This is a fictional story based on the information received during space clearing
Christmas in the Country house has changed a lot since Carmen was alive in the 1900’s.
Back then it had only really been Christmas Eve that had been celebrated. With the arrival of English owners came new traditions and new celebrations.
Carmen was in awe at the sights she now saw. When she was alive family and friends would gather on Christmas Eve and they would either kill one of their pigs, or catch and kill a wild boar, depending on how successful the year had been. If it had been a good year, and they had enough food to keep the pig for the winter they would hunt a wild boar. If not then their pig would be for the chop.
Almonds from the surrounding trees were always made into some yummy treats.
The fire would be blazing, and Carmen's father would play songs on his homemade Spanish guitar. It was always a great evening filled with love and laughter.
Now things were very different, Carmen watched as new traditions entered the home.
Christmas trees with fairy lights, Santa Claus on the walls and even climbing the chimney outside. To her, it was magical and exciting. She loved watching as presents were wrapped and Christmas music was played on some strange box. The food! There was so much food! Christmas Eve had always seen an abundance of food in this house but now it was brought in, and not what could be gathered and preserved from the land. There were chocolates wrapped in sparkly paper, boxes of marzipan, nuts (not just almonds) and cheese brought from shops.
Christmas Eve was now a time of excitement but in a very different way to how it had been. Now it was filled with anticipation about what gifts may be received on Christmas day.
It was still a day of stories, games and singing but they were different stories, different games and different songs.
When it was time to go to sleep the children in the house placed large red stockings on the bottom of their bed. They wrote letters to Santa Claus asking for the presents they wanted to receive and left a strange-looking pie, called a mince pie, and a glass of sherry for him. There was even a carrot for the reindeer, Carmen had no idea what a reindeer was, but as the pictures showed them pulling some sort of strange cart she guessed it was a bit like a donkey!
Christmas morning arrived before dawn, excitement filled the area as the children shouted ‘He’s been!’
The stockings were now filled with presents and underneath the tree were even more.
The presents were wrapped in colourful wrapping paper and the children squealed with delight.
As they unwrapped the gifts, the thank you’s and I love you rained down on all the family members.
The house smelled of Turkey and vegetables, the true smell of modern-day Christmas. The food was eaten, and the wine was drunk. Everyone ate and drank well past their normal stopping point, yet, there was still more food, Carmen wondered if this was heaven on earth. With all the love, laughter and abundance on show, did they even know how lucky they were?
One of the children had a puzzle as one of her gifts and Carmen sat next to her. The two girls, one living and one in spirit, sat together completing the puzzle. Gemma was the only person in the house who knew Carmen was there and they often played together.
As night fell and the over-indulgence caught up with the family, they made their way to their beds, kissing each other goodnight as they went.
Christmas day in the Country House was over for another year, Carmen wondered what new things would enter the house in the coming year.
I would like to thank you for your support over the last year and wish you all a very merry Christmas.
May 2024 see all your dreams come true and be filled with love and laughter.