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C4 Merry Christmas Wednesday Dec Christmas was crude for pioneers In Cage We have written many times the crude living condition of early set Hers in Hal ton of Hie log cabin built on a hastily cleared tract f land of the lack of neigh bore and Idtioii Such conditions were bearable during the summer months but inter added much lo the difficulties of the and would scarcely be conducive to any form of gaiety then would be like amid such surroundings No Ray and colorful Christ mas cards no gifts from the home folk no church bells ringing out their message across the frosty air Life was still a struggle for survival Celebrations were possible Christmas Day would be marked only as a dale on the calendar Yel the pioneers would undoubtedly remember as he day on which the child was born and might be lo their com fori recall the humble surroundings of the Infant Jesus In some of the rude log cabins a mother with her 1 title ones gathered around her would sil before a pine log fire No Santa la us The children would listen eagerly as Mother told them the story of Ihe Nativity And then she would tell them stories of Christmas as she remembered it in the lond of her birth of the little village church Christmas Sunday School concert the good food and exchange of family Christmas gifts Santa Claus would not be a part of her story as she would remember thai Santa did not have children pioneers mas list urkcy duck i his is be be wild to lie hi pioneer diet potatoes torn salt pork flour or bran Hemlock lea and burned Indian corn would suffice as substitutes for lea and coffee inlunate indeed was Ml family who owned tow to provide milk for the children Letter describing pioneer life refer to beef and turnips as luxuries reserved or guests and for such great iccasions Christmas and New Years Day By the middle of the lUlh century conditions had con II possible for immigrants and second generation set tiers if they could afford it to live off the fat of the land Officers and heir families in garrison towns enjoyed com luxury Whiskey flowed freely In farm families tables at Chris mas groaned with weight of good food Describes fare As the years pro gressed scanty had been replaced by plenty The pioneers had learned ways of drying the wild native fruits for winter usc here as more variety in their diet the year round Mrs Anna who in visited in he Gore district of which was a pari speaks veil of the food served that lime Their table she wrote is pretty well supplied Beef is tolerable but lean Mutton bad scarce and dearer than pork Pork is excellent being fattened principally on Indian corn Fish is delicious During Ihe whole winter we have had black bass and caught in holes in Ihe Ice and brought down by the Indians Venison garni and wild fowl are always In be had the quails taught in Immense numbers near Toronto ire must delicate the higher classes of people arc supplied with provisions from heir own lands and farms or certain persons ilicy know and employ somi raise poultry and vegetables fur their own table As the years passed he celebration of Christmas took on definite shape and form Treasured traditions from the land their birth became a part of he anadian The donkey a favourite The or was the most valuable animal to Ihe biblical family and also Ihe most economical since he ate only a quarter as much barley as a horse The most menial of animals lie was famous for his stamina and sure footed Humble as Ins sin us lit would the cameleer on his hack and lead Ihe long stalely strings of camels across the deserl poor families like Joseph of Nazareth could afford one donkey which rimmed with blue beads and red wool show I heir pride of ownership SEASONS BET your loyal RICHS SERVICE CENTRE LTD Dick Rcoee No Acton the sleighs pull toy for the buys At supper time lliert was another bu meal and then went In i hires the there Ik it if the I litre li lie square dancing games maybe a bit sparking on the side I renumber iv well Cousin George played llicharmonici for Myrtle s And oh could she dance lint was one way ol spreading Christmas popular with he passing scars And yet strange say in some families thrislmis wis celebrated all suspect this mm is handed down as a result I lie sparse living that the tarly settlers iiiuld dim written In gr Mrs Hubert 1 Nelson find following for December 1 Mopped Moors baked in made bread tried ihurned went our Johnson i Worked in dress had or breakfast Hut whether i sert il or not thtrt is one common us ill from the pioneers present day the Hit Christ charming collection of picture made of wood with nix lithographed view might have been found under a Christmas tree The building blocki are part of a special display of antique doll furniture and other pull tovs on view in a seasonal exhibit called A Canadian Child World of Tovh Canadians building during Ihr Christmas Ufa son home of the lots ore manufactured imports while others are modest homemade products but altogether hey reflect a charming view of a anadian Christmas introduced by Christmas morning each Incoming immigrants As he population increased family gatherings became Ihe mam feature of Ihe Christmas colcbra To grandmothers We have been given several first hand ac counts or Christmas way back In grandmother lime Here is one that Is typical We always to Grandmother s for Christmas Grandma Aunl Mary and Aunt Liz would be busy for weeks past gelling ready for Christmas The table down cellar was really something see Jellies preserves pickles honey and shortbread And lien as Christmas drew near pies tarts cakes biscuits plum pudding and a rock of dairy butter and home made for meat there wos savory Muffed duck goose chickens home cured ham As soon as the chores were done branch of he family would load up he sleigh and head for grand mother Bells would jingle merrily as the prancing horses carried each party swiftly over the glistening snow Sometimes we had Imtlle deep snowdrifts and occasionally there would be an upset and some of us would land in a snowbank But eventually we would all arrive the farm and grandfather would tell us hurry and all them villles the house got eaten up We children were to keep out of wav and muse ourselves until we wen called And that long because about of us to dinner- some Ihe long able in the dining room and some in the kitchen I remember one lime vearold brother Jimmy was lost and we hunted everywhere for him We finally found him asleep under kitchen table a spoon in one hand and a howl in Ihe other dinner we opened our presents They were homemade Useful things like knitted scarves mitts and socks Maybe stuffed rag dolls and basket era dies for DO our tin folk had dinner on the table in stiorl order Grandfather asked God blessing on foodwewcre about to tal ind then we all sel In Homemade presents The days that recall best there were generally GREETINGS Christmas filed happy momenta shared loved ones Thanks to ell From Blue Springs Flower Shop At this worshipful season we pray that you will share the delights of it quiet wonder and everlasting beauty For the kindness youve shown us thanks Larry Coral family -ACTON-