Area residents share Christmas traditions

HARTINGTON — The song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” is a well known Holiday classic, but few people know its true origins.

The song was written originally as a poem by Catholic clerics. It uses symbols to convey and disguise teachings of faith, according to author Ace Collins. The song, published in England in 1780 without music, but as a chant or rhyme, is thought to be French in origin.

In 1979, a Canadian hymnologist, Hugh D. McKellar, published an article, “How to Decode the Twelve Days of Christmas,” in which he suggested “The Twelve Days of Christmas” lyrics were intended as a catechism song to help young Catholics learn their faith at a time when practicing Catholicism was criminalised in England (1558-1829).

Looking into the true meaning of Christmas in Hartington, 12 questions were posed to area residents.

These are the findings from interviews with a half dozen of these individuals.

“It is the birth of Jesus and our faith and life as we live it with Jesus, share his birth and celebrate his birth,’’ said Lois Lammers. “We get together and have a big Christmas dinner then before the gifts are opened, we go to the nativity crib and get baby Jesus out and each hold Jesus as we tell what we are thankful for. When everyone is done, we sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jesus. It is unreal, all the things that people have to give thanks for, especially to have Christ in our life and all He has given us.’’

Lammers said her favorite Christmas song follows that same theme.

“I like ‘Away in a Manger’ because I guess as the song says how Christ was born in a manger. It shows how simple His life was and yet so great for us all,’’ she said.

She likes a certain Bible verse for that reason, also.

“My favorite Bible verse is ‘God is love,’ (found in 1John 4:8 and 1 John 4:16). A priest told me once that it is the simplest to remember. It is so simple that if anyone ever asks me I can always remember it.’’

As her most treasured gift, Lammers answers with a familyoriented intent.

“I guess it is best when we can all be together as a family,’’ she said. “I do remember the last doll I was given was a bride doll. I still have it. I was 8. It’s always a memory. I always remember, we would go to midnight Mass and go home, then Santa had arrived. We wouldn’t get to bed until 3 or 4 in the morning. That’s how Mom and Dad did it.’’

Food is an important part of most customs. Christmas is no different.

“We used to like turkey and ham,’’ Lammers said. “Sometimes our family would switch it around and have steak. Turkey was a big thing. We did our own traditions. We started out doing things like our folks did at midnight Mass and others. Now we have added our own traditions such as baby Jesus.’’

When asked which movie she prefers, Lammers chose the December 1946 “It’s a Wonderful Life’’ over the 1983 “A Christmas Story’’ or the 1989 “Christmas Vacation.’’

Michelle Loecker prefers to watch Chevy Chase in “Christmas Vacation.’’ Her all-time favorite is 2003 “Elf” with another “Saturday Night Live’’ comedian Will Ferrell.

Watching a movie is often part of her Christmas-time celebration.

“We decorate the day after Thanksgiving. It is a busy season for us. When we celebrate, we eat, go to Mass, then have family time when we play cards, or watch a movie,’’ Loecker said. “Christmas is a time to regroup, to spend with family and think about Jesus. It is a time to recharge your battery and energize.’’

Christmas songs really help her get in the Holiday spirit.

“I am always singing Christmas songs — all the time,’’ Loecker said. “I like to sing, ’In the meadow we can build a snowman (‘Winter Wonderland’),’ and ‘Away in a Manger,’ ‘Silent Night,’ and ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.’’’

Loecker said they left milk and cookies out for Santa when the kids were younger. One year they left something more.

“I remember one year, the girls brought home some ‘reindeer food’ and we put it outside for Santa and his reindeer,’’ she said.

Before the reindeer could get to their present from the girls, Loecker said she thinks a dog came by because the animal left behind a present of its own. Between the unwanted gift and the tracks, her daughters were sure the reindeer had been through there.

