Grandma’s Stories

Dec 24th “Santa still comes Tonight to Visit ALL”

“Christmas EVE – – EXTRA SPECIAL”

This is a real old PHOTO …

Back then … in the 1940’s…when we were in the “German St. Vincent’s Orphanage” , at 7401 Florissant Road,  63121

The address is given … just in case you would  also like to take a tour of the Place… and or  to even be a volunteer…  as they  do and will always have many different  activities requiring some extra help… “Volunteers ” will and are always needed… with  the taking the children to so many  different  events. 

“Christmas Eve at St. Vincent’s…”

Do you remember what we did…                 ^^^

Maybe I should be asking… if you remember where you were in the above PHOTO? 

And… or even  WHAT you were doing… were you in this special  part of the parade… of those you see… that brought the  Infant” and place him in the manger.

Also must ask… if you wore  alive and even a part of the above activity, that took place each year on Christmas Eve.

It really does take some thought, as to remember…  so far back in TIME… when we were all  little children… way… way  back and  into  the 1940’s  and even further back into the 1930’s… like ME?

As you look at this scene of our procession of  our fellow classmates… maybe even a brother or sister that took part in the bringing  the  “Infant Jesus” to the crib area and placing HIM there on this evening… what were you thinking… maybe wishing that… you  also were in all of this procession… something to remember, as an extra special  event for always… taking place in your life.

As I remember… there were  certain  extra special … and  maybe  even favorite children of some of the “NUNS” and only these children were chosen to partake in this  special “Christmas”  activity.

And this completed the four weeks of ADVENT services.

Following  and  after this the last of the Advent services… we would then… all proceed to the class rooms to finish this day of  extra special activities.

This was German St. Vincent Orphan Home…Normandy, Missouri…  and  after we had the Christmas Eve serveries in Church…we children would be all excited to see that which… “SANTA” had brought here for us.

As we would get in lines for our Class Room… we would be singing Christmas songs to get us all in the correct HAPPY and MERRY mood…stirring up some excitement … before going into the Class Rooms… to see what SANTA  could have brought to us – here.

At the desk that we sat for our everyday School classes… there would be items that our parents… may have brought to the HOME and or had sent to the HOME to be placed on our desk… on Christmas EVE.

We would stay in the Class rooms,  for a short time… as we all went to bed at “ten after seven” and CHRISTMAS Day was what we were  all really waiting for.

This was  the best part of all of this… as we  would be leaving… our PARENTS would come to the ORPHANAGE  on “CHRISTMAS” day…  and take us home for a couple of weeks.

Any time we would get to go HOME with our Parents was just terrific…  and that was the best part of CHRISTMAS… for ME.

Remembering… there were some children that never got to go HOME with their PARENTS … they may have lived out of STATE …  or had other things to do … but as I remember …  some children never… ever … receive “VISITS”  from any of their FAMILY .

So…  and until just now …   thinking about   a child never seeing their own FAMILY  on HOLIDAYS, and not even on their BIRTHDAYS … I am surprised that the  “ORPHANAGE”  did not make arrangements for them – – in some way or the other… 

Have some kind of special VISITS or other kinds of OUTINGS.

“How do you let a small child feel so lonely … with never a personal VISIT …  from someone?”          D.V.

Posted in Childhood, Family, Grandma, Today and tagged "AL R. ALDRICH", "Mickey McLaren" -" herself"with 1 comment.