In keeping with our December tradition, we are sharing a few more Christmas memories…this time from four of our  OSHM Board members.  Enjoy!

I was recently reading my Southern Living and ran across an article by Lee Smith, “ Our Sentimental Christmas Tree.” It began like this…

“Every year, you can read our Christmas tree like a big old Southern novel. It’s all about where we are from, who our people were, who we were, and who we are now. Almost every ornament tells a story.”

Those words spoke to my heart and my Christmas memories. I love today’s fancy trees with all the coordinated ribbons, ornaments, and themes, but my personal tree is very sentimental. Last year in the middle of COVID, I actually took to Facebook and each day featured one of my Christmas tree ornaments from my “Sentimental Christmas Tree”. I photographed each unique ornament and posted its history to my friends. I ran out of days before I ran out of ornaments. I was amazed at how much the mere remembering of each special piece brought such joy…from the ornament I saved from my childhood tree, to the homemade ornaments of my children and grandchildren, to the ones that represent family and friends, hobbies, vacations, and our culture. I guess that is why I enjoy decorating each year. As I hang each of these treasures on the branches, with my cup of eggnog close by, those memories all come flooding back to me. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Season! - Lyn Romine

My favorite Christmas memory was the year the two little boys dressed as Christmas sheep in the Christmas pageant at Liberty Chapel refused to be sheep, so I told them they could be fainting goats instead. During the play, they passed out several times each. They were hysterical and stole the show!
- Maude Hicks

When my daughter was 2 1/2, she saw an ad on TV for the Fisher-Price wind-up train. When I took her to see Santa she told him she wanted a train. He said, “Wouldn’t you rather have a doll?” He then gave her a lollipop. She didn’t get the train but he did give her candy so she was happy with her Christmas present from Santa. On Christmas morning, the first thing she saw under the tree was her train, unwrapped of course.
- Carillon Orban

When our children were little and we lived in Florida, every Christmas we loaded the station wagon and drove to Brunswick, GA, to be with my husband Al's family - his daddy, sister, and two aunts. I remember the car being loaded down with presents and Santa Claus items and the excitement of putting all the presents under their big tree in the living room. For Christmas dinner we joined Al's cousins at their house; that visit was always a good time with lots of laughter! I treasure the memories that our daughter Ginny and son Rick have of their Granddaddy Fred and Aunt JoAlice - those special times made the hassle of traveling for hours well worth it!

As we got older, we made new memories of special Christmas time with Ginny, our son-in-law Brian, and our grandsons. Attending Christmas Eve services at their small Methodist church in Newborn, GA, became another treasured tradition. After the beautiful service, they had a Christmas Party and included everyone! Brian played Santa, and there was a hilarious "gift exchange" where you could take someone else's gift!

The years continue to slip by, and I find that I treasure memories of Christmas church services more than ever. For many years now, singing in Eatonton’s “Christmas on the Avenue” at The Plaza Arts Center has become another of my favorite traditions. Our grandsons have made it a custom to attend to "start the Christmas season off right" as one of them told me. What a blessing! - Judy Fain

We’d like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be sure to mark your calendar for our first Sunday at the Museum Lecture coming up in January. We are excited to welcome Loran Smith, Author and Sports Historian fromUGA, as our first guest speaker. CLICK HERE for more information.