Maybe it’s because we are living in such combative times,
coming off a contentious election where every soul with an opinion is confident
that theirs is the only one that matters. Or, maybe it’s because Christmas
always makes me nostalgic. I keep looking for my favorite old TV show Christmas
episodes. Not old, like The Office or Cheers, I mean OLD like Father Knows
Best, Leave It to Beaver and I Love Lucy.
Whatever the reason, finding the little gem Let’s Celebrate
Christmas by Horace J. Gardner has made me smile every time I have turned a
page. There’s something about his suggestions for entertaining in polite
society that capture a time when life seemed a whole lot simpler, and I didn’t
have to measure every word for fear of being labeled something negative.
So, I’m skipping the headlines, reading Mr. Gardner’s book
and sharing his archaic helpful hints.
Here are some of his suggestions for decorating for your
Christmas party:
Decorations You may add holiday cheer to the indoors by beginning in the
center hall entrance. Drape the casings of the stairs with green garlands
caught up here and there with bunches of red holly berries fastened by red bows
or lustrous tree balls. The newel post lends itself naturally to clever
schemes. One way is to garland round and round and then top it with a
poinsettia, or a small, potted Christmas evergreen with or without lights. A
bowl of brightly hued gourds from which flow fiesta fruits, gourds, peppers,
etc., suggests the anticipated feast. A pine bough tied with red ribbon
fastening the rich brown cones into an attractive spray will completely screen
the entire newel post. … Mirrors are helpful, both for beauty and reflection. Treat
the one over the table in the hall with a handmade frame of holly or pungent
boxes of sumac and bayberries tied with a soft, lustrous red satin bow –
preferably in the lower right corner. This gives the mirror more space for
reflection.
Mr. Gardner had a treasure chest of parlor games at his
disposal. Here is another game he suggests for your Christmas party:
A Bubble Blowing Contest
Because soap bubbles with their many colors are suggestive
of Christmas balls, this old favorite will fit in nicely as a team game. Divide
the group into the Blues and the reds with a leader for each side. At one end
of a long table place the goals, which may be pencils stuck in cotton spools.
Cover the table with a couple of old shawls or flannel. Do not fasten the cloth
as it may become necessary to remove it in order to let it dry. After the game
has progressed a few minutes it may be necessary to remove the top cover since
the bubbles are apt to stick when they come to a damp spot.
The idea is to blow the bubbles along the surface of the
table and through the goal posts at the end. The leader of one team “serves”
the bubbles by dropping them from the pipe on the table. The players take turns
blowing the delicate spheres with the idea of having them pass through the
goal. After four rounds the side with the most goals is declared the winner.
These seriously make me smile. I hope they make you smile too.
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