By, Tisa Conway-Cunningham
Candy Canes. Gingerbread men. Fruit trays. Alongside Christmas décor and holiday feasts, there exists an array of quintessential holiday treats crucial to the fabric and nostalgia connected to the magic of Christmas.
My mother, Clara Cunningham, was the greatest magician I ever knew. Relative to the holidays, the magic she created each year, never ceased to amaze me. Each year the Christmas tree, marvelously decorated with multi-colored lights, multi-layered garland, baubles, balls, ornaments, bows and tinsel, some making their debut, but most, significant reminders from Christmases past created our perfect holiday centerpiece.
There was always a smorgasbord of delicious treats spread about our living room area. Fruit trays with apples, oranges, tangerines and bananas were always present and expertly placed throughout. Accompanying a few decorative nut crackers was a plethora of mixed nut trays available for the taking. The blue round butter cookie tin. The decorative holiday three-variety popcorn tins. The holiday snack boxes with summer sausages, cheese blocks, jams, mustards and petit fours were always present.
Candy trays donned with foil-covered chocolate Santas, foil-covered chocolate bells, chocolate-covered peanuts, chocolate-covered raisins, gourmet fruit slice candy, and several other Christmas candies, joined the symphony of holiday treats. I always snacked through the whole of each tray. An orange, tangerine, mixed nuts and a variety of candies kept my little belly satisfied between Christmas breakfast and Christmas dinner. When the tray was close to empty, my mother would scoop up the tray returning with a newly-filled tray.
Two holiday treats that have become my favorite are gingerbread men and old-fashioned Christmas hard candy. Not just any gingerbread man will suffice, it must have that same great flavor as the first ones that I tasted at Mrs. Gruggins’ convenience store that used to be located at the corner of Second Street and Capital Avenue. They are not always easy to find, but in the past 10 years the closest gingerbread men to the originals that I have found are the Archway Gingerbread Man cookies in the bag. So, when I see them, I buy three or four at a time to last through the holiday season.
There is nothing more nostalgic to Christmas than Old fashioned Christmas candy. Mini ribbons, long striped candies, short round decorative candies of all shapes, sizes and color make up this delightful mix. Flavors such as cinnamon, peppermint, orange, grape, lemon and cherry accompany this fun mix. I always pick out a variety of mix and work my way around to each to try pinning down each flavor profile. Every Christmas, this special candy was on display in multiple candy dishes throughout our holiday space.
It was simply magical. There was always a tree, over filled stockings for each of us, matching décor throughout the kitchen and living room areas, a Christmas feast big enough to fill our bellies through to the new year and gifts. They engulfed the whole of the living room starting just under the tree, continuing throughout the floor area, side tables, chairs and any available surface. No matter how big or small, each detail was a key ingredient to our holiday cheer.
My mother was a single parent of three girls, my older sister, Tennielle, me and my twin sister, Tessa. In the earlier years, it was mostly the four of us, and even though our father was occasionally around, my mother boar the weight of raising us girls. Abruptly, when I was 5 or 6, our family of four increased by two.
Her name was Amelia Cunningham. She was my mother’s sister, my Aunt Babe, and the mother of my cousins, Mike, Mary Ann and Kathy. In a moment’s time, she fell ill, went into the hospital, and passed away shortly after. Cousin Mike stayed with his uncles, and Mary Ann and Kathy became our fourth and fifth sisters/cousins.
Just like that, my mother became a single parent to five girls. There was some adjusting, like making sure everyone had a space, sometimes stretching to make ends meet, and mother working multiple jobs, but mom managed to always make a way.
That first holiday season came around without a hitch, and despite minor delays due to mom working so much, slowly but surely, the Christmas tree, the decorations and mom’s holiday routine welcomed in the coming Christmas holiday. This season, mom worried a little bit more and instructed each of us to ask Santa for what we wanted most from our Christmas list, so, we obliged.
On the night before Christmas, as I tossed and turned anxiously in my bed, as the enticing aromas from mom’s overnight feast preparations teased my nostrils, I laid there, and I prayed that everyone would wake up to gifts under the tree. I took extra care to pray that Santa knew to drop presents off for Mary Ann and Kathy to our home. Then I prayed that we all would have the best Christmas ever.
On Christmas morning, I creeped my tiny feet up the hallway before everyone. Just beyond the threshold of the living room, I stopped in my tracks. The gifts met me in the hallway, they spilled into the kitchen and covered the front of the house. Momma’s magic delivered a Christmas bigger than ever before.
I back tracked. I yelled out, “It’s Christmas. Everyone, wake up, Santa came. Come on, it’s Christmas.”
Feet rumbled the floor. We ran to the front of the house. Surprised by the massive sight of gifts galore, we all gasped in awe. Big smiles and giggles of excitement marked our overly forming satisfaction. We dove in, sifting through the gifts yelling out and handing them to the person whose name was on the gift. My mother joined us and watched with a smile on her face to see our satisfaction while opening our gifts. Later, we continued our holiday celebration indulging in the holiday treats that mom made sure to have encompassing our living room area. Just like every Christmas before and after this moment, mom made Christmas magical.
The holidays from Thanksgiving to Christmas are filled with traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Those traditions build lasting memories reminding us of those who came before us. Each tradition connected to a story, our story, and it marks a significant reminder that family is what makes the holidays so special. So, even though we may introduce new traditions as our families grow, don’t forget those traditions of Christmases past that will forever be a part of our holiday celebrations.
Gingerbread man cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tablesppons water
2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Frosting of choice
Directions:
Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy for 5-7 minutes. Beat in the molasses, egg and water. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients minus the frosting. Gradually beat it into the creamed mixture. Divide the dough in half. Shape each into a disk and cover. Refrigerate the dough until it’s easy to handle — for about 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with a floured 4-inch gingerbread man cookie cutter. Place two inches apart on a greased baking sheets.
Bake the cookies until the edges are firm for 8-10 minutes. Remove the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Frost as desired.
