Frankiy Podsiad interview with Nancy Hicks, Arthur Cardell, Thomas Massey, William Hainsworth, Tim Bice, Sheila Biggs, John Biggs, Walley Reed, and Yvonne Podsiad

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. In this recording the interviewees reminisce about Christmas traditions. The audio begins with Nancy Hicks comparing Christmas traditions in Sydney, Australia to those in the United States, including decorations, meals, and activities. At minute 12:15, she describes the English tradition of Boxing Day, which is also celebrated in Australia. Next, at minute 14:18, Arthur Cardell describes his familys holiday traditions growing up in a single parent, low income, household in Atlanta. He shares an anecdote about when his family couldnt afford Christmas gifts, then one in which he and his brother helped pay for Thanksgiving dinner with their wages. Then, at minute 25:44, Thomas Massey remembers Christmas traditions from Rome and Gainesville, Georgia, including Christmas Eve festivities, traditional meals, and decorations. Then, at minute 29:47, William Hainsworth compares Christmas traditions from England, such as eating mince pies and plum duff, putting gifts in sacks instead of stockings, and only decorating the inside of the house. Then, at minute 32:20, he remembers celebrating Boxing Day, and the New Years Eve tradition of inviting inside anyone who shows up with spirits. Next, at minute 39:52, Tim Bice shares traditions from Birmingham, Alabama, such as eating pecan and mince pies, singing in the church choir, and visiting department stores to see Santa Claus. Then, at minute 44:13, Sheila Biggs remembers a large family Christmas celebration in Delta, Alabama. Then, at minute 48:42, John Biggs, her husband, describes his familys holiday traditions from South Carolina, including looking at Christmas lights, decorating the Christmas tree with candles, and celebrating with neighbors. And at minute 53:16, Sheila Biggs tells a story about receiving a puppy for Christmas. Then, at minute 57:31, Walley Reed shares Christmas traditions from his childhood growing up in a small town in Nebraska in the 1930s and 1940s. The entire community attended skits and events at the local school. Then, at minute 59:44, he describes making a Christmas tree by nailing evergreen boughs to a 2x4 on a tree stump. At minute 69:24, he also recalls riding in a horse drawn sleigh. Next, at minute 1:10:07, Yvonne Podsiad remembers the Catholic tradition of sharing Oplatki, when they break bread and give blessings; dancing the polka; celebrating 12th Night by hiding presents for the children; and putting candles in the window to let Jesus know of a safe space. Then, at minute 1:18:27, she recalls visiting Rockefeller Center in New York City for Christmas. At minute 1:21:53, Frankiy Podsiad, her sister, shares Christmas stories from Kearny, New Jersey, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Specifically, she describes lighting the advent wreath, singing carols, and reading the Christmas story from the Bible. And on Christmas morning theyd attend mass and then go to Scranton for dinner and gifts. Nancy Hicks was born in Sydney, Australia, and later lived in Forest Park, Georgia. Arthur Cardell (1938- ) was born in Atlanta, and later moved to Fayetteville, Georgia. Thomas Massey was born in Rome, Georgia; then lived in Gainesville and Forest Park. Tim Bice (1945- ) was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and later moved to Smyrna, Georgia. Walley Reed was born in Nebraska and lived in Georgia. John Biggs (1949- ) was born in Fort Mill, South Carolina. He married Sheila Biggs, and they moved to Atlanta. William Hainsworth (1933-2007) was born in Southport, England, to Wilfred Hainsworth (1893-1935) and Annie Wharmby (1893-1949). He married Simone Hainsworth in 1955, and they moved to Forest Park, Georgia, in 1965. Yvonne Podsiad and her sister, Frankiy Podsiad, were born in Atlanta. Additional biographical information has not been determined. A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS CONCERNING CHRISTMAS By Frankiy Long Podsiad Nos.r, 25, 1973 Folk JOO Daily 10,40 Ta.ble of Contents 1 Introduction Part I -. Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII Part VIII Part IX Part X Part XI Conclusion Release. Nancy Smyth Hi.clrs Arthur Cardell Tom Massey Bill Hainsworth Tim Bice Shel Biggs ,John Biggs S~la Biggs Walley Reed Yvonne Podsi Frankly Long Podsiad ,.........,----- 1' Introduction I decided on this project because I've already tried collecting projects & researching but never have I tried interviewinl! several people about the same sub ,ject. My original plan was to try to use Mr. Hainsworth as my starting point & see how English Christmas traditions difused and adapted the.rnselves to their new surroundings. However, I soon discovered that I'm either going to have to search out and interview a lot more people or else , with the advent of mass communications I'm just too late . I decided rather late in the pro,jectto add Yvonne as an interview simply because everyone I spoke to whether or not they were taped expressed the view tha.t Christmas just isn't what it was. I used Yvonne, in what I consider a rather succesful attempt to prove that it's the people and not Christmas that has done the changing. She still gets excited about the doings and thinks its all ,just wonderful the way it is now, I added myself be.cause by comparison my family seemedto celebrate fl. story book version of Christmas. The intervlews are an interesting collection of Christmas customs both family traditions and those with a wider influence, I have tried to offer some structure to the interviews by (, asking some ba.sic inllormational type questions, All of the people were asked in advance if they would allow themselves to be interviewed , on tape, about their family Christmas customs. This also those who were good enough to co-operate a chance to get their thoughts in order. I, My name is Nancy Smyth Hicks, and I 1m from Sydney, Australia. And what I'll be talking about is how we celebrate and prepare for Christmas in Sydney, Ah, the thing that would probably impress Americans the most,about the differences in Christmas I s is that in Sydney or in Australia Christmas time its summer and the temperature is around the hundreds or sometimes higher, A lot of Christmases that we celebrated were spent on the beach with a picnic hamper -- the Christmas dinner on the beach, Ah, the Christmas that I 111 be rel a ting was in the late 1950 1s when I was a kid growing up in Sydney, Me: You want to tell them about Santa Claus--I thought that was funny. Oh yea Ah We have our Santa Clauses and we have our department stores full of Christmas trees and everything like you do here--only of course as I said it's a lot hotter there So instead of wearing the big heavy clothes our Santa Clauses at' home wear --a fake beard and the long jacket and shorts and Burmuda socks and rubber thongies, (Laughter) and it didn 1 t really strike me as funny till I came to the States and saw your Santa Clauses in the whole big outfit--and of course at home poor old Santa Claus would probably collapse w:l.th ht t,t exhatwt:ion, (Laugh) if he wore it, Ahl 2, Me: Does Santa Claus come in a sleigh? Oh yea, Santa Clause comes in a sleigh with the reindeer. A~! he traditionally comes down the chimney, Ah! you know nobody 1s ever thought about how strange it is .for Santa Claus to come in a sleigh--~ou know--it 1 s just the traditional, The Christmas cards are all traditional Christmas cards like you have here, with the snow and the children singing choir you know, with the\:Whole bit. you know--with the great big old scarves wrapped around il.hd_ heavy coats and everything. I t--ah! actually its quite silly--you know--when you think about it because it's so hot over there--that it 1s silly .for it to be a traditional Christmas. Me: Does he come .from the North Pole? Oh yea he always comes from the North Pole. Ahl I remember when we were a kid--when we wont to bod on Christmas Eve--'\ Santa Claus always comes during the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. And we 11 ust 11 to got a pillow case and tack it on tho end of our bod, and that I s where Santa Claus left all of the goodies during the night you know? And oh--Before we''ust'' to go to bed we ''ust'' to have to leave a bottle of bear, two glasses and a bottle