Day 346
(I am not a writer.... )
There once was this family, a father, mother, a daughter, a son and a baby boy who lived in a country far far from here.
The mother and her 2 older children sat at her feet while she was knitting. She was telling her children stories of Christmases from the past. The girl was cradling her hand stitched doll, while her brother listened to every word his mother spoke. As her knitting needles were clicking away she asked her daughter and her son what was their wish for Christmas.
The little girl asked for dancing slippers, because she wanted to be a famous dancer on a stage. She would also love a doll, not a home made one, but a real one like in the window of the toy store. The mother then asked her son what he would like. He asked his mother if he could wish for anything? She said, yes, anything, anything at all.
The boy thought, and smiled, " I would like a star. "
The mother looked at her son and asked him if that is all he wanted was a star. He said," Yes, just a star please."
The mother knew that her son read everything about everything. She often would chase him back to his bed, because he would sit in the dark staring at the stars from his window if he wasn't reading under the blankets.
As the days were quickly approaching Christmas, there was so many things to prepare. If the mother wasn't scrubbing and cleaning, then she was baking, cooking, sewing and knitting.
Again the mother asked her daughter what she would like for Christmas. The girl's answer was the same. She asked her son, he said that his little brother Herbert would like a wooden toy train to push around. The mother smiled and asked what he would like. The boy smiled and said," you know, you remember, I would like a star."
Now the mother was worried, what was she going to do. She already found her son a book for Christmas. But a Star? She had unpicked a cardigan sweater and made the children hats and mittens to wear in the bitter cold winter months. She made the boy trousers from on of her long woolen skirts and dresses for her daughter from an gown she hardly had worn. A star? A star? Is what this busy mother kept saying to herself.
Then she had an idea!
She went to the Stationers and for a few pennies bought some paper. She used her husband's razor blades and a ruler. When everyone went to bed... the mother went to work!
The mother did this every night, until one evening, her husband came out of their bedroom and notice his wife wrapping her fingers with a bandage. He asked her what had happened. She explained what she was doing. He kissed her fore head and sat down to help her with this special project.
Christmas Eve had arrived, the Christmas tree was up in the sitting room with the door shut! No one was allowed to enter but the mom! She kept going in and out of the room. Their mom was very good at keeping secrets!
While the family was getting dressed for the Christmas Eve service at the church. The little girl asked her parents if they could take a peek at the Christmas tree.
The father shrugged his shoulders, and the mom asked the children if they would sing their very best, listen to the pastor, and go right to bed when they were told? They both jumped up and down and said Yes!
Their father told them to close their eyes, while the children did that, the mother slowly opened the sitting room door!
The little girl gasped! And she twirled her way to the tree... the boy, just stared and stared! He looked at his mother and said, "that his wish had come true!"
On this Christmas tree was stars, so many stars! Stars from the top to the bottom of the tree! Beautiful white stars made from paper!
"Is this what you had wanted for Christmas is a star?" The mother asked her son as she stroked his head.
"Yes," he whispered. He kept looking at this amazing Christmas tree. The mother asked why did he wish for a star. His answer was he wanted just one star to make one wish and that wish was that everyone would get their wish for Christmas.
"What is your wish for Christmas?" asked the son's father. The boy answered while studying a star dangling from a pine branch. "I would like to see the stars on the other side of the world. Places like the Statue of Liberty, The Rocky Mountains, The Pacific Ocean."
"Momma" asked the girl, "Will you teach us how to make these stars?" "Yes Please", smiled the boy.
And the mother did.
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Christmas Tree Star on my Tree
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The world changed for this family. The mom in the story went and had 3 more children. They were living in Poland at the time and when World War 2 started, this family hurried back to Germany.
The boy in the story is our dad. He did get to see The Statue of Liberty, The Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. He was also an avid reader, a great story teller, and went on to become the mayor of Greenwood,BC.
As for the stars, I do know they were on my Grandmothers Christmas tree and our dad was taught how to make these Christmas Stars. Not sure of the real story behind The Christmas Tree Stars got started in my grandmother's family.
As children we sat round our parents coffee table making many Christmas Tree Stars. This tradition is now being done by my children and one day, my grand children.
Until Tomorrow
Jewels
