My father’s mother used to love Christmas. She celebrated it on Christmas Eve, in the German tradition. Her favorite Christmas carol was “Silent Night,” also from the German tradition.
In this photo, Grandma sits with Aunt Marge.
And here Aunt Marge is with a silly young man. (Yup, that looks like Dad!)
In Chicago, she kept a traditional Christmas tree (yes, also the German tradition) that she decorated with glass ornaments (mainly made in, wait for it, Germany) and strands of tinsel. In this photo, I must be around five and stand between Grandma and my mother.
Look what I got from Grandma!
When I was still young, Grandma changed her tree to a silver aluminum that changed color when a light wheel shone different colors on the tree. She decorated it in all pink balls. That’s the tree I remember from her duplex in Michigan. I looked, but couldn’t find a photo of it.
Another German tradition Grandma continued was putting electric candles in the window. I wish you could see the candles in this pic, but they might have been in the kitchen window. This is the picture window in Grandma’s duplex. She has a wreath up, and the nativity scene with the gifts below. It looks as if she didn’t have a tree this year. Judging by this fabulous hair (Mom, you let me go out like this?!), I was in junior high.
I think she gave my parents at least some of her old ornaments.
The Family Kalamazoo 
Lovely post, Luanne. I love the old photos and old traditions and styles, even the 70s hairstyle! Merry Christmas!
Oh man, that hair! I look at some of these old pix and just cringe. I always had a hair issue, I think. Thank you so much, though!
I have similar issues. Hair that’s too short, hair that’s too long, etc. And then my glasses—what was I thinking? On the other hand, I look at pictures from when I thought I was a fat teen, and I wish I weighed that now!
I know what you mean! I always felt fatter than my friends and I see these pix now where I looked like a twig. Not so now!!! LOL
That brings back many happy memories. Luanne, your dad was just as fond of Christmas as his mom was. Remember he loved exchanging gifts and decorating the house.However we never knew what gift to give him! Love, Mom
We never did know what to get him, although you could always tell if it was something that he was particularly tickled about. Dad loved Christmas, but then he had his birthday right after, too, so it must have always seemed like a special time of year to him. Love, Luanne
My dad’s birthday was January 2. How many pairs of socks and bottles of wine can you give a man who doesn’t smoke or wear neckties? One year, my sister and I kit-bashed a dollhouse and turned it into a church – Small Saints.
And those ornaments certainly look familiar; my German grandmother had a lot that had been made in a factory the family owned near Nurenburg.
Small Saints! I love it! Oh, very cool about the ornaments. As far as wine goes, my dad liked to receive a case but it didn’t have to be the good stuff!
Love your pictures! How beautiful. 🙂
Oh thank you so much! I think my grandmother’s tree was really beautiful. I miss the tinsel they used to sell like that. Does anyone use it any more? OK, I just googled it. It was invent in Germany!!! in 1610, and it was a big deal in the 1950s to use in place of lights, so that would explain how we used to use so much of it. Then lead tinsel was gotten rid of in 1972 for safety concerns. Very interesting history!
I love learning about others’ Christmas traditions. So much can be learned about a family from them.
Hope your holidays are merry, bright, peaceful, joyful, and all the other good stuff!
I hope yours is as well, Luanne!
The tinsel on the tree was my favorite part – reminds me of my dad saying “one strand at a time!” Looks like your grandma followed that tradition too. :o)
Lovely holiday post Luanne; thanks for sharing your memories.
Yes, no lazy business putting up that tinsel!
I enjoyed this post. My family celebrated Christmas with similar traditions. I think that I have an identical box of old ornaments to the one in the photo. And, we always put lots and lot of “icicles” on the tree. I had totally forgotten about the Christmas tree color wheel–but now that you mention it–I think that my family went through an aluminum tree & color wheel phase, too. 🙂
Merry Christmas!
It always surprises me to find out how much my childhood experiences are “of an era.” But it’s true, so many of us had the same trees, ornaments, experiences. Happy New Year, Sheryl!
Priceless photos, and don’t worry, I could show you some pictures of my youthful hair mishaps that would make you do a spit-take. Thank goodness we improve with age. Merry Christmas!
LOL, thanks, Pancho! That does make me feel better! What in the world were we thinking of?! Happy New Year to you and yours!
Beautiful memories and photos, Luanne. All the best to you and your loved ones in the new year.
Thank you so much, Patti. Happy New Year to you and yours as well!