If
you were born before 1960 you may recall watching a Christmas special on
December 9, 1965. That evening was the first showing of “A Charlie Brown
Christmas.”
As
the program progresses, Charlie Brown comments: “Isn’t there anyone, who knows
what Christmas is all about?!"
Linus: "Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights please?”
And
there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch
over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and
the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid. And
the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto
you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising
God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good
will toward men.
That’s
what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. [Luke
2:4-14 KJV http://bibleornot.org/the-true-meaning-of-christmas-linus-speech/]
Over the years
each of us have many firsts in our Christmas celebration. Today we look back at
Dewitt’s recording of Christmas past.
Sunday, December
25, 1921
Edna and I went
to Mother’s for dinner today. Snow and good sleighing on most of the roads
today. Mother and father gave Edna and I a new washtub and wash basin for
Christmas. Edna finished making a table runner for Mother last night.
December 25,
1928
The weather is
fine. Edna’s folks and Eva and Henry were up today. Father gave me one of
W.A.B.’s new books just out. A history of the Bassett family. He has been
several years getting it out.
December 25,
1929
We went up to
Eva’s with Edna’s father and mother. Had a good dinner. Came home at 5 o’clock.
Sandy came over from Binghamton today. He was down to father’s when we got
home.
December 25,
1930
We stayed home
all day. Clear and plenty of sunshine today. A fine Christmas day. Money is
scarce, and most people are not having much of a celebration this year.
December 25,
1931
Edna’s folks and
Eva and Henry were over today for dinner. Catherine got her first doll today.
She carried it around all day. A stormy day and getting colder. Temperature
dropped from 34 to 20 and going lower.
December 25,
1932
Edna’s folks
over today. We had a very warm day. Like summer. Warmest on record in Rochester
and here. Temperature up to 66. Catherine got three dolls and a tricycle.
December 25,
1934
Snow and mild.
Willard, Pete and I got the old red fox today. Pete shot him. He weighed 11
pounds and was about 54 inches long. Temperature 33 tonight.
December 25,
1936
Mostly cloudy.
Muddy and a spring day. Temperature 45 at noon. My folks and Pete and Marian
were down to A. VanFleet’s for dinner. We stayed home all day. Leland caught a
muskrat this morning down by Munson’s. Catherine got a doll almost as big as
she is.
December 25,
1949
Temperature 15,
clear, white Christmas. A nice Christmas day but strong south wind coming up.
Temperature 32 at noon and sun out early in the day only. We have one of the
blue spruce trees in front of house lit with colored lights this year.
Monday, December
25, 1950
Temperature 14.
Snow flurries and colder with light northwest wind. An inch of new snow in the
night. Snow stopped at mid-morning but snow blowing some. Coldest day at midday
this winter to date. Got a new pocket book, 5-year diary for Christmas. Junior
B [Bassette] brought me up a new fish line and billy for killing same.
Friday, December
25, 1953
The sun is
coming up red and temperature 30 at breakfast time. A very beautiful Christmas
day. We worked on the kitchen part of the day. Got a new diary today. Mom
[Edna] gave it to me. Myron gave me a new weather vane for barn.
[Added a few
days later: Some 500 killed by car accident over the long weekend Dec 24 to
27.]
Saturday,
December 25, 1954
Temperature 20
Christmas day and some sunshine. Catherine came down from Rochester with
boyfriend for dinner. A fine day. Warmer tonight and clear.
Dewitt’s Diary
Thursday, December 25, 1980
Temperature ten
below. A very cold day. Cold with frost in the air. North wind.
Got a nice pair
of warm mittens from Howard and Catherine.
Mom got a new
sweeper from Howard and Catherine for Christmas. Just what she needed.
Zero tonight.
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