12/24/99
Well, the turkey's in the oven, so I thought I would sit down and write
all of you a letter; while I had time between now and having to start
the rest of our Chiristmas dinner. What, you say, it's only Christmas
Eve! Yes, with our busy lives and the boys flying out to Chicago this
year a day early on Christmas day to visit their mom, so they can return
a day early to avoid flying on New Years day and Y2K, we had to move our
Christmas up a day.
But then I remembered my dad telling me when I was little, of the
Christmas Eve celebrations his family had when he was a child in the
1920's in Tell City Indiana.
During the month of December, all of the usual preperations for the
holiday would begin. As Christmas would draw near, the decorations would
apear, and his mother's baking would start to change from the ordinary
to include all of his holiday favorites. A week before Christmas, the
front parlor would become "off limits" to all the children. The doors
would be closed and bed sheets would be hung to block any prying eyes
from seeing the "construction project" that always seemed to happen in
that room every year at this time.
On Christmas Eve, as the feelings of excitement grew, the family would
sit down to a special Christmas dinner. After the meal the whole family
would bundle up for the trip to the Tell City Evangelical Church, where
Aunt Clara was the organist, for the Christmas Eve candel light service.
As the sevice ended, father would alway excuse himself, as he needed to
visit some one, or go on a last minute errand.
As they headed home, father seemed to apear, and joined them, just as
they were entering the house. The children were the first to notice that
the doors to the parlor were open, the bed sheets gone. While at Church,
Santa Clause had arrived, not only with all the presents, but with the
Christmas tree as well, all decorated and lit with candels. To me this
seemed only logical, that my fathers house would be one of the first
houses to be visited on Christmas Eve, as Santa Clause Indiana, was only
just over the the county line in Spencer co.
My mom and dad shared a Christmas Eve like this with my brothers and me
in the 1960's, and due to circumstances this year, I will share this
family tradition with my family.
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy Y2K
Jim and Lisa Engelbrecht
Drew and Will
Christmas in Tell City, as related by my father Eugene
Edna and Lloyd - sister and brother
Edward G. and Alma Engelbrecht - father and mother.