“I don’t remember making a list for Santa. He came to town and we told him what we wanted. We usually got one thing on our list that we wanted. My earliest memory was growing up with five sisters and one brother when Santa would leave piles of presents,’’ Loecker said. “I remember coming down and looking forward to my pile. I remember the Barbie I wanted was right on top. Now I like anything my kids make for me as a gift, things with their thumbprint or handprints on. I also like Christmas desserts and any kind of pie.’’

Loecker’s childhood traditions remain something she tries to pass along to her children.

“We would have a special prayer then say the thing that we were most thankful for and had Advent candles. We have always prayed around the table and made a point to give special thanks to Jesus and His birthday,’’ Loecker said.

Janet Burbach shares Loecker’s emphasis on Jesus at Christmas.

“It is the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior. I think a lot of people forget this,’’ Burbach said. “I find that a lot of people don’t like to say, ‘Merry Christmas.’ I would rather say that than ‘Happy Holidays.’’’

“I love ‘Christmas Vacation,’’’ Burbach said of her favorite movie. Burbach’s favorite Christmas song is “Silent Night.’’

“The song explains a lot about Christmas and the birth of Jesus,’’ Burbach said. “As a child, three of us sang the song as a group. I learned it in first grade in country school. It stuck with me.’’

Burbach’s most treasured gift is being with family.

“I have one daughter. We love to see the grandkids come. We have to share her with the other side of the family. We look forward to having her come to celebrate with us,’’ Burbach said. “God gave us four grandsons.’’

Burbach is a believer in more ways than one.

“I have always believed in Santa Claus,’’ she said. “I remember as a child I went out to feed the dog scraps from the table.”

When Burbach returned inside she said Santa Claus had already come and she had missed him again.

“I remember one year I wanted a sled so bad. I thought I was never going to get one,’’ Burbach said. “I came back in and there was the sled. My Dad would always say, ‘You just missed Santa Claus!’ He would add, ‘You better watch out, Santa’s out there and he will see if you have been good or not.’’’

“Now when the grandkids come, Santa has already been here,’’ Burbach said. “I used to leave milk and cookies for him when the children were growing up.’’

Burbach remembers a joke played on her by an older brother at Christmas time, although she said it wasn’t funny at the time.

“When I was 5 or 6, my brother who is eight years older than me said you better have been good. You better be careful or Santa will bring you cobs,’’ Burbach said. “Christmas came and my brother hands me this nice looking box wrapped up very beautifully. I looked inside and there was a box of cobs. I quickly closed the box because I didn’t want anyone to see that I got cobs for Christmas. I was devastated. I just started crying. My parents said, ‘Janet, what did you get for Christmas?’ I did get what I wanted that year in addition to the cobs. Usually back then we didn’t ask for a lot. One or two things was all we got. Now kids get a lot.’’

One tradition she has carried on from childhood is duck dumplings and sauerkraut.

“One thing is you have to have people that like dark meat,’’ Burbach said. “Now we get together on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve. We used to get together on Christmas Eve and grew up going to Midnight Mass.’’

Lisa Dendinger said she would rather watch Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in “It’s a Wonderful LIfe.’’ than a movie like Christmas Vacation. Dendinger also likes to watch the Hallmark channel because “things always end like they should.’’ Although her favorite movie for Christmas is “White Christmas.’’

“I like it because it’s snow and clean and snowflakes and purity,’’ Dendinger said.

These types of movies make Dendinger remember what is important in her life — family.

“You know why Christmas is important, it’s all about family. It’s a reason to get together. Sometimes it seems like we have to have a purpose to get together. It’s festive. Christmas gives us the belief that it’s the thought that counts with the gift you give,’’ Dendinger said.

Lisa and Bill Dendinger and their three children get together each year at Christmas and New Year’s for a meal, to open gifts, do a craft, and play cards or games.

“The thing is for family to all be together,’’ she said. “It’s giving, not getting. It’s also important that kids come home for Christmas.’’

While growing up in the 1960s, Christmas was different than it seems now, she said.