opener, and a piece of Australian fruit cake .for Santa Claus to have (Me: .for his snack .. ) .for his snack and the extra glass was .for Santa Clauses' helper of course I know now that that was my Mom--(Laughter)--and when we'd get up in the morning the two glasses would still be sitting : ____ _;- 3. there--you know, of course--with the ring around from the beer and the empty bottle and the bottle top and the can opener would still be sitting there--you know--that Santa Claus had left--& may be sometimes you 1d find a note with thank you or something written in it. But we 1d fill the--they 1d fill the--ah--pillow sachs up with goodies and all the big gifts were always given by Santa Claus-like if you were going to get a doll's house or a bicycle or something like that for Christmas that would be always from Santa Claus--und p1un u11 kinds of little l;hingll-;y-ol.t know ... inside the sack. And then in the mornihgs, of course, the first thing you did on Christmas morning was to get up and open the sack--you know--and look and see what you got and ewerything, And then the whole morning of Christmas morning is spent by everybody cooking. you know, Well your Christmas cake you cook about 2--3 months ahead of Christmas--and there 1 s a lot of booze in it (Laughter) Wiskey or whatever you want to put in it--you know, but. My J:i'ather used to put in about a fifth oi' booze in it, in the cake. So you leave that wrapped up in waxed paper in the tin can for abuut three months. So it's really good when you eat it on Christmas morning. Me: Is it like a fruit cake? It I s real, real dark and it I s not like American fruit cake where it's mostly fruit and kind of sugary--you know--it's a real rich dark cake with fruits in it--you know--raisins, cherries, and things like that, But it's, it 1 s a lot more cakey than American fruit cake, Ahem! At Christmas time, you've got two choices as far as Christmas trees--there 1s what they call a~ home there's an Australian Christmas bush and it 1s real pretty it 1s a sort of a --orangy color and it grows to different sizes but a lot of people get the Australian Christmas bush and decorate it with ah homemade decorations--you know, and things like that, Or some people use the old Fir tree--you l{now--there I s not too many artificial trees in Australia, people don 1t use them they prefer to use the real tree, And mostly the decorations are homemade because--I guess it has more tradition to it than the artificial decorations but the Christmas trees are never put up in the family until about two days before Christmas, or Christmas Eve. Ahl for the simple reason that they do use real trees and-you know--if you leave it up too long its not going to be any good, But it 1 s a family tradition to put everybody in the family to get together at Christmas time, for adults its more like a big family reunion; for the children, of course, itts Santa Claus. ah! But when the trees put up we have lots of beer and ah all the adults usually get drunk (Laugh} and the kids decorate the trees. Ah and you have~ party just decorating the Christmas tree thats one of the parts of Christmas--is putting the tree up. Ah usually between two and three days before Christmas--that 1s when you start celebrating. And EVERYBODY comes over and has a drink with you. People that you haven't seen since last Christmas will come and drink with you. And I remember my father "ust" ta always have to stock the liquor cabinet--you know--pretty well in advance of Christmas and we 1d go through, two or thvee kegs of beer and each keg holds twenty four gallons of beer so you can imagine how many people come to the house. But ..... Me:- Le me ask--ah--back to the sack--that Santa Claus fills,you know, at.c,the foot of the bed--what kinds of things would he put in the sack? oh, he'd put little things in there--if it was,say,a little girl he'd put a couple of these-~I don't think you have them in the states. they 1re little dolls--about 3 inches--you know--big and theyve got long hair and you can get all kind of little--what do they call those little dress up dolls and things like that they have here? Me:- Like Barbie Dolls? Yea! Kinda like a Barbie Doll,but smaller--you know--things like that and yoyos and jacks and fiddle sticks; eh, what you call pick up sticks, you call em here, fiddle sticks and bits of candy --you know--things like this, oranges,apples--you know--all kinds of little bits and pieces things. More than anything in particular 11 id11 be in the gift sack. And taen, of course, your big present-you know-- 11id11be in. I 6. Ahem! We 1d decorate the house with ah; well, the Christmas cards thay you get. We 1d string up strings through the house and we 1d stick the Christmas cards over em and we 1d use holly-cause it grows--you know--over there in Australia. An we put holly all over the place and put wreaths on the door. And we'd get artificial Santa Snow (Laughing) and snow the windows. Which .is kinda silly when you think about it. Me: A 100 degrees and snow! A hundred degrees and snow on the windows. And the adults, you know, for adults--as I said its more like a family reunion. But for the kids its a time to eat all the candy that you want. All the--we call it lollies, cand is lollies, it 1s time to eat all the lollies you want. It 1s time to eat as much cake as you can get in your stomach. Its a time to just have a fantastic time; and not be told what you can and what you cm I t eat--you know. Ah! Traditional Christmas dinner well first of all we eat Christmas dinner at aw ut 2:30 or 3 in the afternoon. Ah! You 1d have a ham1ibut it 1s not like your baked ham here here in the States,at home we buy a, a leg of ham; and it 1 s a full ham that you, and you boil it and that 1s how it 1s cooked. And it 1s eaten cold. Me: Is it like a fresh ham. 7. Yea! fresh ham and we ust to have this big thing home, it 1s called a copper, and it 1 s a great big tmb about; oh, I I guess that ah it 1s about a ten gallon barrell thing and you boil the water in it and you leave the ham in there for something like ten or twelve hours. And then you let the ham cool and that's how you eat it is cold. Ah! You have ham, chicken, corn beef--just tons and tons of different kinds of meats and vegetables ahem deset, of course, you have your traditional plum pudding. And I remember my mother ust to make that. And she ust to put coins in it. You know youd boil money--pennies and thrpences and sixpences and everything. And you'd boil those to ~eilip get them clean--you know. Then you 1d mix em in with your, your dough to make your plum pudding. She'd wrap it in a big cheese cloth and she'd stick it in the copper and boil it, and Custard. You know, and this is all hot food--you know--not hot,spicey hot (Me: Heavy) Heavy food and you know you sit there with 100 degree weather and eat this enormous, hot meal (Laughter) But it 1s fun, and all throggh the meal of course there's people walking in and out drinking and commin to see you and everything like that . . Me: Is there any kind of a tradition or custom in getting the money? Do they mean anything? Or just if you get the money you 1re lucky? You 1re just lucky if you get it--you know--ah. Of course you know like when my grandfather was alive he was the one that always 8. made the plum pudding. and ah, he would put certain coins in certain places in the pudding and he 1d know where they were So of course his favorite grandchild would he'd cut that piece where he knew the most money was (Laughter) Me: That 1s cheaten Yea, we 1ve had occasion for people to swallow pennies and things (Laugheer). Me: The Christmas bush--is it an evergreen or--or No, it it's an orangy colored bush and it it only lives during ah, I think it it has leaves on it during a three week period which GOY.ens the Christmas time. That's the only time of the year that it'll actually bloom into folidge. Me: Is it like a shrub kind of a leaf? It 1s a small, a small leaf almost ah, let me see if I can find something to compare it with. About the size of (Me: hedges here) NO, ah ahn! (Fir tree) Yea, ah ever seen a marajuna leaf? (Laughter) (Me: Nyea) O,K! It 1s about the size of a marajuana leaf and its a very you know thick in folidge though. It 1s got a lot of leaves in it and its bushy--you know--they usually choose them when they 1re about six foot tall, Me: And what about------and then they cut them off. 9, Nancy: No, they