Looking back at Christmas from yesteryear, I can relate to Stevie Wonder’s title-hit, Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday. Particularly, the line: “What happened to, the world we knew?” We all can agree with Bob Dylan’s famous line, “Times A-Changing.”
Back, when I was around 8, I can see myself on the floor face down coloring with my older brother Vincent. On a particular day, my parents were getting ready to leave. I immediately shot up asking where they were going. It seems Vincent knew what was up, since he didn’t budge. My parents told me they were on their way to see Santa. “Well, if that’s the case, get on outa here,” I thought! Upon their return, I remember my mom telling me that a certain toy car we wanted, could not be found. Santa showed them all the lists he had; one after another, but it didn’t appear anywhere. That was a real bummer!
However, he found it under a different name!
Growing up, my memories of Christmas, just like my wife’s, were characterized by certain events: Our parents always played their typical Christmas songs. Those songs, in Spanish, originated in the mountains. They dealt with the hardships of the Jibaro (The ‘J’ has an ‘h’ sound in Spanish). The jibaro was a person who worked the land growing crops and tending animals.
Our parents would play songs by a famous singer, Ramito, as they worked hard in the kitchen making ‘Pasteles’-a typical food made with green bananas, taro root, etc. [For more info on this delicacy, go to ‘Pasteles de Masa’ (Puerto Rican Taro Root & Plantain Pork Pockets) thenoshery.com)]. They had to grind meat, add olives, etc. then wrap them in either banana leaves or in a special type of paper made exclusively for them. They took hours and days to make. Once done, they were tied with string and placed in a large pot to cook. Most pasteles were five to six inches in length, like a burrito, but my dad made his twice as big. My cousin, Rosin, called them 747s! This being back in the mid-60s, the title was appropriate!
While things were being cooked, including Budin De Pan (Bread Pudding) & Arroz con Dulce (Coconut Rice pudding), the aromas flooding the air, and music playing in the background, we kids would usually put on a sweater and went outside to the hallway to play as quietly as possible. We’d run back and forth, played bowling, played checkers, catch, etc. Y-a-y!! The season was here!
Even though my wife and I didn’t grow up together, in comparing notes, we have found these events were typical of most of the families in our neighborhoods.
Those were the Christmases where almost every kid on the block usually received a blue and black Tommy (machine) Gun which sold for between $1-2.00, a good-quality pinball set $.19 for a small one, $.39. for a medium one, $.59 for a large one, or $.89 for an extra-large one. Another thing most of us used to get, like my brother Vincent, was a hand-held, either deep blue or bright red, 1963 Kenner, Give A Show 50-slide-Show projector with lots of Yogi Bear or Huckleberry Hound cartoon slides. We’d add the six large D batteries and show it on the walls or ceilings.
Under our trees, there were usually gifts that included guitars as well as train sets. Of course, most everyone received a huge net-like Christmas stocking stuffed with small toys, small games, and lots of candy. Once in a while we were asked what we’d like, but mostly we received whatever came our way.
Christmas can be about toys and games, though not always. More than gifts, it’s about time spent with those we love, like when my five older brothers with their wives or girlfriends visited for dinner. Along with them was my cousin Rosin and some of her eleven brothers & sisters.
The smell of roasted pork (pernil), yellow rice with pigeon peas (arroz con gandules), and pasteles permeated the small apartment where young and old alike, gathered to celebrate the most important of all holidays.
“And unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
Looking ahead some fifty-plus years later, occasionally, we might hear someone playing some of those old typical songs, and our minds will automatically race to those settings; settings of long-ago. Christmases of yester-me, yester-you, and yesterday where families gathered together inside working on family traditions, songs of old were listened to, the radiator pipes clanged as the ‘steam’ rose fogging our windows. Meanwhile, kids played in hallways without fear of danger. The holiday seemed to last forever.
Remember, giving love, lending a hand, or making time, as when my wife set aside days and moments and baked cookies and cakes with our three kids as they were growing, and taught our daughter to cook at age seven; or when she’s baked with our grandkids, are priceless. Those moments have been so special to her. For both of us, these memories have been the greatest gifts of all, and they’re sure to last a lifetime.
This Christmas you too can create special moments and special gifts with those you love.
**As I was writing this piece, I received a text from my good friend Ray, on the other side of this planet, asking if we knew how to make ‘pasteles’ so we could mail some to him! I referred him to this blog and site, since, unfortunately, we don’t know how to make them!
Merry Christmas!
Sam
