I asked my wife for a topic idea suitable for today鈥檚 column. She suggested that I write some personal stuff about Christmas.
But who would care to read that!?
Advance warning: no legal advice contained herein.
My father described Christmas on the farm near Bruno, Saskatchewan in the late 30s and early 40s.
Santa didn鈥檛 come down the chimney. Presents would be discovered outside the front door after 鈥淪anta鈥� knocked.
He remembered one special Christmas when the box contained one of the best gifts he had ever received 鈥� a wonderful wooden toy tank. The paint hadn鈥檛 quite dried because Santa鈥檚 elves had just finished it. Sometime later he learned that his older brother had made it for him.
Each of the many children (he had 10 brothers and sisters) received a bag of nuts. Not the shelled and salted variety, but the ones nutcrackers were made for.
Their mother would play some sort of game with each of the kids, using the nuts as betting currency. Somehow, she would invariably win all the nuts from the kids.
My grandmother then used those nuts to bake them into nut breads and whatnot.
On a side note, I鈥檓 reminded of a camping trip with my dad when I was a lad. My brother and I were not treated much to candy as kids. As an unusually delectable treat, my dad picked up a bag of dehydrated banana chips. We played a card game (smear) for the banana chips and of course my dad won them all. But he gave them all back to me.
Just like his mother had done for him, he taught me a lesson about gambling without actually taking anything away.
My brother and I were raised without Santa Clause. Our folks explained that they didn鈥檛 want to lie to us, which I appreciated
And they found the commercialism of Christmas distasteful, each of them having worked as missionaries in third world countries in their former lives.
But we enjoyed wonderful Christmases.
Our Christmas Eve tradition was an incredible apple strudel. It started with a large and very thinly rolled and pulled sheet of dough. So thin you could see through it. That was covered with goodness that included apple slices, butter, brown sugar, bread crumbs, etc., and then rolled into a thick, crescent shape that was baked to the point that apple syrup oozed out and made a bit of a candied crust on the bottom.
Served with ice cream it was the most exquisite dinner!
Strudel dinner was followed by a few carols. My brother and I who took piano lessons provided the accompaniment.
And then presents! Though ours were very modest. Typically, one significant gift each. I remember that one year we got housecoats which we were very happy with.
Another year we had an aunt and uncle visiting. My brother were each surprised with opulent gifts: one of us got an electric train and the other an electric race set. We learned that there had been some firm discussions with our parents pushing our aunt and uncle to return the items to the store. I鈥檓 grateful that our parents conceded that debate!
What I鈥檇 do to have my mother, father and brother with me around the piano again to sing a few carols. I feel a little choked up just thinking about it.
A dozen years ago, my eldest daughter Cassidy helped me attempt a revival of the strudel. It didn鈥檛 turn out quite how I remember, but it triggered many warm feelings and was delicious. I think I鈥檒l dig up the recipe again this season.
For those of you who made it this far, thank you for your kind interest in this mismatch of memories. I wish you the very best of the Season, whatever your beliefs and traditions happen to be.
Paul Hergott
Lawyer Paul Hergott began writing as a columnist in January 2007. Achieving Justice, based on Paul鈥檚 personal injury practice at the time, focused on injury claims and road safety. It was published weekly for 13 陆 years until July 2020, when his busy legal practice no longer left time for writing.
Paul was able to pick up writing again in January 2024, After transitioning his practice to estate administration and management.
Paul鈥檚 intention is to write primarily about end of life and estate related matters, but he is very easily distracted by other topics.
You are encouraged to contact Paul directly at paul@hlaw.ca with legal questions and issues you would like him to write about.