cut them and put them in water. Me: What about the decorations? You said they were hand made. What kind of things would they be? Ohl Well they get popcorn strings and make that and candy or they get little boxes and wrap them up in packages--you know-- with robbon, and candy canes, And all the you know--the traditional sort of things you use here in the states, Really it 1s not that much differentyou know--as far as decorations(wise/goes?), homemade type decorations, Christmas cards--you know--things like that. If you 1ve got a gift for someone that's small enough to put on the tree well you put that on there too. And of course the star--you know--on the top is the big star, we always put the star- on top. I'.i[e: Do you have a cresche? Nancy: A What? Me: A Nativity scene; a manger Yea, they usually--the kinds make them in school. You lmow--at Christmas time --but as ti'.ar as buying them in the shops, you don't really see that many of them just for buying purposes, :Most of'--if you have a Nativity Scene it's a homemade Nativity Scene with--you know--stand up paper f'igur-es and things like that, ri.lost of' your things ar-e homemade, made by hand. You know, which is kind of nice, it 1s more f'amily. Me: What about af'ter- Christmas day--do you celebrate ah 12th night? 10. We have boxing day; that's the day after Christmas. It was, it's an English Day, in English tradition. What ib means is, on Boxing Day long long time ago in England they ust to have the people from the various charities would go around and the day after Christmas those who had things that they dirln 1 'b and want; that they wanted to give away, they would lit leave out in big boxes in their front yard for Charity people so it--it became boxing day. And it's just a part of Christmas--it 1s celebrated like Christmas is. Me: And then is that kind of the end of' it't You know like in some areas they celebrate the sixth of January. you !{now, the epifinay-- (Nancy--ahem) when the Kings came (Nancy--emHem) Is there any kind of a tradition .... NO ahnohn--No just boxing day and then your Christmas Season--as far as working--you know--you have the day before Christmas off, Christmas Eve is a vacation day and Christmas Day and Boxing Day and tlmn like there's two--there 1s like two working days between Christmas Day and the first of January. So it's really a big holiday. (Me: yea) A Holiday time and the vacation--you know-they have two months vacation at Christmas because it's the summertime (Me: because it's the summer) Right! (Laughter) (Me: but they really have--) A lot of' the summers were spent on the beach though. That's --that was the most fun part about it. is,you know--they pack up a great big old picnic lunch and take the keg with them--you know--(laughing}--put it in the car and drag it off to the beach. Me: Now if you went to the beach would you take all that big food with you? Ohl Yea! Take the whole schmeal--you know--the ham and everything-- you know--everything take with you and the beer of course, you don 1t go anywhere without the beer, And you can--you know--it was really a lot of fun because we 1d stay on the beach all day and then at night we'd light the fires and everything and have a big party on the beach. It was really good! It 11as a good time! It I s a time .f'or everybody to be together. Me: O,K! Thank You! II. (about 30 feet) My name is Arthur Cardell and I'm thirty five years old, born in A:tlanta, Georgia and raised here. And I grew up in an area on the west side of Atlanta. And around 1954--it was on a street called Chickamuaga Avenue is where I live with my mother and my brother, And back in the 50's I guess is when we moved into the house and we usta spend Christmas hollidays--I guess--ah--we 1d do things like the three of us would ah crack---Oh,God! (Me: pecans?) PECANS~ That's what it was, we 1d crack pecans and we'd shell them and roast them and toast them, And ah--we had this big fireplace in the house--and ah--in the fire place we'd roast marshmellows, toast the pecans--and ah--mt was a kind a cheery a~mosphere 'cause Mama would usually be in the kitchen and me and my brother would be sitting there watching T.V. or something or playing records. And since it was just the three of us--ya wa--well gener-ally we'd all just sit around and tell jokes en laugh and talk and stay up until the late hours of the morning. My brother and I usta throw papers. And this was also in the South West side of town. We threw the journal. And ah we 1d sometime--you know--during Christmas we'd stay up all night, till time to go throw our paper about three or four in the morning and we'd go throw the papers and then come back, And ah--it was a pretty good life. All Right! (clear- throat)--in ma--a ah little further back in time when ah it was just the three of us, by the way it was just the three of us most of tho time, ah. I never will forget one Christmas--ah--my Mom and Dad, id .. oh! I guess it was a little before the divorce they were separated, 2. And ah--I told my brother about ah there wasn 1t any Santey Claus --you know--and I told him--you know--how it was. But anyway I-ah-- Mom was trying to tell us in a very tactful way--you know-- that we might not get anything because she and Daddy were on the bust. And she wasn 1 t working very much--you know--it was all she could do to pay the bills. And ah--my brother and I had saved up a little extra money. And we got her a gift for Christmas. And ah--we got ourselves some things; you know--just one or two little things. And I never will forget, my Dad came in at the last minute with some bicycles. And then Mom told us that she had, she had got us one or two little toys. It wasn 1t much but jsut a little bit--you know. And she brought those out--and ah--I never will forget; she said, "Well I 11 --we said where'd you get those Mom--you know--she said ah 110h, I just had em just in case Santey Claus might have forgot to stop by this year 11 --you know--And ah-she had tears in her eyes then.--Like ah--I guess everything had worked out better than she had expected,--you know. But ah--most of the time--you know--we kinda knew how things were. And we had --you know--we lived (clear throat). She wasn 1t worken and most of, I think after my brother and I started throwen papers that was about the only income we had. --you know-so ah but you believe it or not; as tough as things were-- you know--we always seemed to be very happy especially around that time,--you know--. My brother and I I ii!d0 ,go up -- to ah--one of the little st-ahstores 3, up on Peter's Street, That's right, right near where we was raised before we moved out en Chic, And ah--we 1d d-ah-take peoples groceries home--you know--they 1d give us a dime, fifteen cents. NO thatsone Thanksgiven! I never will forget that. We usta have this thing; we usta lie all the time,--you know--All the kids, Because all the kids was about the same--Ah--economic situation, NO father at home, just the Mother--you know--And ah .. , It was a tough day that day; some pigger boys kept runnen us away from the corner--you know--So my brother got lucky; he got one lady, she ah, let him take h--her groceries home, And she gave him fifteen cent tip, And we took that.15 cent and bou~ht a bunch, a B-I-G bunch of collards, About that big, And it was on Thanksgiven, And I got luckey and I, I think I made about a quarter, And so I bought some rice, and that's what we had for Thanksgiven dinner that particular year. That's what we had for--Thanksgiven dinner that year was rice, collards and some corn bread, But the most hilarious thing about it, er, I guess, was-- when ah we come outa the house--you know--after Thanksgiven Dinner was--was eaten, my brother and I both got a tooth pick, You know-we both got a tooth pick, And we go on to the Community house where all the kids were--you know--and everybody always asked ya "What cha have for Thanksgiven?" you know, And me and my brother over there with the toothpicks in our mouth; "We had burkey and all the trimmens and all the dressens and stuff like that (laughing) and and I'll --I guess everybody had about the same type of meal, And it was collards, rice and cornbread; and that was our Thanksgiven meal,--you know--But that 1s kinda you know--the kinda life 4, we grew up in. Me: What about when--at Christmas--you know when you had the funds. Was there any kind of special things that she would do. Yea, yea, like