Love, laughter, friendship. Weeks were spent preparing; my mom would bleach flour sacks, cut them into strips, and then dye them red or green. They were then used to make bows for wreaths in our windows. In memory, I can still smell the wonderful aroma of special Christmas cakes and breads being baked. My dad took us deep into the forest by dogsled to find the perfect Christmas tree. He also made candleholders from milk tins, to decorate the tree. The candles were only lit for a few minutes at Christmas Eve. With guests that we had in for supper, we then would sing carols, accompanied by Mom on the pump organ. The community would all gather at the schoolhouse for the children's Christmas pageant; many coming by horse and sleigh with bells, or dogsled. After the conclusion of the pageant, the children would gather around the large Christmas tree to receive presents from Santa. These gifts consisted mainly of pencils, writing slates or crayons. At home on Christmas morning, our stockings would contain things such as skin boots, mittens, or wool socks, and perhaps an orange. And oh yes my dear, the northern lights and the moon rising over the bay. - Inga V. (Simms) Johnson   Submitted By: NULL