Larry Freshman
Special for The Catoctin Banner

As I drove through Thurmont the other evening, I saw the town so beautifully decorated in its Christmas finery. My heart was once again warmed by the wonderful holiday season.

You know, every year someone mentions the "magic of Christmas." I have to admit there is something magical about this time of year. Most people feel more joyous and light-hearted. We actually get a kick out of searching the stores for that special gift for family and friends. We dig a little deeper to make a donation to our church, the food bank or a favorite charity.

Everyone seems a bit more courteous, friendly and tolerant than any other time of the year. It is also a time of remembering — reminiscing about Christmases of old and those who shared those cherished days with us.

Of course, I have many more memories than most, since I’ve passed through youth, middle age and am now on a direct route to Senior Citizenville.

One of my first memories of Christmas as a kid was the arrival of the Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs. Those big babies were jam-packed with all kinds of terrific toys. Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy and Davy Crockett were fantastically popular back in the day. So cap pistols, cowboy and coonskin hats, spurs and anything else associate with these swell villain fighters were at the top of my wish list. However, from the day the catalogs arrived until shortly before Christmas, my lists changed, usually on a daily basis.

It seems funny that while growing up, I knew weren’t rich, but I never thought we were poor. Especially at Christmas when Mom and Dad and dear old St. Nick always seemed to bring me just what I wanted.

My Christmas stocking was just as important as those wonderful toys. My stockings always included a variety of candies, nuts, oranges and tangerines. This was the only time of year I can remember receiving those delicious fruits. The candy was special, too — ribbon candy, chocolate drops, peach blossoms, coconut bonbons and French candy.

I can still vividly remember all that wonderful food my mother prepared for the holidays. After all, I didn’t get this pudgy bod by not thinking about food from day one.

As fall began, mom would make sure I picked up every black walnut that fell from our trees. This began a painstaking ordeal that would eventually lead to a lot of holiday goodies. The walnuts were put in the driveway and as mom and dad drove up to our house, the walnuts would be run over, removing their hulls. Then, my job was to pick up the walnuts and put them on the front porch to dry. As Christmas got near it was time to crack the nuts. Then, mom, my sister Barbara and Grandma Kelly would sit for hours picking out those delectable nuts. This all led to walnut cakes, walnut cookies and walnut fudge. Wow! I can almost taste those goodies and their fragrant aromas still linger in this old guy’s olfactory.

Mincemeat pies were also prepared by my dear Ma. She always had plenty of assignments for dad, my sister and me. The beef and suet had to be ground, using a hand grinder. No blenders or food processors in those days. The results were delightful.

For dad, chestnuts were always a must at Christmas. He would scout around town or wherever until he came home with his bag of treasure. Mom would roast them and Dad would sit at the table to enjoy his feast. He always wanted me to join him, but since I hated the little buggers, I convinced him to keep them all to himself and enjoy.

As Christmas grew closer, mom and dad would visit Guy Hobbs’ grocery store for fresh oysters. We always seemed to have some scrumptious fried oysters and oyster stew during the holiday season.

I also remember the holiday lights that illuminated our yard. My dad and brother-in-law Bill Sweeney would spend hours putting the Christmas lights on ever hedge and boxwood. They would even let me help if I didn’t slow down the process. Mother and my sister would supervise the labor. They both seemed to fit perfectly into that job. Back in these days, when October rolled in, so did the cold weather. So, by December, this decorating was usually done in frigid temperatures.

In my youthful days of many Decembers, I recall visiting Hersheys 5¢ and 10¢ store. It was owned and operated by Ray and Corrine Boarts. My sister worked there during her college years and she admired the Boarts very much.

During the holidays, the store had long counters that had been sectioned off  into small cubicles. In each section were the different figures of the nativity.

This is where I used my allowance on a weekly basis to buy enough figures to make my own nativity scene for under the tree.

The dear old dime store is also where I bought Mother some of her most prized Christmas gifts. In my youthful exuberance, I would spare no expense. There were lovely broaches for her coat, hand lotion for her skin. Evening in Paris perfume was my best present for my momma. When I presented her gift, she was totally overwhelmed. Now, of course, she knew she had to wear it. She would never want to cause permanent damage to her baby boy’s delicate psyche. So, she sprinkled some of that fragrant elixir on her hands and behind her ears. You know, I don’t think I ever smelled anything quite like that before. Naturally, I never smelled it again. Mother said she would put it aside for very special occasions.

Another place all the kids seemed to head for prior to Santa’s arrival was Donald and Fred Lewis’ Toyland. It was located in the upstairs of their store right on the square in Thurmont. There was a narrow staircase inside the store and a rather steep stairs on the outside of the store, but they both got you there to that super-duper destination. Trains, dolls, games, BB guns, cowboy outfits, and more filled that wondrous place from floor to ceiling. It was a kid’s paradise. The only drawback to Toyland was that you couldn’t stay very long. That upstairs was hotter than… well, you know what I mean.

With St. Nick’s Day quickly approaching, we would listen to the carols on our radio. Dad had a big upholstered chair located near the radio. I usually sat on the floor next to the radio as we listened to the holiday programs. My favorite songs were Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. They were the new songs of the day. Gosh, that makes me feel old!

Sometimes mom and my sister would sing Christmas songs as they washed and dried the dinner dishes. They even sang in harmony. By the way, Daddy didn’t sing bass. He and I just listened to those joyous sounds.

Many of the voices of the people mentioned on this Christmas journey have been stilled over the years. Yet, at Christmas, we once again can clearly see their faces and hear their laughter. We cling tightly to their memory and we love them for all the happiness they bestowed on us from Christmases of long ago.