I say we 1d sing songs and play games, listen to records, watch T.V., but I think the giggest thing me, we'd do is sit there and jlB t ah my brother and I we 1d all sit around the house and Mom us tell us about--you know--different things in our family--you know--just about--ah--distant relatives we knew X little about--you know--she 1d always tell us about. And we!d sit there and op watch the fire and -yyu know--throw,ah,chips in it --you know--and maybe mar, toast some marshmallows or somethen like that over it and drink hot chocolate or somethmnlike that. And ah--she'd tell us about--you know--how she wanted us to be when we got--you know just what you talk about. Things in general. "Watch out for this and watch out for that"--you know. And it jest, mostly small talk--you know--But I guess maybe--you know--it was jest that, the three of us were there and ah,she 1d always talk like. When she'd talk about the three of us it was like we'd never be the be apart. We'd always be together--you know-- But deep down in the back of my mind there'd ah-you know. This wouldn't be for me always--you know--I'd probably get married and have a family--you know. My brother was a little bit too young then. He never thought about stuff lilrn that,I guess. But ah--we 1d ah--I think we 1d ah address Christmas cards. 5. That was a lot of fun.--you know--Addressen the cards and goen over-We'd always keep the old Christmas cards we got last year and then go back out. 110h yea! We got a card from so-in-so.Well send him one 11 --you kro w. And the, ah sometimes--we 1d, we 1d always do that early 'cause we wouldn't have enough stamps to put on em. We didn't have enough money to put on stamps--you know--So we'd get a few stamps at a time--you know--and we 1d mail them--you know-out as we got em. And then--ah--to sit down and ah to open Christmas packages, you know--After we got older--you know--to see who got who a ~ift, what.--you know-- Me: When you were real little kids did you hang stockens or anything like that? No,ah--When we were real small we lived in the housing project you see. So--you know--so ah they 1d tell us that Santa that Santa ah, We always know Santa to come down a chimney but-you know--we didn't ,we had no fireplace in the housen project. And ah--so he came in libe the Burglers did, he came in through the windows. (Laugh). So ah--at that--you know--when you live in a you know you find about Sant--you know--about Santa Claus early. Y0u know, you know Jest amn 1t no horsen aroun, foolen aroun--you know--Jes sa--you jest tell lies so long and they ah .... But then I guess the biggest fun was ah--I guess the way my Mom was to us--you know--how she'd go we'd did do little small 6. things, She made a fruit cake--you know--she madeher own fnuit cakes, And they were--to watch her fix them. Y0u know--was somethen. I guess in our house the two biggest--before we moved out of the project the biggest thing was the kitchen and liill.en room, 'l'ha t' s where we spent most of the time. And then we moved into the house--\r/hy, the liven room; the kitchen was the biggest thing, cause we entered through the kitchen. Very seldom went out the front door. Jest always go out the kitchen--you know--and ah During times like that we stay in the liven room. And ah--you know--that 1 s where we spent most of the time in the house.--you know--and ah, I guess--you know- When I think back and reflect on it--you know--that those, when we moved out of the project. Those were the times when we had the most fun. Addressen the Christmas cards, receiven the cards, watchen Mom make the fruit cake, toasten the marshmellows in the open fire--you know. Me: What about a tree? Do what? Me; Would you have a Christmas tree'? Yea! We 1d have a Christmas tree and ah--ah--then ah my brother and I wou--there was some woods across from us, it was all vacant land and we 1d always go out and cut a pine tree, bring it in the house, trim it up, And ah--Mom got the bright idea--this is Oh, back in the 50 1s. We wouldn 1 t hang lights on the tree. So what we did she got a little fl--got a little flood lamp-- you know--the little bright light put on the bottom of' the tree you know-- and it luminated the tree in t;he window--you know-- 7, and evidently she'd seen it somewhere. I don't know where she got the idea from But now--you know-- you see a lot of trees don't have the lights on them--you know--jest have the, ah, lumination on them. Me: Would you make the decorations? Yea,ah no we'd buy the utensils and we 1d ah save em. Bu den But then ah we'd string pop corn make candy apples, and ah put this this ah pink they call angel hair, the fiber glass (me:oh,yea) and stuff' .Mam.I tell you it was somethen else. And then we I d decorate the wdmdow, put Merry Christmas ah Happy New Year,in fingernail polish on the window. And then we wouldn't wash it of'f--man--oh up until almost June (Laughter) It'd be up on there cause it 1d be hard to get off. You have to take a razor blade to get that stuff off--you know--we 1d do things like that. And our tree always stayed up longer than anybody elees. Yep-We kept it up there--you know-- Me: When would you take it down? Any special time? (Art: NO, Let's see) or jest (Art: Sometime in January. Sometime it'd be the middle of January,end of January) Oh! Not,you dirln 1t keep it up for Little Chris .. for the6th of' January, particularly. You EH just liked to keep it up a long time. We never would take it down we'd jest look at it. --you know--and the ah,We wouldn't turn the lights on but we'd always have it--you know--and it id be in there and ah--Of course the house is 8. kidd of small so all the Christmas presents usta stay there-there the whole time, you know--whenever we needed them well, like if you got clothes or somethen like that. When we got ready to wear them we 1d take em out of the box--you know--then when you got through wearen them--you 1d put them in your, the chest--a--drawer, you know--at home--you know--then when you got through usen all the Christmas gifts--then you 1d get rid of the tree, En then we 1d take the tree and saw it up and burn it in the fireplace, So--we 1d got all the use we could out of it. I guess that's about it. Me: O.K, Thank you. III, about 48 feet (This interview would be concerning mid to late 150 1s). This is Tom Massey common to you from Christmas City--No I grew up :i.n Home, Georgia for about the first ten years of my life. And at Christmas we 1d always put up the Christmas tree about two weeks before Christmas, decorate a tree, big tree in the liven room. Me: Did you have a live tree'? (Tom: Yea!) Did you cut it yourself or did yuu buy it? (Tom: No bought it!) Bought it. Later on we cut em. When we moved to Gainesville,Georgia, we bought; five acres on Lake Lanier and then we 1d cut the trees, Until they decided to go to artificial (Laughter). Me: Mothers are like that. Yea, nobody likes to decorate the tree--I always get caught into it every year, Tom decorate the Christmas tree, So---- ... had all the presents under the tree and everything ... ... and every Christmas Eve, we 1d always have my Grandparents from Alabama and Grandparents from Gainesville, Georgia come. to the house and spend the night; and have a big dinner on Christmas Eive. Me: On Christmas Eve? 2. Yea, And wetd all stay over night and everybody 1d get up in the morning and open presents. And then the 1d go Home. Christmas was always over like 8 o'clock in the morning. Me: You mean like--did you have like turkey and stuff on Christmas Eve? You, usually turlrny. Me: What about--did you have a Santa Claus tradition? You know, did Santa Claus come to yollr house? Yea, yea, he ull, he 1d come to the house. But the big thing was trying to look under the beds and everywhere and trying to find our Christmas presents,lLaughter). Me: What about when you were real little? Before you really caought on (Tom: Real Little~) Did you hang up stockings and all that? Well, you had one but you lay it out in front of the tree. Didn't hang it up. Me: What ud they put in your stocking? Ah--some fruit, some nuts, and then candy. Me: O.K.! You got it tuned up. Tom: Yea, like what 1eh want to know? Me: 0,K. We left off--talking about Christmas dinner Me: Yea--you know--like what kind of things she'd put on the table. Tom: Well, it I s usually ll.ike 'rhanksgiving, big turkey, Me: Well, did she make cookies or fruitcake? Tom: No, 1cause not that many people really like fruit cake, Me: What about ornaments? Did you make ornaments? Tom: N~l No ornaments, old store boutht ornaments. Me: Well, your mother's so craftsy--when did all this--you know--you 1re always talken about your mother doen all this stuff, Tom: Well that started about ten years ago when she started teaching kindergarten.