Christmas of Yesteryear - Natal de Outros Tempos

When I was a youngster in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, Christmas was celebrated very differently than it is today, especially in the United States.

For us, Christmas started on the December 8, when all the stores displayed their wares, for it was the day for parents and children to see the Christmas novelties. In my case, I ran to the window displays to see the latest toys, especially the model cars that I loved so much.

It was also time to plant the vetch (similar to lentils) and wheat that would adorn the nativity scene.

At our home, my parents, along with building a nativity scene, also set up a Christmas tree (O Tannenbaum). At the time, Christmas trees were difficult to find, since they were not sold as readily as they are today.

Because my mother was born in Germany, the Christmas tree was an integral part of our Christmas’ celebration. The same occurred at the homes of cousins who had the same ascendance.

Normally set up in the corner of the living room, the tree was decorated with colored balls, ribbons and candles. Underneath the tree, the nativity scene was displayed.

There were no presents visible, for they would be brought by Old Man Christmas and the Baby Jesus. They would show up mysteriously in the room on Christmas Day, much to my brother’s and my delight.

In contrast, Christmas Eve was spent at my grandparents’ home. At their home, Christmas was celebrated in the strictest Catholic tradition, where only a nativity scene was present. A Christmas tree was considered to be a Protest tradition, and therefore not acceptable.

On top of a large table, pushed against the wall, the nativity scene was built from the table top to a higher level where a grotto was made. Usually constructed by my aunts, it was decorated with green moss to depict the fields, red volcanic rock and with saw dust used to make the roads. Along the wall were branches of Japanese cedar, which gave a wonderful aroma to the room. There were paper houses complemented by regional handmade clay figurines.

In the nativity that I still make at home, there are three figurines of the Wise Men on horseback, that are over one hundred years old, given to me by one of my aunts, and that were part of my grandparent’s nativity scene.

At my grandparents’ home, as well, there were no presents visible. Tradition was that the young ones would go to bed early, so that they could be awaken to attend midnight mass.

After returning from Midnight Mass at the Matriz Church, the table had been set and there were all sorts of sweets, cakes, sweet bread, dried figs and walnuts. To accompany the goodies, were, milk, tangerine, and coffee flavored liqueurs, known as “Baby Jesus Pee”, usually made by my father.

In the nativity scene, the Baby Jesus was now displayed, for he had already been born.

At the insistence and with the unrest of the grandchildren, it was time to open the gifts that had appeared under the table where the Nativity Scene was set up.

But before opening the gifts, it was a tradition to drink the chicken soup that had been left on the stove during mass. A few drops of lemon and it was time to savor the chicken soup.

Immediately following, came the emphatic explanation by my grandfather that the presents had been brought by the Baby Jesus. Still to come was the toast with a glass of “Mijinha do Menino” and then the opening of the presents was on, beginning with the younger one’s presents. Since I was the oldest grandson, I was the last one to open my gifts. Happiness was the word for the moment.

We played a bit with our new toys, and the adults enjoyed the goodies on the table. Since everyone was getting tired, it was time to go home, for there were more presents to open.

Upon arriving home, we were awakened once again to open the presents that Old Man Christmas and the Baby Jesus had brought. More surprises, more happiness.

Shortly thereafter, it was time to go to sleep again, for the night had been long. It was off to pee and bed.

And that’s the way it was in my younger days. Merry Christmas!

José Maurício Lomelino Alves

Vista, California 2010

Christmas 1953 - Natal 1953

José Maurício, Francisco José, Luisa Margarida, Luis Alberto, Micá

Quando eu era miúdo em Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açores, vivia-se um Natal muito diferente do que se vive hoje, especialmente nos Estados Unidos.

Para nos, o Natal principiava no dia 8 de Dezembro, Dia das Montras. Uma noite de família que traz à rua pais e filhos para verem as novidades natalícias. No meu caso, corria para ver os últimos brinquedos, especialmente os carrinhos modelo que sempre me deliraram.

Era altura também para plantar a ervilhaca e trigo que iria adornar o presépio.

Na casa dos meus pais, além do presépio, erguia-se uma árvore de Natal (O Tannenbaum), que na altura ainda não se comercializava com muita aceitação. Por a minha mãe ter nascido na Alemanha, a árvore de Natal, fazia parte integral da festa natalícia. O mesmo se fazia em casa de primos com a mesma ascendência.

Normalmente erguida num canto da sala, a árvore era decorada com bolas e fitas coloridas e velas. Por debaixo armava-se um pequeno presépio decorado com musgo, ervilhaca e o trigo.

Os presentes jamais estavam presentes, pois só chegariam no dia de Natal, e no nosso caso, trazidos por uma mistura do Velho do Natal e pelo Menino Jesus. Apareciam misteriosamente no quarto, para o delírio do meu irmão e meu no dia de Natal.

Em contrapartida, a véspera do Natal, a Noite de Consoada era passada na casa dos meus avós. Na casa dos meus avós, o Natal era celebrado estritamente segundo a tradição religiosa católica, onde só havia o presépio. Nem sombras duma árvore de Natal, pois era considerada uma tradição protestante.

Em cima de uma mesa, com cerca de metro e meio quadrado, e contra uma parede nascia um presépio que ia sendo levantado a ponto de se formalizar a gruta no ponto mais alto. Normalmente feito pelas minhas tias, e decorado com musgo para criar os campos, pedra vulcânica vermelha e farelo de madeira para fazer os caminhos, tinha também pequenos galhos de criptoméria que traziam ao quarto um delicioso cheiro de verdura. As casas de papel, eram complementadas pelos bonecos de barro, típicos da ilha.

Ainda hoje, no meu presépio, os três reis magos, a cavalo, que já tem mais de cem nos, são os bonecos que eram usados na casa dos meus avós, e que me foram oferecidos por uma de minhas tias.

Aqui, também não havia presentes à vista. A tradição era de que os meninos se iam encostar cedo, para poder assistir à Missa do Galo. 

Regressando da Missa do Galo na Igreja da Matriz, estava a mesa posta com todo o tipo de doces, bolos, massa sovada, figos passados e nozes. Para acompanhar, a “mijinha do menino”, os licores de leite, de tangerina e de café, normalmente feitos pelo meu pai.

No presépio, já estava o Menino Jesus exposto, pois já tinha nascido.

Com a insistência e a inquietação dos netos, era altura para abrir os presentes que tinham aparecido debaixo da mesa em que se encontrava o presépio.

Mas antes de abrir os presentes, tinha-se que tomar a canja de galinha que tinha ficado ao lume durante a ida à missa. Um pingo de sumo de limão e era altura para saborear a canja.

A seguir vinha a explicação enfática do meu avô, de que o Menino Jesus era quem tinha trazido as prendas. Ainda antes, um brinde com a “mijinha do menino” e por fim a entrega das prendas, principiando pelos mais novos. Eu que era o mais velho tinha que esperar até à última. Era uma alegria.

Brincava-se um pouco com os brinquedos e como o sono já estava a chamar, íamos para a nossa casa, onde nos esperavam mais presentes.

Ao chegar a casa, acordavam-nos para abrir os presentes que tinham trazido o Velho do Natal e o Menino Jesus. Mais surpresas, mais alegria.

Pouco depois voltava o sono, pois a noite já ia comprida. Pronto, era hora para xixi e cama.

E assim era nos meus tempos de miúdo. Feliz Natal!

José Maurício Lomelino Alves
Vista, Califórnia 2010