What do you remember most during Christmas season when you are still a young child?

I loved the Christmas songs. I still do. All the old ones and all the new ones. I liked the Christmas season decorations of the homes. Loved decorating our tree and home.

Christmas Eve was Midnight Mass with family. Christmas morning goes without saying. Our Christmas tree was attacked by all of us looking for presents with our name. Christmas dinner was always great with all the family at grandparents home.

We were not wealthy. Not even middle class but we had great Christmas and the season was always filled with music and songs.

Every Christmass was different and each has a memory. One that comes to mind is Grandfather fireing up the grey beast. She had a hand crank and got her fired up after some well- words. He then hooked the sleigh behind her and loaded hay in the sleigh. She had steel tires with spikes on them. So probably about a 1944 tractor. We had about 2 foot of snow on clean and white sparkling in the sun. The hickory trees casting dark shadows on the snow. And of we went across the pasture. My brother and I in the sleigh Taking turn dropping about a 1/8th of a bale out at a time. And the cows coming up to feed on them. Our breath all white our cheecks red. But I remember that Christmass day.

The sharing of food during xmas with my other relatives and the giving of money to every individual during the new year.

Xmas should only pertain to kids or children because this is the time of season to make every child happy as they grow, but sad to say it is now commercialized in every extent that makes xmas a furlough for everyone to enjoy the holidays for personal intention not to give or not to share what they have.

I remember the atmosphere. The holidays meant no classes. And there's a lot of food and a lot of gifts and balikbayan boxes.

We used to wake up real early to attend mass for the customary "Simbang Gabi" and then promptly fall back asleep on the church pews.

Everybody coming to our house plus opening the presents.