A Vintage Style Christmas
I've decided I’m going to have a Polka Dot Moms “Vintage Style” Christmas this year...I'll share traditional Christmas pastimes and simple pleasures like stories from gathering around the hearth at night, vintage family recipes, carols, homemade neighbor gifts, handmade ornaments and wrapping paper, vintage-style decor, handmade tree ornaments, candy making and more!
Pull up a chair and a cup of homemade eggnog and join me on this month's journey as I blog my way through a PolkaDotMoms Vintage Christmas! :) Tonight, I begin with homemade gingerbread cookies, a family Wassail hot punch drink, and a Christmas story...
DAY ONE:
Our vintage Christmas began with a family gathering in our livingroom. Before the days of the modern light switch, families would turn off all the candles in the home and come gather around the fireplace at night to get better aquainted. They would talk, read stories, or just tell of their day experiences. Relationships really mattered more and took priority over other amusements.
Turning off all the electronics, lights and modern features can be quite a task, but thankfully, Monday evening was a great night to start our vintage style Christmas because we already have a family home evening on Monday nights...so this made it a bit easier. We started out with our young daughter leading us in a song titled, "Little baby Jesus"...which brought in a sweet spirit, and so we continued...she then chose a favorite book from our Christmas book basket. One tradition I have is our "Holiday Book Basket". I keep a basket on our bookshelf to store books pertaining to the nearest holiday, kind of like the library might do.
As we turned on the fire and turned off the lights around our home, we noticed an almost instant peace and focus on the blazing warmth and power of the fire. It was the only light on, except for the Christmas tree lights. The unpredictable dancing movements of the flames mesmerized us for a couple minutes. Each family member took turns reading a book. With each page turn, our son snuggled up in his blanket a little more.
The scent of roasted marshmallows soon filled the small corner nook where we were huddled attentively. The marshmallows began to droop on the metal hot dog sticks then they began to burn and quickly caught fire! My calm was so high and my anxiety was so low that when my daughter yelled out "Mama! The marshmallows!", I calmly turned my head to see the burning clump, pulled out the marshmallows from the fire, bent over and with a confident demeanor, and blew them out a long whoosh, no problem. It was all under control. The kids pretty much started to fall asleep after the 4th book, so I decided to save the gingerbread cookies and wassail for the next day :)
DAY TWO: HOT WASSAIL PUNCH
I remember the scent of hot Wassail punch, what we called “ponche” brewing in the kitchen in the crock pot. It was the scent of cinnamon and merriment all rolled into one. “Is it done yet?” I would ask my mom again, impatiently. It had to be just right! Good things take time, and this one took even longer. My mom was waiting for the flavor of the broken cinnamon sticks and dried fruit to expel and be absorbed into the drink. She would drop in both fresh and dry fruits and let simmer until “perfect to the taste buds” done. Over the years, I have changed it only a little to make it more convenient etc.
Here is the recipe…and my notes to simplify it in case you desire a faster approach …I promise your home will smell delightful!
All you need is this:
Cinnamon sticks (6-7) Dried Fruit (small bag of mixed, dried fruit)
Cloves (6-7) pineapple (can of pineapple tidbits)
Cranberries (small handful) Brown Sugar-to taste
This is what you'll do...
In a crock pot, place about 6 cups of apple cider juice, 1 cup of pineapple juice and 1 cup of cranberry juice and turn on “high”. (I like to add a can of pineapple tidbits and place entire contents in juice along with a 1/2 frozen can of cranberry juice).
To juice, add a small handful of cinnamon sticks, broken (it’s about 6-7 thick cinnamon sticks).
Add just a few cloves. (only add about 6-7 and don’t leave in to simmer till the end. This is easy to overdo because cloves are strong tasting, I like to wait till the end to add in, then I remove when the flavor is just right). Some people like to add more, you'll have to try it for yourself.
Fresh fruit-Add in a handful of each: fresh chopped apples, chopped pineapple, a few small whole cranberries, and chopped oranges (I also add the peels from the oranges and for pineapple; I just buy a can of pineapple tidbits and pour entire contents in with juice)
Dried fruit-Add in a handful of each: raisins, prunes, apricots (I just buy a small bag of mixed dried fruit put it all in)
Allow to heat on high for the first 1-2 hours then turn down to low and let simmer for a couple more. Your wassail is done when the flavor of the dried fruits are no longer flavorful, meaning the “ponche” or juice, has absorbed the flavor J If you want it sweeter, you can add a bit of brown sugar to sweeten.
