Eric Lalor brings you his standout memories of Christmas morning.
Christmas still evokes great childhood memories for me, particularly Christmas morning. We had a slightly different Christmas morning to most Irish kids.
The tradition in this country seems to be that the kids will get up at anything as early as 3am or 4am and run downstairs to see what Santy has brought them.
That wasn’t how it was in our house. We would be awoken at 7.30am or so, we’d head in and have a wash.
After that we’d all put on our shiny new Christmas clothes and head downstairs. Not into the living room thought, out the front door and up to the church for Christmas mass.
All the kids on our street would already be out on their new bikes or skateboards, roller-skates etc and they’d shout ‘Hey Eric, what did you get for Christmas?!’ Every time, I’d shrug my shoulders and reply ‘I don’t know yet.’
We’d head up to mass and admittedly we would be wishing the mass away. Praying for the priest to increase the pace so that we could return to the house.
Mass would be over and we’d have to stifle our elation. We’d walk home very fast and when we arrived at the house, no, not into the living room, but this time into the kitchen to have our breakfast.
The food wouldn’t last long in fairness, such was our hunger and desire to get into the living room. Then, and only then, when the breakfast was finished, we’d be allowed into the living room to see what presents awaited us.
Some people might think that that’s cruel, but if anything it added to the excitement of Christmas morning.
We didn’t know any different and wouldn’t have swapped it for the world. Of course I love my parents and am grateful for all the brilliant Christmas mornings.
I can’t wait to visit them this year with their presents. I’ll drive down, walk up their drive-way with the parcels in my hands, knock on the door.
I’ll see them rushing to the door like a pair of excited kids. The door will open and I’ll turn around, get back into the car and shout ‘I’ll be back in about three hours, see how you guys like it.’
Merry Christmas!
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