Christmas in a childs eye
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As a child growing up in the Alps, in the South East of France, winter was always a very special time for us as a family. With snow, winter sports, evenings by the open fire and roasting chestnuts, it was a perfect time of year.
As one member of a very large family which was always boisterous, it seemed to me at that time of the year someone had 'turned the volume up' We waited in eager anticipation for the first snow of the year. You would go to bed the night before only to be woken up almost as if someone had left the lights switched on outside and the shout would go out, 'il a neigé!' or loosely translated, 'it's snowing!'. If we were lucky the roads would be blocked and schools closed and to hide our disappointment we were 'forced' to play outside, building snowmen, having snowball fights and generally getting rid of all that pent up energy.
Christmas meant no school, lots of food which we would only eat a Christmas time and of course presents which could mean only one thing: the arrival of Santa Claus. One thing that always puzzled me was how Santa was able to bring presents for 14 children down the chimney. Years later watching the TV series 'The Waltons' brought back lots of memories.
Ten days before Christmas, my dad would always go out with my older brother to get a tree which was always problematic in deciding who got to decorate the tree that year.
Many years later I have children of my own and I can still see their eyes light up when the first snow falls on Christmas morning and the whole family sits aroud the tree opening presents. That is to me the perfect definition of Christmas Spirit.
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Your memories and writing are as beautiful as the picture you chose to include with it! I'm so happy for you with your gift/skill of writing! I'll refer to this hub as the season progresses!
Yea, special Christmas, always.
And beautifu winter forest picture.
Hi Lyricsingray, Daniel and Vladimir: Thank you guys for reading my hub. I really appreciate it. God bless you all.
Thanks, Keira7 for sharing this. I love the photo of winter/Christmas. It's certainly getting close to Christmas with the weather being so cold. I know that most of us care less about Christmas between adolescence and adulthood until we have our own children...I'm in that phase now, you could say! Thanks for sharing with us your experience!
That's so sweet keira and so wonderful. Actully, those precious moments that you spent with family mean a lot more than the occasion itself sometimes. Occasions were invented to bring the family together, to make up among friends and to bring love. Thanks a lot keira. Wonderful hub.
Hi Dohn thanks for stopping by and leaving this nice comment. Take care bro. God Bless.
Hello Shamel, thank you for the lovely comment. See you soon bro, God Bless.
Hi, keira, thanks for sharing your Christmas experience. I have always dreamed about having a White Christmas or at least seeing some snowflakes falling during the winter times. Maybe someday....
Hi Chin chin, if you decide one winter to come to the Alps, let me know, I can always help its not a problem. Thanks for stopping by sis. Take care.
Beautiful memories! I love the snow, well visiting it! I'm from Texas so living in so much snow half of the year would be a little much for me, but it would be wonderful to have a white Christmas every year!
My life is in the UK now and I really miss a white Christmas. I would love to visit Texas one day, maybe you will do us a hub about Texas:) Thanks for you lovely comment MissE,its very nice of you stopping by. Take care.
Hello Keira,
This a great hub. I love the flurry of activities that lead to christmas, and the lovely picture you have here has already started to put me in the mood for the coming festive season. I love snow, but dont get any where i live now.
Nice work.
And i looove your avatar, i wish the puppy was mine. So adorable
Cheers
Thank you so much for the very nice comment Viryabo. If one day you decide to come to the Alps , just let me know I will be happy to help. I am glad you like my avatar, I was thinking about putting a scarf or a shawl on him. What do you think? =D Take care my dear friend. God Bless you.
oh you make me so jealous! I live in the south of England, and all we get is hail stones and sleet! loved it. lol Nell
England has its good points too though ! I might make a hub about London soon ! Thank you for reading my hub and you are welcome to come to the Alps, just let me know if you do I will be happy to help. Take care my dear Nell.
