By Angel Nuñez
Undoubtedly Christmas traditions are some of the things that have changed the most in our town if we compare it to our little village twenty five years ago. It can be safely be said that there is a lot more of some things, but a lot less of other things.
No, Santa did not visit the schools with tons of gifts for the school children as he does today accompanied by the Town council Staff. Nor did he show up at the Christmas Shows put on by the primary School during the Christmas shows. He did not even arrive at the Lions Den because there was no Lions Club in the 50’s nor 60’s. However, you can be certain that he did arrive once at Central Park and he arrived by boat, landing at the Central Pier. There we got little rifles that shot cork bullets, or water guns that you had to squeeze to squirt water unto your friend. So we can say that toys we definitely had a lot less.
However we had a lot more singing, both in school, home and even in church. I bet most kids in primary school today do not know these Christmas songs: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Silent Night”, “O Come all ye Faithful”, “Away in a Manger”, “The First Noel”, and “Joy to the World”, to name only a few. I would like to invite all teachers for a workshop late in November next year to teach them some of these songs for them to use in their respective schools. If anybody takes the challenge you would need to remind me and we move on from there. Sad to say, our children today are getting a lot of toys, perhaps too many, and not enough beautiful songs that carry the message and spirit of Christmas.
I can’t complete this short column without reminding folks that Christmas time was the ONLY TIME during the entire year when we enjoyed grapes, pears and apples in San Pedro. When they arrived in the stores around December 20, people rushed to the stores to purchase a dozen or two for the kids to enjoy. Eating apples was synonymous with Christmas, quite unlike today when we can purchase apples throughout the year and when Christmas arrives, perhaps we do not even have a taste of one. As a matter of fact, apples were so special that they used to be used as gift items for auntie or grandma, that along with black fruit cake. And what I have just said of apples can be said of “ham” twenty five years ago. Let me end by wishing all my friends and dear readers a Merry Christmas filled with sharing, glad tiding, health and prosperity. And here is a song for you:
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born.
25 Years Ago Books Can Be Purchased At:
-Ambergris Today -Lala’s Store -Chico’s Meat Shop -Pampered Paws -Ambergris Jade -San Pedro BTB Office -Aquarious Salon (Kim) -S.P. Town Library -Di Bush -Richies Stationery -San Pedrano’s Stationery
Contact the Author at: nunez_nest@yahoo.com
