Sarah A. Victoria Eveline (McClellan) Shuff - WikiTree Profile

Sarah A. Victoria Eveline (McClellan) Shuff - WikiTree Profile

My Aunt Palmaneda Baker Smith described Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Shuff's house when she was a little girl.

There wasn't enough room in the livingroom or dining room for the Christmas tree. They put it in the little bedroom.

Grandma Shuff had a lot of German hand-blown glass ornaments, strings, (one with paper angels), and small candles all over the tree. The candles were never lit due to the danger of fire. Over all that, was shiny ice cycles. Aunt Palmaneda said it was so beautiful, that it felt like you were in fairyland.

The dining room was decorated with a large paper bell hanging in the center of the room. Paper streamers were attached at the large bell and strung across the room to each corner. At each corner hung another smaller bell.

The table centerpiece was a glass dish full of chocolates.

A lot of the time Grandpa Baker would hand out the presents. Each person recited a poem. Grandma Baker knew so many poems, she could always think of one. The children recited poems from their lessons at school.

Grandpa Baker only knew one and he recited it every year. "Once I was a little boy, playing in the sand. Now I am a great big boy, I think I am a man."

When they each opened their gifts, they held it up for all to see. It was usually some small gift like a little handkerchief. Then they all sang Christmas carols.