I still have vivid memories of Santa’s “arrival” when I was a small child growing up on a dairy farm. For me, Santa didn’t arrive on Christmas morning. After all, my father started milking at 5 a.m. every day, regardless of holidays or weekends. So, his one request of my mother when my brother and I were young, was for Santa to arrive on Christmas Eve so he could experience the joys of Christmas with us!
While the magic was short term, the memories remain vivid. I still remember being told that Santa had to start somewhere, and the magic of radio confirmed that fact. While my parents and older brother were milking, I spent the time at my Grandparents Smith house, three miles away. My grandfather always tuned into radio station WLW-700 in Cincinnati so we could track Santa’s progress … and confirm that he was already delivering presents. Then around 8 p.m., we would go back to our house. Behold, Santa had arrived!
Even though the tracking of Santa faded over the years, the tradition of exchanging gifts at Christmas Eve did not. Even after my parents retired, we still maintained the Christmas Eve tradition in Northern Kentucky. Now that my parents are decreased, the “standard” Christmas Eve dinner (ham, sweet potatoes, broccoli and pecan pie) and gift exchange have changed, but the memories will always remain.
May your holidays create “magical” memories that will last a lifetime.