(Laugh) 3, Me: She started teachen kindergarten and then she got interested in Christmas? rom: Then she started making everything, In fact she gave me all her Christmas ornaments. And started--made her own for the t tree. Me: But when you were a kid she just sorta, just sorta cooled it'?hm. Tom: Yea, Me: And and what abuut Santa Claus? Tom: Oh, the big thing was gel;ting up about 2 o I clock at night and sneaking under the Christmas tree, Me: ro see what he had left? 'L'om: Yea, and you always got the boards to creek when you went down the hall. Me: Did you leave a snack for Santa Claus? Tom: No! 4, Me: No'? Did you wli!ite him a letter? Tom: He was fat enough, Me: He was fat enough. Did you write him a letter? rom: I think if--a long, long, long time ago. But I don I t think that lasted very long. Me: Hem! O.K. Anything else that you can think of that you think would be important about Christmas? rom: About Christmas--Well, yea, when I was real small my brother did it and me, It was always hard to go to sleep; you know, '.Pha t I s when you I d sneak down there and see it then you could go to sleep, Me: Then it was all right, WhaI; about Church? Was it like more of a religious holiday? 'rom: No not at all (Me: not at all?) No. Me: That seems to be a big thing. Thank you, IV. (About 55 feet.) This would have been in the late 30 1s. I 1m Bill ,filainswwrth and I come from Southport in England, And if I was at home for Christmas--ah--we have the traditional Santa Claus, in a big, red suit; large boots carrying a big sack over his shoulder. And he lands on the roof and comes down the chimney. And puts all the presents in bags at the bottom of your bed, Sometimes you have presents at the bottom of the Christmas tree and in certain parts of the country they have stockings on the mantel piece; so that he doesn't have to go round the house. But ah where--whin I was brought up we usta hang a pillow case at the boI; tom of the bed. And he us ta come in and deposit the presents there. The traditional breakf--dinner. Usually you 1re too busy eating sweets in the morning. And dinnertime is a roast turkey is the traditional Christmas dinner. And that 1s when the celebration really starts! You 1ve had time to get the presents out. And then the party starts after dinner and lasts 1till everybody dtops of tiredness. (Laugh) Ahem------ Me: What kind of things do you get in your stocking. Usually half of it is candies of some kind and then you have games are a big thing and usually for boys you usually got a gootball and new football boots. Eh--the girls got dolls and ah--if you were a bit older you you might even get typewriters or something if you were going into business. Eh--Most of the boys on Christmas Day, go out. Because, Eh as I say Football gear or a new bicycle or eh, things of this nature. We usta go--living near em the shore, seashore; 2. we all, we usta go down with our new football, and new football~ boots en show em off to all the kids, obviously. The girls usta have a little party, and all get inside, of' course, they 13howing off dolls, prams, doll's houses and dresses; like typical females (Laugh), And eh, usually on Christmas Day you're allowed to stay up late. A,,d eh, the grownups carry on drinking, of course. 'l'he children go to bed, usually round a bout 11 o I clock at night. The following day is Boxing Day. And when I was brought up Boxing Day was the time--the day after Christmas when you had to clear all the boxes thad had been left behind by &1rnxa Father Christmas. They were now empty of the toys, or whatever came in them, and you got the boxes together and wrapped them up or put your presents back in. But it was just cleaning up all the boxes that were left for after Christmas. Now, in other pants of the country; you have Boxing Day is where all the trades people ets to come to the house, rather than you going shopping. You get ehm the milkman, coalman, postmen, baker--anybody who delivers regularly. They ust to come with a little box the day after Christmas wishing you "Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year" and they put the box in your hands so that you had to take it eh the service over the year. (Aside off' the tape: En Matey you better put somethin in the box or you'd be finding you garbage scattered or whatever,over the year.) 3, Me: And where exactly was th.is--you know--that she 1s from that .. (th.is is referring to Simone, h:is w:ife about five years younger than he). It I s just another part of Langshire, I came from em, nearer the center of the em count;vy. And Simone was always brought up :in one little town, Southport--Eh--I traveled a little bit and got eh--you know--em more or less :in the b.ig city, rather than em the eo--small town. And ah Me: What about traditional ~oods other than the turkey, OH! Plum Duff! After Christmas dinner, if you had the st-- 1.i ttle b:i t left over. 'l'hey have a very heavy fruit pudding with a brandy an or rum sauce And the way to do it was; after everyone sat down and rested for a lbitt.,,i'ew minutes, then the plum dui'f would be brought in on a large platter and set on fire. The alcohol and the ~pirits would rlare up en--just finished it off. And then they--as well as being a heavy fruit pudding, it had trapenny bits, six pennie pieces scattered into it ahen it was being made. And the eh, you tried to eat as much as you could get me sixpences or thrpenny bits than anybody else, It was a good way 01' getting money. (Laught) Ah--M:l.nce pies are traditional, after, usually at tea time, A Christmas Calm (Mo: What 1s that?) It 1 s a very heavy fruit cake. More fruit, there 1.s hardly any cake to it. It I s er eh its a bit liko the cake you have here, But just a little bit more cake thaen ah--to it. And that is civered in almond paste and then yiced, 3. with an icing that is hard so that it gives you a crisp bite. And eh, usually had a scene on top of the cake of eh--snow and a little house or a few trees; and most of them were eatable rather than made up things. They were they were made of almond paste dipped in ining so that the they s<bood up (\Vie: 3-D) the l?ather--eh ah Snowman, was a traditional thing. Me: Would your Mother make those or they would be bakery bought? Depended--bew lot of people did it but my Mother always usta bake Christmas Cake, I usta finish the icing off. She didn't mind doing it. Plum duff; again, as a little boy eyerything was made. It was <boo expensive to buy, But em--now always eh theyve gone into buying them. It 1 s quite a good proposition too. Eh, mince pies, turkey's the main thing but usually eh turkeys usta have a we always had a choice there was turkey and pork. And apple sauce,of course'. And eh,Christmas dinner is wondf ... it takes about three or four hounB to get through. You 1d start off with the soup, which is usually tomato soup; everybody likes that. And you 1d have your dinner which is roast potatoes, turkey, peas, carrots, snuffing, in the bird of course. And you could have roast pork with apple sauce, And then after that you had the ah plum duff pudding. And then if you were still awake after all that the old grownups usta have a drink after the, after the dinner. And of course, the little ones had coffee. Which isn 1t very often-- you know--you don 1t drink coffee at home very often, It 1 s a special type thing. And then later on in the afternoon you 1d get eh tea where you have Chris-l;mas Cake and Mince Pies and usually richer cakes than ti&. you'd normally get through the year. They would be bought mostly. But the Mince Pies were always made at home. Me: Did you have a Christmas tree? Yea, Christmas tree usu--most of the people had one that came in year after year because of course we don't have many firs at home and eh--they usually had eh fl .. lights, flashing lights, on them and little things. Always an angel or a star on the top of the Christmas tree. Decorations in the room were mainly streamers from corner to corner or from side to side of the room. Paper hanging--you know--hanging up attached to the walls and