Fifty years ago, seven young children gathered at the dinner table, chattering excitedly about Christmas and the presents they hoped Santa would bring — a Chatty Cathy doll for the youngest girl, Barbie dolls and toy trolls for the two older girls, the new game Mouse Trap for the oldest boy, trucks and balls and cowboy outfits for the younger boys. All at once, a sound interrupted their talk and in unison they squealed with joy.
Santa was there, waving to them from outside the big dining room window! They knew, if Santa knocked on their window, their good behavior would be rewarded.
This winter, children will gather at their dining table, chattering excitedly about Christmas and the presents they hope Santa will bring. And one of these nights, those children will squeal and point to the window where Santa will be waving, wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and they will know their good behavior is to be rewarded.
Members of the Facebook group, “Growing up and living in Plankinton South Dakota. Do you remember …” were recently asked to share memories of local Christmas traditions. Many of those responding fondly recalled Santa knocking on their windows. It seems Santa at the window never grows old and children never lose their delight when they hear his knock.
In the early 1960s, children visited Santa at the Plankinton City Hall and Library, today’s Senior Center. After listening to them share their wish lists, Santa gave each child a brown bag filled with peanuts in the shell and hard candies. Fifty years later, the sight of those hard candies during the holidays, especially the ribbon ones, evokes fond memories of childhood Christmases.
The Facebook respondents, many of them children of the fifties and sixties, also discussed eating oyster stew (or chili for those with more sensitive palates) on Christmas Eve. Several mentioned attending midnight services at midnight–- and then heading to grandparents’ homes for a late night dinner and presents. Another common theme was finding oranges in the toes of their Christmas stockings. Many families still serve oyster stew (or chili) as the traditional Christmas Eve meal and buy sweet oranges for the children’s stockings.
The origin of these Christmas traditions, oyster stew on Christmas Eve and oranges in the stockings, is disputed. Some say the oyster stew tradition started because Catholics could not eat meat the night before a holiday. Others say it started with the ability to ship fresh fish from the New York Harbor in refrigerated train cars.
Searching the Internet reveals many stories about the origin of oranges in stockings, some going back to the days of St. Nicholas. It is possible oranges became popular in this area, as did oysters, because the railroads could transport fresh food in the dead of winter – and oranges made a nice addition to a stocking traditionally filled with fruits and nuts.
Making and sharing treats has always been a strong tradition on the plains. Some still make fudge, divinity and peanut brittle just as parents and grandparents did. Popcorn balls, a favorite for children raised during the depression years of the 1930s, aren’t seen as much. While times change, every family have their favorite cookies, candies and other foods prepared each year as a reminder of Christmases pasts and hopes for Christmases to come.
And, so it is, each family celebrates Christmas in its own way, carrying on treasured traditions and creating new ones for children to cherish and continue through coming generations. As we enter the holiday season, I would like to suggest that you share the stories behind the traditions that are such an important part of your holiday season, helping your children and your children’s children connect your past with their future. Finally, when Santa knocks on your window, whatever your age, be sure to wave back and wish him a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
It Happened Right Here: When Santa Knocks, by Ruth Page Jones. Published in the South Dakota Mail, Plankinton, South Dakota, December 5, 2013.
RPJ Histories - Ruth Page Jones 