Friday, December 10, 2010

Flashback Friday & BFTH #6




Welcome to Booked for the Holidays Giveaway #6! Today's book duo is:


  • Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce - My review is here.
  • Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe by Irene Brand & Anita Higman - This delightful book contains two related stories, one of which is historical and the other, contemporary. My featured review is here.

Remember, you can leave up to 3 comments for 3 chances to win: an "enter me" comment, an "I'm a follower" comment, and an "I put the BFTH button on my sidebar (or FB for those who don't have blogs).

You can read the rules for entering and claiming prizes here.

And now to Flashback Friday!




What was Christmas like at school when you were growing up? Were there parties, programs or other activities? Did students exchange gifts? Did you have a part in a Christmas play? Did teachers decorate their rooms? Was it permissible to refer to the holiday as Christmas? If you attended church, what special things did your church do? Were you or your family involved in any of those programs, cantatas, or activities? Have you ever gone caroling? Did your parents ever host Christmas parties?

I remember that we always had a party on the last day before Christmas break when I was in elementary school but I don't remember much about those. I think one reason is because it wasn't such a big deal as school parties can be today. I don't remember making any crafts. It does seem like we all brought a present for a person of our gender and there was some type of system to exchange those. The common gift was the Lifesavers Book of Candy. I rarely had candy, and I thought it was so cool to get all those rolls in the "book"!

I do remember that we would often have door contests at school. The teachers and students would decorate the classroom door by covering it with that colored "door foil" and then adding other decorations. It seems like there might have been a contest. It also seems like there was a choir program at school.

Christianity wasn't politically incorrect back then, and we definitely called it Christmas when we were at school. It seems like it was kinda the beginning of stores using XMas to save room in ads and on signs, so it was beginning. I remember that George Beverly Shea Christmas album I mentioned last week had a song called "Put Christ Back Into Christmas." I can still remember the first part of the song:

Don't wish me "Merry Xmas"
Or "Happy Holiday"
Put Christ back into Christmas
On this blessed holy day.

At church there was always a choir cantata, as they were called back then. Neither of my parents sang in the choir so we weren't involved in that. After I graduated from college I was in my church choir for about ten years and I loved being part of the Christmas music.

I always loved when we would start singing Christmas carols during the church service. I remember my dad being aggravated if we sang anything that wasn't a Christmas carol between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That's another passion I inherited from my dad!

I do remember one neat thing our church did when I was in GA's (the mission organization for girls). We had a Lottie Moon Mailbox, and the members would bring their Christmas cards that they were sending to members of the church. The amount they would have paid for the stamps was paid to the Lottie Moon Mailbox. That money went into the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. (That is the annual international missions offering that Southern Baptists give at Christmas.) We then sorted all the cards, and after church folks would stop by the table and pick up their "mail." It was lots of fun to do and the church members enjoyed it as well.

I only remember one Christmas party that my folks helped host and that was when my older siblings were in the youth department. Our house was the salad stop for a Progressive Dinner. Those were really common when I was little - appetizer at one house, salad at another, main course at a third, and dessert at the fourth and final house.


I can't wait to read your flashback, although it may take me awhile to visit everyone. Days are a little crazy this time of year! Be sure to link up!




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27 comments:

Mel said...

When I was in elementary and middle school we did a Christmas Concert and sang yes what would now be deemed politically incorrect songs like "O' Come All Ye Faithful" and we had Christmas parties and decorated our classrooms!!!

Diana Ferguson said...

Fortunately, we were always able to express our Christianity and love for Christ at school.

Another great duo for the giveaway.

Diana Ferguson said...

Yes....follower, my friend.

Kathy said...

Thanks for continuing to do Friday Flashbacks--even during this busy season!

I'd forgotten about Lifesavers Storybooks! I always wanted one, and never was the lucky one at school parties! LOL

I'd love to win these books, please enter me in the giveaway :)

Kathy said...

I am a follower, also!

STILLMAGNOLIA said...

Count me in...I am a follower. These sound like winners too. Of course they all have.

karenk said...

what a great selection of books...please count me in...thanks :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

i'm a follower :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Mary Lou said...

You rock, girl!!! thanks for doing this at the busiest time of the year.

Mary Lou dlowran1(at)comcast(dot)net

Mary Lou said...

I am a follower too.
Mary Lou dlowran1(at)comcast(dot)net

Barbara H. said...

Oh, I remember those Lifesaver "books," too -- except my dad often got them for us. We had very similar school Christmas parties as you did.

riTa Koch said...

Please enter me. Thank you!

riTa Koch said...

BFTH is on my sidebar.

bp said...

Fun Christmas memories, the door decorating contest reminded me of a story my husband told one time about his school days. He said one class made this big elaborate tree on their door and another had a solid peace of paper with a tiny red dot and titled it "Rudolph at a distance." That was the winner of the contest!

Nel said...

What fun memories. You have a lot of good memories involving church activities. The progressive dinner sounds really neat, I wish I would of known about that when I was Youth Leader. I am so glad my daughter has memories of church from her childhood!
until next time...nel

Jen U. said...

Please enter me.
~Jen Unsell
unsells{at}yahoo{dot}com

Jen U. said...

I am a follower.
~Jen Unsell
unsells{at}yahoo{dot}com

Jen U. said...

I have the booked for the holidays button on my blog. www.theunsells.blogspot.com
~Jen Unsell
unsells{at}yahoo{dot}com

Lisa Spence said...

Lifesavors Storybooks--Yessssss!!!!

Beverlydru said...

Would like to read these books! Thanks for doing Booked for the Holidays. This is MY kind of booked!

quilly said...

Every year I got a Life Savers Candy Book! i loved it.

I think that church mailbox idea was pretty great, too! What a practical and creative way to collect money!

windycindy said...

Both of these books sound
very good...
Thanks very much!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

I follow your blog via Google
Friend Connect!!
Merci, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

MaureenT said...

We used to have a Christmas concert, and we would also attend Midnight Mass.
I love this giveaway, please include me.

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I posted this giveaway on my Facebook profile page

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/profile.php?id=1124305054

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I follow on GFC, and subscribe by email.


alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Unknown said...

Please include me in this giveaway, also. Thank you!