hanging fairly low. (Me: crepe paper?) Crepe paper--yah (mentioned off tape--ballons were also hung.) Ah! you didn't usually put-decorate the outside of the houses like they do here. Usually, because of course, the weather :Ls too bad. You fi{couldn 1 t put anything up anyway. Me: And on the tree were the homemade decorations? Or ... Yes, Children usually--eh--stickey paper, that is colored stickey paper, and you 1d make little round tfu.ings to hang over-like shopping bags --and things like this. And eh, especially Christmas, inthe afternoon you'd have a roaring fire and a whole pile of nuts. And of <bf the favor>ites, of course, is ah,of course, is eh (sings) "roasting chestnuts by an open fire!!) Which we did and it 1s delicious. You very raPely saw nuts on the table op in the house except at Christmas time. Again, they 1re expensive. Me: Did you have a tragition with the Yule Log or were you just burliting the fire'? Well, Coal Fire. (Me: Coal FiPe?) Yea. eh--I'm sure that there are richer people on the estates where they have gib fireplaces --you know--eh they would burn a log. But eh--that I'<mll.y didn I t come into it. \'le had the pictures of it, of course, but never did em did have a big fire. Me: What about 12th Night did you cel.ebPa te 12th Night? NO--ahm,of course your coming into the em New Years Eve is a big celebration at home, Especially in Scotland. Where the tradition is eh you have food and dPink on the table and anybody walking through the streets could knowk on your door, the actually the door was supposed to be open (cleared throat) But being too cold, o.i.' course, it 1d be closed. But you'd knock on the doo:r> and as long as you had a bottle of spi:r>its in you:r> hand you 1Pe invited into the house, have a d:r>ink f.rom the host. And eh, eh usually eh mince pies o.r some little little sandwiches. You could eat, have a d.rink and then you I d go on to the next house where you want. Usually amongst friends, but the eh tradition bein if ahm--I know I was in Scotland when I did it. And eh, I didn't know anybody but I was---You 1Pe almost pulled in. (laugh) Eh. But the 12th Night of course .is when all the Ch:r>istmas deco:r>ations come down, the Christmas tr , .ee s fo~ 6. folded up and everything 1 s put away. and eh--of course the.following morning--Christmas is now 12 months ahead of you. Mff: Yea Right (Laughing). (Laughing) Forget it. And that's about it. Me: 0,K' Thank youl V, (About 65 Feet) Me: Ye jest start by in-traducing yourself, Tim Bice, Birmingham, Alabama. When I Had Christmas, Me: En--en Wh--We decided this would be like in i;he early 50 1 s. In the fifties--yea. Me: O,K! And jist you know jest talk about--Did you have Santa Claus? Had a Santey Claus, Looked forward to em when I was young. Usta go to t;he department store and sit on his knee and tell him what I wanted, And look through the books and all the catalogues that came in the mail, Had the Christmas tree and the whole bit. I always had a big dinner--you know--generally the turkey and the dressen and all the other stuff. And a lot of' the aunts and uncles and cousins and all would come up. It was always kinda hard to go to sleep on thl night before. But then evan ~ harder to get up because I knew when I got up it id be all over then and I'd know what I got. (Laugh), Me: Did you hang a stocking? Hung a stocken on the mantel, and the stocken was just a sock that I pulled out of my drawer. Couldn't afford to buy 2, anything from the store that way, so we just hung up our own. Me: And what would Santa Claus put in the Stocken. Eh--Generally candy and stuff like that, Anything else we got was always put out,that night, Me: And what about--now the tree, Did you buy it? Or did you cut it? Er--- Sometime I bought it and sometime we 1d go out and cut it. Take an axe and out in the woods,eh,me and a friend of mine up the street, and cut it down ourself, (Me: in the dee--) Ad do the decoraten. Me: And the decorations.,, It all depend on who decorated it. If I did it myself, always decorated it in one color, always got blue lights and vovered the tree with Angel Hair. It really looked--funny--wouldn 1t say funny--looked good to me in the one color. When the whole family did it it was all different colors, Me: Did your Mother do any baken or anything for Christmas? Mince meat pies--pecan pies--She had the best pecan pie you know--anywhere. That was one thing I always looked forward to--about the only time we ever had it--was a --around Christmas, And a turkey of course, J. Me: Was there any other things ah that you do where--like you do every year? Nothing special that I can think of that we did any different from everybody else in the neighborhood. Me: No special activities? What about Church?--Did you go to Church on Christmas? Oh yea. I always went to Church and sung in the choir and did everything. 1Cause everything I did was--revolved around the Church anyway. Hadn 1t been for the Church I wouldn 1t a done anything. But everything I done long as I as I can remember was strictly through the Church. Me: Always the same church? Elnhem--lived in the same house for twenty ~B some odd years. Me: And when Christ--Santa Claus came--d.id he come down the chimney, in the door, in the window? We had a --we had a chimney. He 1d always come down that way. With my Daddy alway threatening to shoot em--with a load of buck shot,if he ever saw come in and that kind of stuff. (Laugh}. Me: What about--did you leave a snack for em? No. Not that I can remember. Been a long time. 4. Me: Did you ever take your Daddy seriously about shooten Santa Claus? Oh,no--we 1d go on fa--just joken back and forth about it. Cause we never had a gun in the house,(Laugh) He couldn't a shot em if he wanted to, Me: What about--did you celebrate ahm 12th Night? You know-January the sixth was that anything to you? No. Me: Little Christmas, the Epifinay; it 1 s called all different names. Ehem--And everything was Christmas, no presents were opened up or anything like that until the Christmas morning. Nobody opened up anything (Me: enhem) Everything happened that day and not before or not after. Me: What about the tree.When did you put it up? When ever I got it, Maybe two weeks ahead of time. Me: O,K, Can you think of anything else you 1d like to tell us about all this? Nothin much--no, Me: oh--0.K. Thank you, VI About 70 feed; What do you want me to say? Me, You just start by introducing yourself, O,K,1 I'm Shel.la Biggs. And Ah,,, Mei The Chris,,, I'm going to tell you about 2 partif!ular Christml'l.nNl, One in the city, one ln the country, 1 O,K,1 In the late 1950's we went to my grandfather's house In Delta, Ala, Thin was the type of Christman that all the children were home with all their children. So the cousins were fighten over who's toy was what, But ah , . , You'd have like two long tables and the benches with like ,aybe I+ turkey's l'lnd a.11 the trimmlngs, And at 12130 riharp you'd sit down & you would ea.t, Mer Is that in the ' ''' at lunch or at night? At lunch, And ah, .. They ha.cl to have two ChriBtmas treeB, And the house was divided .. , l.ike the Jiving room, a bedroom and the ki.tchen were on one Bide of the ho1me, Then you harl thiB runway, And on the other r; i de of th11 hourie they had a den and about I+ bedroonw, So they had one ChriBtmar; tree l.n the living room and one on the other Bi.de,,." you had another Christmas tree. And now, it id rinow -you know- a.1 l the ki els id run out & pl i,y & scream & shout -you know- bea.t e:1ch other up. But now early 1960's, .. VT 2. Me: Ah. . . Before ;1rou started on C i st mas here, .. back at the Christmas at your grandfather's house (Sheila- Yeah) O.K.l Is that where Santa Claus came? I mearlf;ould he bring like alL .. (Shei Yes) 0,K, They'd sena a the toys over about two weeks early. So we'd never see 'em and When-when we're over ther we just knew he would ,just automattca1 Jy stop there & de liver everybody. So we-- we'd get up like maybe 5 o'clock tn the rnr.~ 1 get up & nut on the lights ... ( CARTRIDGE POPPEil) ( SIDE TWO STARTS MID SENTANCE) a.nd my gr~mdfather'd ... we 11, you know fix turkey and the dressing and stuff. 