Christmas Remembered Personal Memories The sights and sounds of Christmas are renewed each year. With the passing of each, we grow fonder of our treasured memories of Christmas past. Join us in celebrating Christmas Remembered, share a brief personal story or thought about your memories of Christmas. Send your story to ATPC: A Christmas Remembered story. Christmas 1946 by Marvin Kusmierz A Christmas tradition that I recall from my early childhood was the special dinner at my mother's parent's home. My grandparents had eleven children and, they and their children would gather there for the Christmas meal. Preparations would begin very early in the morning. Grandpa had a chicken coup from which several chickens were selected for the meal. This would be my first understanding of the process that put food on my plate. It was a scary experience at my young age to see how a chicken was slaughtered. Equally as unpleasant was the plucking of feathers and gutting of the chicken. A nasty smell and sight that remains fixated in my memory. A more enjoyable experience was the making of the many apple pies. Apples that came from my grandparent's green apple tree. The munching of raw apples spiced with cinnamon and sugar was truly a delight. (It is unfortunate that so many kids today are denied this tasteful experience with parents opting for an easier, but inferior purchased product.) All of the hot food was prepared using grandma's huge wood burning stove that also service heat to a large portion of the home during the winter months. Just imagine the art of this process that required constant attention in order to keep the cooking under control! As the day went on, more and more of the family arrived increasing the noise level and decreasing the available space to run around in. Finally, it would be meal time. The candles on the table were lit and the lights turn off. Grandpa would pass out holy wafers which were blessed by the church. As we held our holy wafer, grandpa would say a prayer of thanks as I watched in wonderment of the flickering flame coming from the candle closest to me. Christmas XXXX by You "Your Christmas Remembered" goes here.