An Old Fashioned Christmas

AN OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS

It all suddenly began around twelve noon on Christmas Eve 1997 when a great storm broke. Our main source of heat was cut off. Lights, T.V, radio, water and all the benefits of the little switch were brought to a standstill.

Later my children, my husband and I set out to the Christmas Eve vigil in our local church “Lisdowney”. The whole ceremony was conducted in candlelight and was so peaceful, tranquil and nostalgic. As the storm raged and the rain lashed down large crowds knelt and prayed together, in the flickering light.

On arrival home we were still in darkness. Our home was freezing cold as the winds howled and the rain mixed with hailstones blasted against the window panes. We set the open fire ablaze, all lending a hand to fetch coal and wood from the shed which was there for years untouched. We piled it high in the old fireplace which was seldom lit, and now was our only means of heat. Every candle we could lay hands on was put to good use. We were very lucky to have a paraffin lamp, and full of paraffin oil too, a gift from our youngest daughter the previous Christmas.

Our home runs on electricity and oil but for luck we also had an old gas cooker which we held on to when moving house. Needless to say it was in full light for Christmas cooking.
Rising early on Christmas morning, there was no let-up on the storm. The winds roared and the rain still pelted down, it was a real roof-tester. The logs were still smouldering on the open fire and when stoked up again, it was ablaze in no time. We shifted the kitchen table into the sitting room in front of the fire. I prepared Christmas dinner with help from my husband and family and all seven of us sat in around one 0`clock. As we chatted around the table in the warm glow of the fire and watched the evergreens sway ferociously in the strong gales, the atmosphere was so very cosy.
After dinner my husband braved the elements and yoked up the car and trailer to fetch a barrel of water from a nearby well for household use, as there was no tap water.

Friends and neighbours who lived nearby gave us their usual Christmas night call. “We just had to come no matter what the weather”, they announced as they sat around the open fire. The glow from the candle and lamp light against the tinsel and holly was so welcoming. This together with the aroma from the paraffin momentarily swept us back to Christmas time of long ago. Neighbour Tom, great at the auld singing, had a little tipple of whiskey and broke into song with “White Christmas” followed by some old Irish songs.
With the absence of radio and T.V, conversation and storytelling began. Reminiscences
yarns and songs went like a dream. We even managed a few card games, and the cajoling, laughter and trickery was magic. This went on until the small hours of the morning which only seemed like fleeting moments, on this special Christmas.

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All electrics were restored to us and the surrounding neighbourhood in the afternoon on the day after Saint Stephens. It was greeted with great cheer by the young adults. The hairdryer, iron, shower and free flowing water then swiftly sprung into action as they lived in hope of an evening out at the Christmas parties weather permitting.

Television then brought us the evening news which we had not seen for almost three days. Looking at it, I felt so very sad for families in other parts of the country who still did not have power restored. Many of their homes were totally run on electricity, leaving them with no heat or means of cooking. Many had young families and sadly the desperate weather made their Christmas very bleak indeed.

As I watched the wonderful men still striving on the electric wires to restore power in the height of the storm, my heart went out to them. These men were the real heroes of Christmas 1997, for they had to leave their comfortable homes and families in horrific weather conditions for the benefit of all. Looking at them, and hearing the sad stories around the country almost made me feel guilty thinking of the wonderful Christmas we ourselves had just had. In my opinion all the money in the world would not even begin to make up for their absence from their loved ones on this so special day of days. Their time and dedication was priceless.

Sadly looking at the great hardship endured by many families, and feeling for them, we counted our blessings and thanked providence for having been so fortunate to have had other means of light and heat. Our gas cooker, paraffin lamp and open fire which were almost forgotten about, now hold pride of place in our home.

Through the mighty storm and power cut, for us memories of Christmas 1997 are among our very best ones. We took great joy in being transported back to an old fashioned Christmas in times of long ago. Humble, simple times perhaps, but never the less, times that always were and always will be held very dear to our hearts.

WORD COUNT 895.

Story ID:	2604
Written by:	Kathleen Blanchfield (bio, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Family Memories
Writers Conference:	$500 2007 Family Memories Writing Project
Location:	Kilkenny Eire Ireland
Year:	1997
Person:	My Husband