Tárogató, 1949-1950 (12. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1949-12-01 / 6. szám
16 TÁROGATÓ keen to include some of them in your family evening. If you are having “outside family members”, be sure to be on hand at the door to welcome them and show them where to put their wraps. You would have two things to work out: what the group would do during the evening, and what kind of light refreshments you would serve. If you have a brother or sister old enough to help, you might get him or her to be responsible for one of these things. As to the activities, singing a couple of Christmas carols might be a good way to begin. You do not need a piano—just start on a familiar carol and the others will join in. Usually everyone loves to sing carols. Contests should go well in a family group, such as dropping Christmas nuts into a milk bottle from waist height to see who can get the most in, or a relay of carrying an apple on a knife and seeing which team wins. The older folk will enjoy a pencil and paper game. See who could make the longest list of words from the letters in “Merry Christmas.” If these suggestions do not suit your fancy, you could use some games you know or look up some at the library. Now, as to the food, a sister might be particularly interested in preparing it. However, some boys enjoy cooking and preparing food, so maybe you would like to do this yourself. Something simple would be best. (1) Cookies and orangeade, (2) popcorn balls, (3) sandwiches with coffee or milk—any of these would hit the spot. And if you happen to have an open fireplace, it would be fun to toast marshmallows. A real Christmasy idea for the family is to have a Christmas story presented in the family group during the season. This might be part of the family evening at home or it might be another evening entirely. The Other Wise Man and Why the Chimes Rang are always favourites, or a good Christmas story in a current magazine might be used. Does the family have any traditional gathering around the Christmas tree for the presenting and opening of gifts? If not, maybe you could suggest such a plan to the family, get their ideas on it, and take the lead in seeing it through. Decorating the Christmas tree might be a part of the “ceremony.” It’s fun for the entire family to do this together. When the lights and ornaments have been hung on the tree branches, the tinsel draped in graceful scallops, and the icicles make a shimmering blanket of silver over it all, members of the family might sit around the tree as the lights are turned on and sing carols. Gifts could be placed under the tree to be opened Christmas morning. It’s lots more fun to open gifts together Christmas morning than for each person to do a lone-wolf job of tearing into the tissue paper and ribbons. Gather the family around the tree; let Dad hand out the gifts, and share one another’s “ohs” and “ahs” as gifts are opened. Remember in this as well as other Chrismas activities in which you take the lead not to be a dictator. Be sure to ask every member of the family for his ideas and suggestions. Respect their opinions and take advantage of them. Mother and Dad, Sis and Brother, Granddad and Grandma will be much more interested in the whole affair if they feel they have a part in it. To top off the celebration of Christmas in your home, get the entire family to attend the Christmas Day worship service, if there is one in your church or some other church in your community. LIGHT YOUR CANDLES By Frances Russell Early in the morning, before the break of day, Came the heavenly Dayspring, to drive our dark away; When the stars are hidden, and we grope in night, Shines the Star of Morning in clear and joyous light. Waken from your sleeping, from your dream of wrong: Only in the frightening dark can evil seem so strong. Wake and light your candles, calling on His name, Faith the wax, and hope the wick, and love the living flame; Love who is a little Child, Love so poor and small, In the blessed morning shall be Lord of all.
