Patrick (Pake) Nicholson

CHILDHOOD

I was born in 1928 and come from a family of eight. I lived all my life in Dangan. I had four brothers and  sisters. I remember when I was just a lad, and how so many of the Christmas traditions have changed. There was no children’s allowance, dole, or headage payment so everything had to be home produced on the farm: potatoes, beet, oats, and other vegetables. Pigs, turkeys, geese, ducks and hens were also reared on the farm. Most were sold before Christmas, to pay for the groceries, but three of the best geese were kept for the Christmas feast. One or two turkeys were always sent to relations in England. Yes by post.

SHOPS

There were three local shops, and a travelling shop, so all the grocery shopping was bought locally. There was lots of excitement, waiting to see which child would go with their mother to get the shopping which consisted of flour, tea, sugar, currants, raisins and other fruits for baking; jelly and custard, paraffin oil and candles, maybe even a few bottles of stout. The children always got biscuits and lemonade from the shopkeeper and the housewife  got a Christmas box, which was usually a cake, tea and a calendar  and these were always much appreciated. A day was always set aside to go Tuam and buy clothes, shoes, and other Christmas items. The only means of travel was  bicycle, sidecar or donkey and cart.

CHRISTMAS

The week before Christmas was always a busy time. The house had to have a new coat of thatch. The walls whitewashed, and of course, the chimney had to be cleaned. Then the inside of the house, which was two rooms  and a kitchen, got its coat of distemper. The youngsters went to the woods for holly, and the tree, with lots of berries, was well marked out beforehand. Holly was brought to old people living alone, who were always  very  thankful , and often rewarded the youngsters well. The children helped to make the decorations from holly leaves and berries, strung together with thread. They were hung over the big fireplace, and that completed the decorations. Oh sure, many a tear was shed by the children, when a pet goose or turkey was killed for the feast.

The postman was kept busy for a few weeks before Christmas, as he travelled the highways and byways on his only means of transportation, the humble bicycle. He was always laden down with parcels, from America and England, and many a pound and dollar was got in the Christmas card from family that could not get home.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was confession Day and the three miles was walked from Dangan to Killererin Church, and back home again. The journey home didn’t feel that long. Just a few more jobs to get done out on the farm, before it got dark. The hay had to be pulled from a big cock, fistful by fistful, until there was enough for all the cattle, cows, and horses and that was no easy job. All the animals had to get extra on Christmas night. Then it was inside to get washed and ready for supper. Candles had to be got ready for each window and the candleholder was usually a turnip cut in halves, with the candle in the centre and decorated with holly.

In the kitchen, there was the oil lamp and the candles for the mantlepiece. The excitement was great with so much light in the house. There was no electricity so there was no Chrismas tree or fairy lights. The table was always pulled into the centre of the kitchen for all the family to sit around as everyone had to be home for supper. All kinds of cake were on the table, treacle cake, currant cake, ginger cake, even the baker’s loaf was special as those treats would not be seen for another year. Supper was finished with jelly and custard.

The rosary was then said and children hung up their stockings for Santa and if anyone was thinking they were getting a bit old for Santa, they did not dare to say it because if Santa did not bring you gifts, well then you got nothing at all. One Christmas I recall, a boy said he was not writing to Santa because he was too big but he changed his mind on Christmas Eve. Santa did not forget him. He got rosary beads. It was not exactly what he had in mind.

Christmas morning

We had a very early start on Christmas morning. There were six Masses in Killererin church, so all the family started the journey at 6 a.m. to get to the church for 7 o’clock Mass. I was a long walk and that time, everyone receiving communion had to fast from Midnight. The journey home  always seemed longer and the hungry stomach overruled the heart. Needless to say any sadness over that pet goose was soon forgotten. Christmas dinner was goose and stuffing, all cooked in the big open fire. The smell of cooking is never to be forgotten.