In this post, I recall some of my own personal holiday memories. Return to pasttensega.com for new posts about local history each Monday.

When I think back on Christmas when I grew up in neighborhoods near Atlanta; along N. Druid Hills Road, Chamblee Tucker Road, and Briarcliff Road; a few memories stand out.

My father was in The Optimist Club and we always got our tree from the lot where he worked a couple of nights each year. Selling Christmas trees was a fundraiser for several organizations back then. I remember the Christmas tree lot being at Chamblee Plaza on Peachtree Boulevard (formerly Peachtree Industrial Blvd.).

Another memory was the big, extended family Christmas party that was held each year on Christmas Eve. That was especially fun for me, because I got to spend time with cousins I didn’t see often. Some years that was the only time I saw them.

The party was held in the basement of a great aunt and uncle’s home, packed with people of all ages. Of course, as a child you enter a room full of relatives you don’t see often and get lots of hugs and and a few face pinches!

Everyone, adults and children, had one gift because we drew names. Santa Claus would often make an appearance during the evening.

Dinner was always pot luck with everyone bringing their specialty dishes or desserts. There were tables filled with casseroles and congealed salads, fried chicken and ham, delicious cakes and pies. My favorite-my grandmother’s sweet potato pie. She always made two!

Some time during the evening, after the greetings, a large meal, and presents, some of the family would play Christmas songs on the piano and organ. There were some talented musicians in my family, including one of my great aunts and my grandfather. Both of them could play by ear, sitting down and playing just by knowing the melody and the chords that went along with that melody. I was jealous of this ability, especially since I took piano lessons for twelve years of my life, needed music in front of me to play, and still missed a note here and there.

Those of us who gathered to listen to the music also sang Christmas carols and other songs being played.

Another memory from this same holiday gathering in the early 1960s is of a room full of people doing the Twist as Chubby Checker was played on the radio. I remember a line of cousins, aunts, uncles, my mom and myself all doing this same dance. In 1960, Chubby Checker released the single The Twist, which had previously been recorded and released by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. Then in 1961, Checker released Let’s Twist Again. That is the one I recall best and the song I believe was playing that Christmas Eve.

And of course I remember (but not very clearly) riding the Pink Pig, but I have written about that in previous posts.

Santa always wrapped presents that were left under our family Christmas tree. One thing puzzled me. Why were they wrapped in the same wrapping paper as the paper my mom and dad used?