Keira, you are a very good descriptive writer! I could feel the snow and hear the fire crackling in the fireplace. Thanks for this hub. :)
What a wonderful hub, Keira! It's put me right in the Christmas spirit! Christmastime always did seem magical when I was a child, and I hope it will be just as special to my children (when I have them) in the future. :) Thanks!
Hi Lowell`s Notes, thank you very much for the compliment and for the visit, I really appreciate. God Bless you.
Hi Lissa Lynn, I am glad you liked my hub, thank you very much for the comment, its very nice of you. I wish you all the best for the futur I am sure you will be a lovely mum. Take care my dear and God Bless you.
keira7,
Your post reminds me that Christmas is around the corner. It is so nice to celebrate it in the places with snow, trees.
There is no show in my country Singapore because it is situated in tropical region. But the Christmas atmosphere is very high here, shopping centres will be decorated with special design like christmas trees, toys,etc. Children are playing with soap bubble{fake snow}happily.
Thanks for your nice post.
Keira - what a perfectly wonderful picture you painted! I love snow, love it even more if there's some on Christmas Day. You defined Christmas. It's such a magical time. I would enjoy a Christmas morning at your house. I also thought the picture was perfect for the hub :)
Hello Frogdropping, glad you enjoyed the hub about Christmas. You're more than welcome anytime to spend Christmas with us.thanks for passing by take care and God Bless.
Hello William Tan Seng, I would love to visit Singapore one day. I really appreciate you reading my hub. Thank you so much and God Bless you.
Hello Health Tip, thanks for passing by its always nice to relive your childhood memories. Take care. God Bless.
Congratulations on hub 2, K. You certainly know how to take us there. I'm not a big fan of xmas because it always makes me think of those who have never had one, but that's me, a lateral thinker. Write on!
What nice memories keira! thank you for sharing them.
Hi Keira,
Great hub, lovely memories. Nothing compares to a white Christmas, we finally had one last year for the first time in a long while and look forward to another this year with any luck. I enjoyed sharing your memories which are very similar to mine except I live in BC Canada.
Thank you Emievil, glad you like my hub. Take care.
Hello Carmen Borthwick, I love Canada, thank you so much for reading my hub. God Bless you.
Hi EnglishM thank you so much for your comment. Take care my dear friend. God Bless you.
Keira7, that is a beautiful xmas story. It is a perfect timing too, just in time for holiday. Well written, I hope you have more coming. Thanks for excellent xmas memories.
Thank you so so much Leop I really apreciate your comment and your visit. Take care my dear Leop.
Great hub Keira7, it brings back all kinds of memories, especially not having to go to school when it snowed, lol, excellent.
Thanks for sharing. =)
Beautiful hub keira7. Beautiful picture too. Keep it up!
Hello Mrvoodoo, I am so happy you pass to read my hub.:) Thank you so much my friend I really apreciate. God Bless you.
Thank you so much Rehma, I am working on a new hub and I hope you will like it, thank you so much for been a fan. Take care sis, God Bless.
I didn't have Christmas as a child, so reading this was very nice for me. I have children, and I love to see how excited they are for the snow and the holiday. I enjoyed reading how happy you were as a child. And like everyone else said, its a very pretty picture you put there too. Good job Keira.
What a beautiful hub! Thanks for sharing your story. I enjoyed reading it.
Actually has a child I was happy until the arival of my step mother. She took my mum place and then it was another story:) That`s live. :) Anyway I am happy you liked my hub. Thank you very much for your comment and encouragement. See you soon my dear Justine.:)
Hello my dear NaomiR it means a lot for me that you came to read my hub. Thank you for your comment, I really apreciate. God Bless you my friend.:)
I love a family christmas, it sounds like you had a lot of fun!
We did actually have a lot of fun. I love Christmas time. Thank you very much for your comment my dear Wrenfrost56. God Bless.:)
Nice hub my friend, keep posting :)
Thank you my friend, I will do, I will publish another one soon. Thank you for your visit. God Bless my dear Syam.:)
yay it's Christmas once again ;p
thanks for sharing that special hub of yours ;p
all the best..
