, and had the Best Angel contest. Sledding down one hill and up the next was the best fun. Often we went ice skating on one of the rings outdoors near our home. Occasionally we would have ice in our own yard and could skate there. I remember the Pot Belly stove in the Warming house which was always roaring with fire to keep us warm as we changed into our skates or overshoes to go home again. When Our Children were young we lived in a small village called Swedesburg in Iowa. The town itself was about 2 city blocks long and two blocks wide. Dad would hook up the sleds to the Volkswagen and pull them around the 6 block area. Round and round they would go having a snow barrell of fun! PICTURE |
Under Construction New
Years Traditions |
We started early addressing envelopes and
getting our special cards ready for all friends and
relatives. Mother made most of our cards in earlier years
for both Christmas and for Valentines Day. She sometimes
would buy special paper doilies to make them with in the
1940's during the war and soon after. We helped lick
stamps which cost 2¢ to mail. It went up to 3¢ in the
'50's. 
Judy's
paternal Grandparents( Ben & Maude Haag) always
enjoyed Oyster Stew and Christmas Eve at our home, or we
at theirs. It was mostly ours as we had moved away from
Eau Claire most of the years I was growing up. 
It was a special time of the year to bring
cheer to others.
When I
was young we followed Dad's tradition of Cookies which
were always left for Santa; and he appreciated them so
much he left a Thank you note!
Slid down the tunnel to
neighbors tunnel and up again.