“Now people go get what they want,’’ she said.

When she was younger Dendinger said they would get a pair of shoes or necessities most of the time. She said she would usually get at least one thing that she wanted. Santa would come when the family was gone to Midnight Mass.

Her earliest Christmas memory was one with her sisters.

“I must have been 6 or 7. I remember Mom would make us all Christmas outfits of the same pattern only different colors. She would help us wash our hair and put in those brush curlers, then make us take a nap. We would wake up and get ready for Christmas Mass.’’

As a mother with her own children, Dendinger said, she remembers one Christmas when things didn’t go as planned.

“I remember it was a very busy year. I wrapped gifts and hid everything. I usually had my own markings but wrapping in haste I got them mixed up. People opened each other’s presents. The kids still talk about that,’’ she said.

Her favorite Christmas food, a layered butterscotch or chocolate dish, that was made by her mother-in-law, Monica.

Jim Ankeny, 94, said the turkey his wife made was his favorite Christmas food.

He shares the love of “White Christmas’’ with Dendinger, and remembers the song from the movie as his favorite.

Ankeny said he remembers one day before Christmas when he had finished milking cows and came around the house with presents to hide in the back porch.

“My son came around the corner and looked at me, but he never saw the presents,’’ Ankeny said. “My wife used to decorate like nobody’s business. She would do the inside of the house and I would decorate the outside.’’

Amanda Christensen’s earliest Christmas memory involves driving around to look at Christmas lights and Christmas decorations after the Christmas program.

She said that as for gift giving, members of her family got what they wanted some of the time, sometimes not and some times they got things that they needed.

“My Mom worked on Christmas Eve, so we would wait for her to come home, then open presents and play games,’’she said.

“Christmas brings family together,’’ she said. “Christmas Eve is my favorite time to celebrate with my family. We usually go to my husband’s family’s house on Christmas Day. Before we were married, we sat down and decided where we would spend Christmas Eve. It’s a big thing for me.’’

Another aspect of Christmas that brings joy for Christensen is the story, “Christmas Shoes.’’

“I read the story, then I heard they made the book into a movie,’’ Christensen said. “My Mom and I requested the night off from work when it was on television.’’

Christensen said one of her most treasured gifts at Christmas was the birth of her son.

“When my son was born we celebrated together,’’ she said.

New traditions with her son include leaving milk, cookies, carrots and celery out for the reindeer. Another tradition for Christensen is prime rib and potatoes.

To look into the meaning behind the 12 days of Christmas suggested by Collins see:

https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/ christmas-and-advent/thetwelve-days-of-christmas.html

The 12 Days of Christmas

- The True Meaning

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... a partridge in a pear tree.

The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on the first day of Christmas.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... two turtledoves.

These twin birds represent the Old and New Testaments.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... three French hens.

These birds represent faith, hope and love. This gift hearkens back to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter written by the apostle Paul.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... four calling birds.

These fowl are the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... five gold rings.

The gift of the rings represents the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... six geese a-laying.

These lyrics can be traced back to the first story found in the Bible. Each egg is a day in creation, a time when the world was “hatched” or formed by God.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... seven swans a-swimming.

Hidden in the code are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and compassion.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... eight maids a-milking.

As Christ came to save even the lowest of the low, this gift represents the ones who would receive his word and accept his grace. Being a milkmaid was about the worst job one could have in England during this period; this code conveyed that Jesus cared as much about servants as he did those of royal blood. The eight who were blessed included the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake in the Beatitudes.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... nine ladies dancing.

These nine dancers were really the gifts known as the fruit of the Spirit. The fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... ten lords a-leaping.

As lords were judges and in charge of the law, this code for the Ten Commandments was fairly straightforward to Catholics.

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... eleven pipers piping.

But when Judas betrayed Jesus, there were only eleven men who carried out the gospel message.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... twelve drummers drumming.

The final gift is tied directly to the Catholic Church.

The drummers are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.”