Thank you very much Blaise25, for your comment, and I wish all the best too. Bless you my friend.:)
Thank you. Have a nice one too my good friend. See you soon. Bless you.:)
Hi keira--two down, millions to go! ;)
Thank you for sharing with us your cheerful Christmas memories. I would love snow days when I was a lil'alien! Unfortunately, I grew up in a desert.. ;)
I find this very well written--maybe you could add this year's Christmas tree later on! =)
Thank you so much Lxxy for your visit, I really apreciate your comment. You are a good friend.:)
Thank you so much for your visit, and for your lovely comment. You are adorable my friend. Bless you :)
Wonderful Hub, itis what Christmas should be. the picture of the tree with snow makes me very homesick.
hi it was so nice to have you at my party, lovely hub look forward to more....
Hi Angel, thanks for your visit, really apreciate your comment. Thanks for been a fan.:)
Hi Poetlorraine, I am going to publish another hub soon. Its very dificult when you have to write, in a langage, that you are just learning. But its very good practice. Thanks very much my dear friend for your visit.:)
Thanks for the memories of snow. I go home sometimes and see it and I forgot how cold it gets, but it is still pretty. Aloha!
lovely hub...full of warmth and the joy in simple little things! thank you for sharing with us....much love x
Elaynne sorry for the delay. Thank you very much for your comment. Now that you leave in Hawaii, I understand that you forgot the cold:) You are lucky to be in a warm place. Take care my dear friend. God Bless.
Hello my dear Myownworld, first thank you for been a fan, I really apreciate specially from a brilliant writer like you. I am honnored. Secondly, thank you very much sis for your visit and your very nice comment. God Bless you my dear.
sounds so perfect, i would love to spend christmas in the french alps. sounds like the perfect christmas setting!
Hi my friend, thanks for your visit and for your nice comment. You are more than welcome to visit us in the Alps, its a beautiful place and you will realy enjoy the trip.
Wonderful
Thank you Sauvignon. I really apreciate your visit. God Bless.
I loved this hub:) Thanks Keira for writing it. 14 children? All brothers and sisters?
Yes my dear friend all brothers and sisters. I have 5 sisters and 8 brothers. Thank you IzzyM for reading my hub, and for your nice suprising comment:) I am glad you liked it. I know that you are Scottish and just want to say that I love Scotland and that my husband is Scottish from his father side. Thanks again for reading my hub. God Bless you.
Lovely memories shared, kiera! Beautiful writing and photo, too! :) I love the snow and could really relate to your excitement! I'm in the the UK as well now, first Christmas here, so the lack of snow is new for me! Wishing you a lovely holiday season!
Thank you so much I*n*v*i*c*t*u*s, for your lovely comment. You are going to enjoy Christmas in the UK. Lovely holiday season to you too my good friend. Have a wonderfull time. Thanks again for your visit. Bless you.
Beautiful Christmas memories and a great picture. Thanks for sharing with us. - Carol
You welcome my dear Carol the Writer. Thank you so much for your visit and your very nice comment. Bless you.:)
Snow makes such a difference at Christmas time. Thanks for sharing your memories
I agree, I mostly spend Christmas in London, and its so different. But I love London.:) Thank you Ethel, for reading my hub. I really apreciate your visit. Bless you.:)
Wonderfully written, you are a great writer. Hoping to read more from you soon.
Thanks and all the best!
Thank you so much Mike.:) I really appreciate your comment. I will write some more, maybe after Christmas.:)
All the best to you too my friend.:)
Great story, there were 14 in my wifes family and 14 in my dads. Giving you a thumbs up.
This is wonderful, you must have a very big family now.:) I am glad you enjoyed my story.:) Thank you so much for your visit.:)
everything is special and magical through a child's eyes, especially Christmas. you put me right there along with you with your writing - well done and a beautiful hub!
