Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 10 DECEMBER 2019 PHOTOGRAPHS, TOP TO BOTTOM COURTESY OF BEAUPORT HOSPITALITY GROUP, COURTESY OF MARKETSTREET LYNNFIELD, CRISTEN FARRELL Like most kids who celebrate this holiday, for me Christmas was definitely the highlight of the year when I was growing up. Helping string bright colored lights on the tree and hanging homemade and store-bought ornaments were always done listening to seasonal classics such as Nat King Cole's "Buon Natale" and Bing Crosby's "White Christmas." The Nativity figurines made their yearly appearance, and playing with them (when my mother was not in the room) was great fun. The donkey, lamb, camel, shepherds, three wise men, Mary, Joseph, and the angel became action figure toys—I couldn't wait to place the baby Jesus in his manger. Soft white candles illuminated each window and a wood-burning fireplace kept the living room cozy while the Christmas tree lights twinkled. An advent calendar hung in the kitchen and I would race to open the new day's door each morning to find the prize inside. When I was old enough, my brothers, sisters, and I would walk to midnight mass on Christmas Eve through the cold, dark, snowy streets. Our Lady of Presentation Church was lit with seemingly hundreds of candles, which created a soft, mystical glow throughout the cavernous hallowed space. Dozens of red poinsettias decorated the altar, creating a festive décor during this Catholic ritual. As mass ended, we were told to go in peace and the choir would sing the ever-so-uplifting "Joy to the World." On our way home we would run through the yards along Hunnewell Avenue having snowball fights and making snow angels. Once home, we would find presents piled under the tree— all perfectly wrapped in colorful papers (my mother could have worked at a department store wrapping gifts, she was such a master at it—no small feat as she and my father had eight children to buy gifts for). We would sip on hot cocoa until we could not hold our eyes open any longer, and then climb the garland-draped staircase to our beds. In the morning we were met with my father's cheery greeting and a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, English muffins, and sugary cereals—a special treat on this special day. I continue to cherish these memories of Christmas—the best childhood memories. It was not the promise of the gifts under the tree that made it so special but rather my parents' gift of creating such a magical and fun-filled season for all of their children. The red and green decorations, the Nativity set, the Christmas music, Uncle Jack and Aunt Adrienne's Christmas Eve visits, Aunt Peg's pizzelle cookies, Uncle Joe and John's overflowing gift baskets, Mrs. Connor's Christmas Congo bars, and Uncle Connie gracing our Christmas dinner table were all such treasures, as was sharing it all with my siblings— John, Mary, Patty, Sheila, Richard, Thomas, and Catherine—and my parents, Pat and Frank. In 2000 my father passed away on Christmas Day at home, after a battle with cancer. And perhaps his passing on this most holy day makes Christmas all the more meaningful for me. Whatever your holiday traditions this wonderful time of year, we at Northshore magazine wish you a joyous holiday and a healthy and happy New Year. Here is to making the season merry and bright. Nancy E. Berry, Editor WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU Send comments to the editor: nberry@nshoremag.com Top to bottom, Beauport Hotel, iceskating at MarketStreet, and Winterlights at Stevens- Coolidge Place E D I T O R ' S N O T E WELCOME TO THE ISSUE DEC 2019 HOLIDAY TRADITIONS