Just a note…lemons and limes are usually too strong to add while simmering and can cut the other flavors, but I like to squeeze in a little lemon after the drink is done. Adding white sugar and honey change the flavor, but you can try it.
Enjoy it warm!
DAY THREE: HOMEMADE STOCKINGS AND SNAIL MAIL
Our Stockings:We are making homemade stockings this year! Turn of the century families used their own real "stocking" or long warm woolen socks, to hang up on their bed posts, doorknobs or chimney mantle. As you can imagine, this made it easier for each family member to recognize their own stocking. For our vintage style Christmas, we are using fabrics from clothes which our kids have outgrown, making each stocking memorable and unique. I'm making a simple "J" sock pattern to be used for all the stockings. Snail Mail: The term "snail mail", as you may know, is used as a way to describe a process of sending/receiving letters through our good ole fashion mail man, as opposed to today's email.
I set up a small "mailbox" in our home. it is to be used here in our home by and for our family to send/receive written mail for one another, including notes of thanks or appreciation, coupons good for a hug or massage (that's my idea :) ) and even small treats! So here we go...join me later for photos...
My daughter and I drafted a quick pattern for our stockings...My daughter helped with the drafting, then we added a seam allowance...
These are just some of clothes our kids have outgrown...we'll repurpose them to create stockings...
Here is our family indoor mailbox where we encourage "family service" including notes of love and appreciation.
About 12 years ago, I made a "Country Christmas" themed Christmas tree. In that theme, I used homemade gingerbread men/women ornaments. They are not edible because they contain glue, (except for the quick method) but they smell wonderful and look delicious enough yo eat. And...they'll make your home smell like Christmas cheer round the clock! Place them throughout
So easy to make too! :)
GINGERBREAD MEN ORNAMENTS
All you need is...
1 cup cinnamon powder
1 cup applesauce-plain
4 Tablespoons white glue
Okay gal, just mix all and roll onto a sheet of wax paper...about 1/4 inch thick. (it's messy so be patient and expect to spend a little time patting each ornament around the edges to get a clean, finished look around edges).
Using your gingerbread man/woman cookie cutter, cut out as many shapes as you can (about 12). Using a straw or pencil eraser tip, cut out a small hole at top of ornament (not too close to top or will tear easily). Place wax paper up on a shelf to dry for about 2 days. time will vary depending on air humidity/dryness in YOUR home and sunlight.
YOUR DONE!!!
(Once they are dry, you can decorate them: glue on bows, buttons, hair, eyes, white yarn smiles, clothes or just a red or green ribbon around the neck! So fun! Let the kids help :)) Send me your photos to share!
"QUICK METHOD" GINGERBREAD MEN ORNAMENTS-no glue!
1 cup cinnamon powder
2 cups applesauce-plain
1 tablespoon cloves, powder (helps create a stronger scent)
Ok gal, just mix it all ingredients up in a bowl and roll onto a sheet of wax paper. MMMMmmm....smell good already huh!
just like in the recipe above, cut out and poke a hole at top.
Bake in oven on low...about 15o degrees for 1-2 hours...then turn over. bake another 1-2 hours. Let them dry out completely for about 2 hours and decorate! ALL DONE!!!
How to use them:
*Ornaments on tree
*Gingerbread men garland. Placehorizontally over the mantle face or a shelf. To make garland, put a string (like twine) through the holes at top of gingerbread men, making a knot on both sides of the hole of each man (keeping men about 4 inches apart from each other). Leave a little extra string at each end to make a looped knot for hanging up.
When done, tie a piece of Christmas ribbon in between each man, and hang up.
*Use to decorate walls. Hang vertical garland. Use a long string or pretty ribbon (make one loop at top to hang with and a knot at bottom end to keep men from falling through).
*Place gingerbread men/women in potpouri, in bathrooms, on counters and tables.
*Room Freshners. Place gingerbread men around home as room freshners or place a few on a pretty Christmas plate-they'll look like Santa's cookies!
***GIVE AS HOMEMADE GIFTS!!! :) Place a few in a clear cellaphane bag or a brown lunch bag and tie with a ribbon and add a piece of pine and a note.
My daughter is pressing the sticky gingerbread mix into the edges...we are trying to get them about 3/4 to 1/2 inch thick because they will shrink and may even crack if they are too thin or if they over bake/dry.
Here they are a few of them...done. The bottom ones over dryed and cracked in the middle...they could have been thicker too, oh well. Just enjoy!