Hi Colette, thanks again for your comment it's always good to hear from you. I am glad you liked this hub too, and what you say about my writing really touch me. Bless you my dear good friend.:)
What magic when you are small and then your inner child comes out and a flood of memories come rushing back. You have certainly reminded me of what Christmas is. :)
Hi my dear AEvans, I am glad my story brought you some magic memories. Thank you so much for your lovely comment, I am honored to have a writer like yourself reading my hub. God Bless you, and I wish you a lovely Christmas and a lot more beautiful memories for the futur.:)
I came back to read this hub again, bring great memories for Xmas. Also wanted to Wish you and your family a very Merry Xmas and Happy 2010.
Hello my friend, thank you very much for your nice comment. I wish you also to you and all your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Bless you my dear friend Leop.:)
Great read, Happy 2K10 to you and yours
May God Bless and keep you
Thank you so much my dear friend Siotosh. God Bless you and keep you too bro.:) Happy 2010 to you and your loved ones.:)
Very sweet and nicely written. Makes me long for Christmas time again. Loved the sharing of your family memories and the beautiful picture. Wow, fourteen children? You should write a hub on that experience. Cheers!
Hi my dear PegCole17, this is so nice of you to read my hub. Thank you so much for your visit, it means a lot to me. Yes fourteen children, actually now its more because we are all married and all of us have kids.:) I would love to write a hub on that experience. Maybe one day, when I have more time. Thank you for your lovely comment.:) Bless you.
As PegCole mentioned, your hub brought back those warm Christmas feelings. And it's only the middle of January! We have far too long to wait 'til the next.
Thanks for the memories, though, and I am happy to have you as a follower!
Hi Lorlie6, its so nice of you to read my hub. Thank you so much for your lovely comment.:) I am happy to follow a great writer like you. I was really touch by some of your great hubs. Bless you my good friend.:)
Ah, what a lovely story. You have wrote it so well, it almost feels like your there.
Thank you so much my dear Tipperary. Your comment means a lot to me, specially from a great writer like yourself. You really honnored me. I have been reading your hubs and I was really touch by the last one. I have rate them up. But I will write you a comment. Thanks again and God Bless you.:D
This was a beautiful hub-and so well put together. Thanks for sharing it
hc
Thank you so much H.C Porter, I am glad you liked it. Bless you my dear.:)
Keira7-Your writing is beautiful from start to finish. You managed to bring out that sense of wonder that is so alive through a child's eyes.
You captured the nostalgia, by sharing the traditions of your father and older brother setting out to find the perfect tree. You brought back the sense of wonder, the magical feelings that children experience as they try to be extra good awaiting in anticipation for the arrival of Santa Claus.
By writing and sharing your memories of Christmas's past has allowed me to revisit memories of my own children growing up and that special time of year. These kind of memories will never be erased. They will be cherished forever.
Great job!
Sage
Hello Sage, thank you very much for your very nice comment. When a writer like yourself read my work, I feel really honnored. It means a lot for me. God Bless you my dear Sage.:D
Lovely hub and got me very nostalgic for my younger days when I was surronded by a loving family. As you get older Christmas is no longer the same as no longer is everyone there any more.
Hi Stagnetto, I agree with you, that Christmas atmosphere is not longer the same. Its sad really, Its not about family and love anymore. Anyway thanks for your comment my dear Stagnetto. I appreciate, you reading my hub. Bless you my dear.:)
keira7 christmas in my country means new shoes and cloth. it also means rice and chicken. it a time u get to turn last years christmas cloth into a casual waer and get a new sunday dress. nice hub
Memories are what life is all about. They string together and give us hope and meaning. Thx for sharing.
What a beautiful hub. Thank you for sharing.
Take care.
Thx for this beautiful Hub. Christmass is coming...
Thank you all for reading my hub. I really apreciate I am so sorry for not coming to hp anymore but i do take time to read all your hubs. I think that you are all brilliant hubbers and i miss you all.:) Bless you all
lyricsingray 2 years ago
'K, you just put me in the spirit with warm fuzzy's everywhere-nicely written too! Thank you