1th good Me: Did she (the grandmother) bake any kinds of traditional kinds of pies or cakes or cookies? Lord! She had coconut cake, cherry cake, chocolate cake for all the kids. -you know- About 4 chocolate And the pineapple upside down cake. And the the biggest cake she'd have was - She had a pan shaned like this, a square pan - Enormous. And it was a. fruit cake. So you know- everybody jest - that was the day and play with your toys. Me: Did you hang stockings? thing, 'd nibble all Oh, Yes. You had to furnish your own stocking. ( laugh) So I had this old, it was about this long, and I had the longest stocking in the of anybody. It was never full - but know- (laugh) Mei What kinda things did you get in your stocking? VI '.l. Apples, orane;es, five dollar hill, always, and then down - a jump rope, ball & jac: , crayons, rinkY dink coloring book - and ah - one year I had 8. Pekenese PuppY stocki.. ng, It was sticking out the top goen ( sniffing sound). So was prett~r good. And that was the yea:rJat my Grandfather's house I had the puppy. Mei In your stocking? (iheila- No)In the big stocking Well now- Santa Claus brought it or, .. Ye-yea, .. Now the thing ahout this house they had the old fafireplace. Which was pretty neat, And ah - you know- Everybodyd run -you know--and whoever got there stocking on the the very venter of it got the most. (laugh) Always turned out that I was on the end, Me I Wha.t about now - Did you leave a snack for Santa Claus or anything like that the night before? Oh, Lordi We left him a piece of coconut cake & a piece of fruit cake and ah - we'd leave him fruit punch, a bottle of coke, cup of hot chocolate, coffee- (laughing) We really wanted to make sure - In case he didn't like anything, we could ha.ve i.t fixed. And ah, . , ME I OKI THERE'S GOING TO BE A BREAK IN HERE & SHEILA "S HUSBAND IS GOING TO TALK, AND THEN SHEILA'S GOEN TO COME BACK ON LATER. VII 1, SIDE B AT ABOUT 5 FEET Me, O,K, NOW you want to start? Give my name? Me: Give your name righto Ah@ my name i.s John bi..ggs - and. ~th - th~ talkon about is South Carolina, rt of the country I'm Me: Where about in South Carolina? No where about. (laugh) Where about - where abouts - oh- Fort Mill. Me, Fort Mill? Yeah. Me, And where's that is that (JOHN-It's ah ... ) in the mountains or along the beach? No it's up in the ah'- lets see,,, Mei What's it by? Well, it's 20 les south of Charolette, N.C .. Me: O.K,,! It's in that area. Me, That'll kinda put it in place, Alright - This is about the late 1950's? Yeah, late 1950's. Me 1 0, K, ! or ea.r 1960 1s Me, 0. K, , & ,jest - you know- start with like - alright just a.s a for insta.nce, Wha.t did you do with Santa Claus 'when you were a k'id - What W!lS (John - Ah, .. l Did you write h.im !l letter? -you knowall t klnda stuff. VII 2, No we didn't write him a letter, But we usually di.d every Christmas was. Ah, Christmas Eve we'd all go out & look at the lights, We still ld ride around & look all the Christmas Lights. And ah we'd go to bed, Yeah. Me , .D1..'. d. you h ang a s t oc k,.'J .ng ?. Ah, I think when we were real small we'd hang up stockings, Mei And then what would Santa C]aus Ah- (laugh) oh gosh! Just candy and stuff, Me; Stuff like that Me, What about a Christmas tree? in your stockings? Back then we went out & cut our own tree. Of course, we had enough land where we could do that, Me, You cut down your Christmas.,, What kind of did you put on it? orations Ah- Put everything on it - I got, .. Me: Where they homemade? No they were store bought, Round balls, big balls - ah.,, Mei Shila said something about that your mother used candles on the tree. know- Ah - Mei Instead of lights use to use candles. Yeah, she usta have these angels th res] small candles - you She usta put those on the tree, Me: It was actual candles that had to go a.round ~ light? No, we never did~light them (laugh) but we tried, I remember one- the fireplace we hAd a mantel, we'd decorate thAt with holly & pine, VII J, Me, And that would be all stuff that you'd cut too? Yes Me, What a.bout Food ? Did she do any special preparations? Yeah, she always made a Christmas cake, We usta go to my grandmother's house to eat. Me, Anha. (Fausel Turkey or? Turkey, dressing, yams, peas & cranberry, What about cakes & ni.es? And ah, well we usta always have a Christmas pudding, Ah (laugh) You never have heard of it? Me, Li ? It's a something like a fruitcake, looks like a fruit cake - it's called Christmas pudding. And you put - ah - wiskey on the top of it and light it. Then you ha,,e a rum sauce that goes on it. Mom servec. at Christmas. And ah - Christma.s night we'd all get together with the neighbors, And ah - just cope around and thats all. Me, What about now - with the Santa Claus. When Santa Glaus came would he come down the chimney, or in the door or what? (Pause) Hem! (Pause) Me, You don't remember? What about - did you leave him a lunch? No, we never did. I remember one time I got up it was about 2 o'clock in the morning, & started playing with the stuff. (laughter) Me: I think everybody did that at least one Christmas . Yeah. VII 4. Me, That's really the truth. O,K,, can you remember anything e that wns tradit:i.ona1? about 12tr Night? Did you celebrate Jan.6th? No Me, No. Wh- When did :rou put up your Chri..stmes tree? Ah, I always nut it up about 2 we before Christmas and we took it down about the 29th for New Year's Dav. Me: O,K, ! Th2nk You! I VIII 1. About 12 Feet! Me I OK, This is Sheila a!""::ain. And this time she s going to be talking about Christmas in Atlanta, with her family here. Whoone! (Mei Go ahead.) Oh! OKI Christmas in Atlanta, what late 50 's early 60 's; so on & so forth. Ahm, Staying in Atl!l.nta was ki11da bad We urta ha.ve these .. this couple come oYer. And they W'lre really nice to my parents they'd 8 lways call me their little girl, Oh, Bless their h, Anyway they'd bring over all this crap.,. I didn't need it but I'd ta.ke it. It was pretty nice Next year they boug~t rne a bike had was 1962, I believe. One of One year they bought mes dog ow- these good things, The first a.rtifcal tree we e aluminum deals - you knowreal shinney, Got the on it. But one year I but still thatturns around i you ca.n only put balls - I put some gold t el on. Made it look And ah - we have a mantel, the fireplace doesn't work but we have a mantle, And T'd hang '11"l my 1ittl8 off to bed, king - you know- And trot Me I Wnnli vou leave Santa Claus a lunch? No, I wa.s too stine;y, I it for me the ~ext day. But my mother T,mld always Which Santa wa.s suppos ou:t R. piece of coconut cake & coffee~ I knew my father or my - or friends would eat it, So one year, it was 1962, I stayed up until midnight, Everybody else went to sleep, I finally when they were all a sleep I went to bed, 'Cause I w1rn tired. But it was p1etty ni.ce - It s not like the countr1r, You, you don't feel the damp feeling. of Chr:l It's kind of a cold, VIII 2 Me: Was j t just you:r parents & you? neoplP P~o,nd, or ~n'"~ to the country made it nice, Atlanta was OK but it was nothing 1 H:e the country. going. One year we had a 22 lb_, to.rke:y. Can yo1) i m~a,i.ne? {Me: for for the next three weeks. R1e, WhRt 1-ri nds of ca.kes and thi.ngs din she make? Coconut, pound; mostly pound and she'd m,1ke sweet potatoe pie, apole pie & pe<ich. Me: What a.bout cookies? No, no cookies. That wa:Jt:;v,iob you know- They always turned out hard enough that they could break your teeth; knock a couple of fillin1; s out, one of these dea.ls. But everybody always told me how good they were. Me, Well now did sh .. ,ah.,. did you, .. you had the artifica1 tree but before that did you make ornamerts or <J.nything ll:ike that, No, I was too lazy, Me, That was all in the country, J was too lazy to do it. Mei Well this I think i.s a really . , . if your with other people It's fun VIII Me, Ri<1:htl It's fun. If your by yoursel.f it's really just kind of a chore. Yeah, this is the type of thin,": you ge"l: vn Christmas marning, vau run to the tree, you dra,"" ont all of your pres('.nta: you play wi .. th vour favorite thing and thats it for the rest of the day. While, your father and ah runs & watches what he wants to on TV. And he says i "Don't bother me I work all week. You don't see, you ,, don't see me sitting down watching this TV. Now you jvst leave me alone. -you know- One of these deals. Your sittin,s,; there i " I want to wa.tch this, I don't want to watch the footba.11 game." Me1 So in other words Christmas in the country was definetly your favorite Christmases? AMEN!! ! Me: OK! Thank you. By letting us collect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs~ earlier days--you have