CHRISTMAS TOWN
It's time to set up the ole Christmas town. Why are miniature ceramic Christmas towns so enchanting? When I was younger, I enjoyed going to a shop in old town Pasadena, California called STATS. They would display a large collection of Christmas town ceramics throughout an entire room. I would walk down the isle slowly, making sure not to miss one detail including the icy waterfall and pond, the bridge, the carolers and the town bakery.
In a Christmas town, everyone is happy and life is jolly...you can't help but smile! Looking at a Christmas town is like looking at a snapshot photo...you've captured a moment in time.They are festive and fun to look at. Like playing with a dollhouse, you can place the people and accessories wherever you like. I've managed to collect a few small pieces over time, but nothing like the one's I've peered at through store window.
Join me here later for photos!
Tis the season :)
Here is one shot of our town this year...be creative and have fun with it.
DAY FIVE AND SIX: ICE SKATING AND FOCUS ON CHRIST'S BIRTH
Every year we love to go ice skating as a family. This year, we decided to invite my girl scout troop to come with us. On Sunday, we watched the Christmas devotional and focused more on the real meaning of Christmas...the birth of Christ.
ICE SKATING:
Girls at ice skating rink...
CHRISTMAS DEVOLTIONAL 2010:
Click on link below to watch and listen:
DAY SEVEN: HOMEMADE WRAPPING PAPER AND CHRISTMAS CLASSIC BOOKS
CLASSIC BOOKS
One of our favorite Christmas books is "A Christmas Carol", a novel by the English author named Charles Dickens. The book was first published in 1843. It is a classic tale of a mean and stingy man named Ebenezer Scrooge, who is transformed into a loving and giving man after being visited by three spirits who fortell of his potentially miserable future if he does not change his heart. When the book was written, the Victorian era was just beginning to blossom, and vintage style traditions like the Christmas tree and Christmas greeting cards were becoming popular! We also like the movie, especially the one starring George C. Scott.
Tonight, we'll begin to read the book titled "The Forgotten Carols"...
Other Classic Chritmas books to read are:
The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories by O. Henry
Louisa May Alcott's Christmas Treasury by Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott's Christmas Treasury by Louisa May Alcott
Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A Childs's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
The Three Gifts by Patricia Cook Orr, Wilson Ong
Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle by ben Sowards, Jason F. Wright
Children's books:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS WRAPPING PAPER
Tonight, we will make homemade wrapping paper! We'll use traditional brown postal paper and decorate it with homemade stamps made from new kitchen sponges, cut into simple shapes. We'll use classic ribbon and pine to accent. Come back later for photos!
DAY 8 AND 9: SPIRIT OF SERVICE
It took me a couple days to try to catch up with everything, but I'm still here...pacing myself for the BIG DAY on December 25th. Among other things, I'm trying not to get distracted, to "keep" Christmas in my heart and stay focused on the reason for the season!
I've been going through clothes to try to give away to the National Kidney Foundation, an organization they have is http://www.clothesforkidney.org/. They will come and pick it up off your porch!
It has been a project to go through my entire family wardrobe...and I'm not done yet, but I know it will benefit someone greatly, Someone we do not know...and that makes it worthwhile. I've had tall piles of clothes covering my formal dining room, and put off some shopping. But this has brought in the spirit of service to my dear family at Christmas time.
Day 10, 11, 12 13: THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
The Christmas season is well underway...we enjoyed the weekend with family events. Last week I just about put my back out trying to load a Christmas gift. Have you ever tried to pick up a box and could not even get it to move an inch?....YES! It was that heavy! No, it is not expensive, just very heavy. I'm not sure if I'm proud of myself for being able to lift it or if need to work out harder and get stronger, or if I was a fool for trying to lift it alone...
On Sunday, we started the 12 day's of Christmas for someone. Of course, they do not read this blog, infact we hardly know them. We'll leave them a treat/gift and note every day on their porch until Christmas eve, and hope they'll never see us dropping it off...you start to get very creative after a few day's. With every day that passes, you have to go and deliver your treat at different times of the day and sometimes you have to wait a while to make sure they are not waching! The last day we'll bring a little homemade baby Jesus. It's a fun tradition for the kid's and helps them remember the spirit of giving and of Christmas. Still, by the time we get to the 24th, we realize it's our own soul who has benefited most. There are many ways to do "The 12 day's of Christmas"....this is just one. Tonight we will wrap more gifts and make more cards for our special someone, and hope that Christmas comes closer to our hearts. Enjoy the season :)
