Christmas Day – what an exciting day to culminate weeks of preparation. The house was perfumed by the scent of the freshly cut pine tree from the paddock down the road. Decorations crafted from foil milk bottle tops, crepe paper and cotton wool.
The bottles of nuts, cashews and peanuts were salted and sugar-coated. White Christmas, chocolate fudge, coconut ice, Christmas fruit cake and a steamed plum pudding (laced with small coins] were all prepared by Mum — an absolute miracle worker.
Dad would purchase a leg of ham from Huttons Ham & Bacom factory at Zillmere, appropriately situated in Pineapple St. He would take it to the local baker, who would roast it in his large oven.
We only ever had roast chicken on special occasions, and Christmas dinner was one of those. Dad used to select one or two chickens from the chook pen, euthanize them, and then place them in boiling water to prepare them for plucking… that is, removing the feathers. The stench of boiled feathers was a disgusting odour I can never forget! But the roast chicken dinner was magnificent.
After opening our presents on Christmas morning (usually only one each) and a breakfast of ham & eggs, we would proceed to the church for the morning service, stretch our vocal cords with Christmas carols then head home. Dad would grab a few bottles of beer and, with us in tow, drop around to a few neighbours for a celebratory drop. On return, he would put a watermelon (we usually only had these at Christmas or break-up day at school) in the washing tub filled with ice water, ready to get stuck into later in the day.
I also remember the ‘Davis Cup’ games that my three brothers and I played after our Christmas dinner had settled. Our game was Shuttle Cock (now Badminton). It was always Australia versus USA, Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall versus Tony Trabert and Vic Siexas. They play great matches and always very competitive.
Of course, prior to Christmas, the large retail shops in Fortitude Valley (McWhiters & T C Beirnes), Brisbane Finneys (now David Jones) and Allan & Stark (now Myer) used to decorate their shop windows with various Christmas themes. They would light up the windows for night viewing as well, and crowds of adults and children would flock to the city to see these magnificent displays.
Tremendous memories of family time. They were happy and fun times shared together. Hopefully, when our children and grandchildren look back, they will recall the traditions we set to make Christmas a very special celebration of love and goodwill to all.
Bob Fowler
