One of my best (probably the best) Christmas memory that I have occurred Christmas Eve of 1946. We gathered around the tree at my maternal grandparents house - lighted by candles and home-made decorations - as we always did. It was a large gathering as my mother was one of ten children and there were dozens of cousins pretty much covering the floor of the room.
We had just finished opening the presents from the grandparents, which was the purpose of the event as each family would have their own Christmas the next morning. Suddenly the front door opened and lo and behold, Santa entered the room complete with with fat tummy, red suit, and whilte hair and beard. "Santa" opened his huge sack and began to hand out presents to all the cousins. One of the younger cousins, I think she was about three or four, reached up and gave Santa's beard a tug.
"Oh, my God," screamed my grandmother, and dropped to the floor, just about fainting. Santa was my uncle home from the Navy. He had been away for over three years in the Pacific. He had participated as a landing craft botswain in several of the Island invasions including Iwo Jima (although we did not know that at the time), He had arrived home two days before and had arranged for the Christmas Eve Santa surprise with an aunt and uncle who did not have children and thus he was able to hide out there for the two days waiting to provide us all with the Great Santa Surprise.
The real Santa was delayed several hours that Christmas Eve as everyone was wrapped up in a homecoming celebration, until one of my uncles reminded everyone that Santa would not come until all of the family, especially the cousins were asleep. Over the years, I have had many wonderful Christmas memories, but this one still stands out.
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