Rita W., Chicago: When I was growing up in Germany it was the Christ child, not Santa, that brought presents for the children, and he came on Christmas Eve. We never saw the Christmas tree until Christmas day. After singing songs and reciting poems we would get our presents. My husband and I still celebrate Christmas but it's more of a time for family to get together. We're not church people but we go on Christmas because we love to hear the music. We don't do that gift craziness, we see it as a day to see friends, try and help the poor— it's a day to celebrate goodness in the world. I still make a traditional German meal with red cabbage and potatoes but I leave out the meat and make a walnut loaf.
Irma T., West Dundee: We have a birthday cake and sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus because we want the grandkids to know what Christmas is all about— Jesus' birthday.
Valerie P., South Elgin: My family attends Saturday night mass. Later that night we drive around in the car looking at Christmas lights. We end the night gathering around the Christmas tree and talking about the holidays.
Jim L., Blue Island: Christmas in the 1930s and 40s was much different than it is today. We were just coming out of the Great Depression and most families were still only one generation from the farm and still tied to other family members still on the farm. Christmas was kept alive for the children and most were lucky to receive any type of present since what little money we had was used to buy only the necessities of living. Most of the gifts we received were usually hand-made by our parents and often consisted of clothing. We always had a tree, not one we bought but one that we went into the woods and cut down for ourselves. We did have candy and cookies, baked by our mothers and usually a big meal with meat from the smoke house on the family farm. Christmas [in my childhood] was filled with traditions, but not like the ones of today, like going to Marshall Fields, looking at the lights along the Magnificent Mile, buying all our gifts and setting our tables from the local supermarket. You know what? I liked those early Christmases best.
Fran K., Sleepy Hollow: We always go to night Mass, come home and have hot chocolate with cookies (some for Santa and Some for Baby Jesus), then to bed to await the big day.
Mary L., Chicago: I would wake up in the middle of the night and go downstairs and have all the presents to myself. I would have my own happy time playing hours before my parents got up.
Charlie B., Huntley: Years ago when I was young, we would go to midnight mass and when I got old enough, my parents let me have a cup of tea with a splash of rum after we got home. I looked forward to that.
Sara Z., Chicago: I grew up learning from my grandmother the strong German traditions of Christmas. I liked the idea of a benevolent Santa that brought oranges and candy to the children, but it has been hard to bring the simplicity of this forward. This year our family is going to Mexico for Christmas; my son's birthday is on the 24th which is a more important holiday for us. There will only be small gifts— my kids don't really need anything— but we are looking forward to the opportunity to come together as a family sharing a new adventure and not be so focused on the presents.
Jean P.: We always read the "The Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve before going to bed.
Dave K., Elgin: My family gathers on Christmas Eve and Santa comes every year. The children sit on his lap and tell their stories. A couple of years ago, we were making so much noise and talking so loudly that we didn't hear Santa ring the doorbell. Santa tried to find another way to get in and started to pound on windows. My nine-year old granddaughter got the surprise of her life when Santa's face suddenly appeared at the window.
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