made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and way of life of your community. Because you have given unselfishly 0 your time to do this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, whose representatives are dedicated to preserving these traditions, wants to protect your rights to this material by guaranteeing that it will not be used for unscrupulous commercial profits. By signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this material for educational purposes so that people who are interested can understand how life was in the old-timey days. Your material will probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't want your name to be used, say so--we respect your right to privacy. Thank you for the time you have an important part of American life. that you want to send along to us so given to help us record a heritage that is If you remember any more old-timey thir-gs that it will always be preserved, write to: For Ga. Fl. Archives: Witness Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia State University 33 Gilmer Street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Address bl c/o re,/4 , JCJ:f} ..rev- Date --------------- ,,, 14)).ELEASEDy letting us collect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs of earlier days--you have made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and way of life of your community. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, whose representatives are dedicated to preserving these traditions, wants to protect your rights to this material by guaranteeing that it will not be used for unscrupulous commercial profits. By signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this material for educational purposes so that people who are interested can understand hm-1 life was in the old-timey days. Your material will probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't want your name to be used, say so--we respect your right to privacy. Thank you for the time you have an important part of American life. that you want to send along to us so given to help us record a heritage that is If you remember any more old-timey things that it will always be preserved, write to: Ga. Fl. Witness ?J Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia State University 33 Gilmer Street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Address /J~1 ~ ;?/ ,t/aJDate //-;)-:?-Z 3 ~ > :-.: ~ "' ~ n "' 1--' (I .. ,........ f ~ :, ,,. "' -0- - ! rl hj "' (1) = rt a, s a, ,... {"l ~ p.. "' ""O ,"...' ::r 0 Q? ,... co :, 1--' (1) ' II> r s:c- ,r..t. :, :0, &"' , .. (1) 'i 5w f-' o(, or p;;/ 4 r (,. <p ~ C -( ~ erj H ~ z erj 0 0 "' ~ "" ,~.., !;; H <I ""'' ~" c:: "' GEORGIA FOLKLORE ARCHIVES CATALOGUE SUBJEG! 1. Genre: Lfol,St,r CLAsiO"'-'' 2. Number of' items ( where applicable): 3. Title or brief <ie@cr,iption of each item,-\ +-"'',,, I ' c. J I \ I CI , i )1~,,,-.\.,,J,;, :,:""' [,.,,,~ vv'(!~ls \ c__'i_\<_\j:::,;:cs.\ __ \,'-"\S--1.,~,c>_,\, \,V\ ~ ' I (::S C:,v,.bL 4-l;::._ J-v, ... , 1.. c- \ Ch,-~ Soc_,._-\-\.,-,,,_ 7. G.F.A.#: GEORGIA FOLKLORE ARCHIVES CATALOGUE COLLECTOR "Permanent" address and phone number: "A:;t.1St \:, ,~w\(c~\lcA:" \~\::L, A-1 l"""l,., G-1 Quarter and year: ~\\ \qt3 (\ Class : tc\ V- 300 ' Brief description of contents: GEORGIA FOLKLORE ARCHIVES CATALOGUE LOCATION County where research done: ~G\.\.,~ Town or community: /\ \.\,~.~'', \,,,' "\ 1'" k, ~P~ Place of origin of folklore record~d (if different from present location of informant): /l~s.\,,,\i,,, "i\.,~,.1 \ ,,,,.~,~ G.F.A, II GEORGIA FOLKLORE ARCHIVES CATALOGUE LOCATION County where research done: Co\o\,,, Town or community: A0s~,-\s\ \ Place of origin' of folklore recorded (if different from present location of informant) : 'i,:Cr~\,,~Q Name of informant(s): W ,\\,"~ ~w,c0 -~l~ 1 'f" ,4 '" ' Collector's name: ~,,,\l,,\ 'y"'~s,,,,t Quarter, year, and class:\'\\ \"1,_s G.F.A. II C, 0 "'.I .... > .... "n g rt "" 0 0 p.. ;} 0 ..._ Ki ::, 0 ro rt ,.., " ,.., .t~ .,...., . " er rt m "rt s A, ro ,.,. .~" 0. n f;., y " g ()____ "' .. = .,"...,..' ? >-' --b __ J. " -, r,.,t. -- /J -+- 0 ::, 1 ~ 0 --,I ~-- l', "{ i I V' ---r7 C "F 0 l;V ,- r, ' D . V oj l Y' ('. 1 ,.., ro Ol Ol p.. .,, ::,-' 0 ::, ro ::, ! ro .'1. 9-' o0 {)(' e-:,' 4 r f < ;::: ~ i -( fJ 'JC' ~ "'.I ~ H [:S ~ 0 ij [';; ~ ~ >-3 g GEORGIA FOLKLORE ARCHIVES CATALOGUE SUffJEG:r 1. Genre: i~ol,Q"'( (Ls+o= 2. Number of items (where applicable): J. Title or brief: <l<!@cFiption of each item:--r;,,!:l, \-,v, . , [ vvc,.[s O ~- c,_\,_\,,,-,A,-;:s clw,"~---"" \V\ A~:o-+,Ci.l,;, ,Z:v-rslc.,.R (.\_vS,L lL",:... +\v,..,.. ';,__ "- \ z.c-,,.-._ So ----t"~: GEORGIA FOLKLORE ARCHIVES CATALOGUE LOCATION County where research done: ;G1.\-,"'-- Town or community: I\ H,-"''i \eo, ' "+- \',~ k , ~ ~ Place of origin of folklore recorded (if different from present location of informant) : ,A'-,.__s--\,.,,_\,,'- , \\_IAIA_s, 1 \ ,..1,'-''"''-- Name O f in f _qrmant ( 1s ) :1>\J', C1.v,_(._.\._\_ 1-,1lc \"s,.-1-1\ -r:, ::\---v.r (_- _ (,-.,.--cJ. ..i '..i.\., ,'' '10 "''-'--.l-.-_f \~,/\c ,_-.,- j'n.S ~~,\.c, Cb '('{(SS 1 ~~1~ \S:,,&::, 1 Wu_\\"_! R,.i...&- --~ 'I I).:,,~ -~1.... ,;--'ocV s ln_&, 1 Vs: ,_d \2)0)S1, C\. 0/ Collector's name: 1' \l - \) C\ \ ~r-',rU._1f\ ''/ \\ cNS(G\.c Quarter, year, and class: \"\\ I c(l '.:, 1" I \l ~=, G.F.A, II ~ cr,1.-., _______ __: ___________ +------------------------ c, ~ i GEORGIA FOLKLORE ARCHIVES CATALOGUE COLLECTOR N n ,, . \':)\_ n I\ ame: 1-=~ 1'- 1- o N ""'oL "Permanent" address and phone r, Quarter and year: +c-..\'i., \1:\t3 ' Brief description of contents: lc.,i,o.. ~ ~~ 2,~,(~\"~~ I GEORGIA FOLKLORE ARCHIVES CATALOGUE LOCATION County where research done: C.o\:i"' Town or community: /\v,-b\,_J \ 1 S "''I c ~-~ Place of origin of folklore recordBd (if,different present location of informant): ~ '~'21-\,,,,Q_ Collector 1 s name: ~'. """--'- \!..., "\ 1 ~\1:.. ~. s ,-k~ Quarter, year, and class: v,I\ \'17 ..S G,F.A. II from n 0 'rj .... > .... (1) "" '0"" ' Kl ;;i.. (1) :"0, rt ;'-l ~ ,i :II,> "' ."... " g / '-"' ~ _,c} i'- Ql 0 ."... (1) <:r (t 'i"::' s (1) .... "' " - II> ,.I- H, C ,... ~ ........ v--- s ? .-l .l.'.t. )-' - :0, i .. (/\I 0 ~(_--:' . ~ :J-- r. (:J 0 J... ~ ;: L- V p 7C ; r'-, 1..- .) -j .v ' _b /' z; II> "' " "' C " ' It> r [/) _i. [/) ~ ~~- "' -r ',:) ('" ::,' V' 0 :, (1) l I-< ~ (1) 0 "oC ! I 5 .., ? 0' r f'J p..... ;J;-- (/J U" v ,,..,,. ;,-. .q---- _-;;::::; liEORGIA FOLkLURk ARCHIVES CATxt&UE INFORMANT C, [:,\l address and phone number.<""~ Y I 1, r, c; , , rt I C ,:;A '-!U \ ::c_,fj-(_,\-" sL(_'v_,,.)\jVJ 1\-..~\CI v,~\c.l , Age: Race and/or ethnic affiliation: Callee.tor's t.a==~. 1r, ,'" ' ' I'' ;\::, ' ' ' -h.~ 1 '/ 00.S\((j Quarter, Year and claes: \c,.\ \ \ c1 +-3 lu \ _ .soc G.F.A. II INFORMANT oce and/or ethnic affiliation: enres c.ontributed: M ollector's .,...,,,.~: ~Uarter., Year and u~UKGIAYOLKLORE AK~HIVES. CATALOGUE INFORMANT ::i (\ (',, 1e: ""\ iJ t)V,V\.~i..., \ c:,'t)':::,i._c\_C~ .ling address and phone number: ;:U, \s,i ~,,.,2V,,.\\,. .. 1 \'~. ,e and/or ethnic affiliation: (' . I-:) , Llector's M.m,a: tee~.\,/_," \\: 0~s.,,.[J I arter, Year and c.l"o": \.JI, 7, _c. F .A.~ II INFORMANT Name: Mailing address and phone number: ;;,J, (, \~,.\\ b, Age: Race and/or ethnic affiliation: I Genres c.ontributed: Collector's ""-nte: ~r,,Y,ll, 1 z'Veohl,,:v,\ Quarter, Year and c.lao<1: l,.'t\ nr J ' G.F.A. II n 0 >"rj t-' t-' :,,. {1) () rt "" 0 () ;;l- 0 Kl ;:, {1) rt ll> ,( ,; ,; f-' ll> er rt ~ " ,:,' rt ;:, p.. {1) ..... ,,+-:::, p.. () () t-' \ ;z::. Ill g f t-h 9-- t-h f-' 7:'.) t-' ._( ? ~ .,;;.J ,-1. rt ..... 0 )- 0 Q_:::_-) ;:, V' .. (/" v ;c ( '("/" ' ,.~ 0 1 z;, ll> p.. p.. ,; .{1,) ., ll> "p.. 'd ::r 0 ;:, {1) "~ er {1) ,; 7-1 ,--,,"'> __t_::, GJ 0 t,, 5 (0 )CJ ' ;:?, C (., p f ,!- p ,,_ (/) ) r;' (F> y {y \J;, H z >"rj ! ,-i ,-i ~ 0 2 trj Age: uJSUKGU.1'1:JLKLORE IU<.CHIVES CATALOGUE INFORMANT address and phone number: )Jo I Race and/or ethnic affiliation: ;;:.vccc\,sl. () I' ,, (\ Collector's 1>ame: -100.,,V.,. 1 ~ocls,cv\ Quarter, Year and clao-a: \c"-\\ \C\l-3 G.F .A. II CHIVES CATALOGUE INFORMANT N..ailing address and phone number: ll. Cj'/ Age: Race and/or ethnic affiliation: . ' Genres contributed: l\o\J).02' \ ,.,J;:,,.\ .. a~s . C\o.,",,,.-, .. , Collector's 1>ame: {rc,,Jcl,,1 \\."c.,I},, ,c,l Year and clac,g: A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. 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