08 - Boughs and Bells and Bows

“Nollaig Shona!” said Chelsea to her Aunt Meg on Christmas Eve.

“Nollaig Shona!” said Aunt Meg. It was hugs and kisses all around as Chelsea acted as the door-greeter at the Cahill house. Nollaig Shona was the customary Gaelic saying during the holidays. It meant “Christmas Greetings!”

This moment was weeks in the making. As it always was in Kilkenny, the landscape changed from autumn’s golden hues to the dull browns and grays of winter. In fact, that’s the way it was in most of Ireland. It marked the annual transformation from Halloween to Yuletide.

When December rolled around, the first matter was the Holiday concert at Kilkenny Secondary School. Meg and Sallie performed with the band while the rest of the Cahill family watched. The Holiday concert included Christmas favorites like “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and Irish standards like “Carol of the Birds.”

While the concert began the holiday season for the Cahill\ family, it was the Christmas Spend that made it official. Shopkeepers decorated downtown with bright lights and tinsel in hopes of attracting visitors. Mrs. Cahill anticipated the Holiday Spend with great excitement.

“Meg, would you like to go into town with me?”

“I guess so.”

“I just thought you’d want to get a head start on the Christmas Spend before the shops become too crowded.”

“Can I have some Christmas money?”

“Just remember, this is all you get for gift-giving.”

“What about Grandma and Grandpa?”

“I’ll worry about them and you can worry about your sisters.”

They took the big green SUV into downtown, where pine boughs and red ribbons hung high overhead, dressing the two-story row houses that lined the streets.

The Christmas Spend started in mid-October, when Halloween costumes and candy appeared on supermarket shelves. It wasn’t until December that things kicked into high gear. They city planted a giant Christmas tree in front of the Mayor’s house. The Mayor held a tree lighting ceremony on December 8^th and that included a visit from Daidi na Nollag – the Christmas Daddy. The children called him Santy Claus. Meg and Sallie took Korrit and Chelsea to the town square on the eighth, where everyone shared their wish lists with the Christmas Daddy.

“Do you know what everyone wants?” asked mom.

“Sallie wants new mandolin strings. Korrit wants all sorts of clothes and Chelsea wants a Claddagh ring.”

“Claddagh rings are for girls with boyfriends.”

“Maybe she already has one.”

“Don’t dare say that around your father!”

Meg chuckled.

“She’s still too young for a Claddagh ring.”

Meg and her mother wandered around downtown, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas. Meg used her money to purchase Sallie’s mandolin strings and a beautiful new scarf for Korrit. Then, they stopped at the jewelry shop, After Meg’s first two purchases, there was hardly any money left for Chelsea’s ring.

“I told you, she’s too young for that.”

With that said, Meg and her mother returned home and ring was all but forgotten.

 The children were ready for vacation as soon as Winter Break got underway. They made ready for the arrival of their Grandparents and Aunt Meg’s family. They trimmed the house from top to bottom, just like the shops in downtown. On the evening of December 24th, the entire Cahill clan was dressed in their Sunday best. All that was left was for the arrival of the Pyles and Donaldsons.

“Watch it, Jack!” said Grandma Georgina as Grandpa veered down the crowded streets of Kilkenny in his old farm truck.

“I’ve been driving as long as you’ve known me, old woman and haven’t wrecked once.”

“Yes, but your time is due.”

The truck narrowly missed several cars and one young boy, too. Luckily, he jumped out of way in the nick of time. Meanwhile, Korrit watched the driveway from the living room window.

“Grandpa and Grandma are here!” she announced.

The girls jumped to their feet and ran to the door. Chelsea was the first to get to the doorknob and the one to open the door.

“Don’ ‘cha look like a plum?” said Grandpa as he gave a bearhug to his youngest granddaughter.

“Can we open a gift now?” asked Chelsea.

“What about me?” asked Grandma, “When do I get my hug?”

“I’m so sorry, Grandma, I’m just excited for Christmas.”

“It’s alright, I know I have to wait in line when Santy is in town.”

As was custom in the Cahill house, each child was allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve before midnight mass. Chelsea looked to her mother.

“”Go on,” said Mrs. Cahill.

As the youngest, Chelsea got to choose her gift first. She poked around, trying to figure out what was what.

“No shaking,” said Korrit.

“I’m not, I’m just looking for my present from Meg.”

Meg sat upright. In the hubbub leading up to Christmas, she’d forgotten Chelsea’s gift. Mom had realized it, too.

“Chelsea dearest,” said mother, “it’s my fault. Meg had specially ordered your gift and I forgot to pick it up at the store.”

Without another thought about it, Chelsea turned back towards the tree and plucked a gift from the pile of presents.

“It’s from Sallie,” she said.

Chelsea placed a thumb beneath a piece of tape and broke it with one quick rip. The wrapping paper fell to the floo as Chelsea popped the lid off the plain white box. Inside, there was a lambswool sweater.

“Isn’t that just lovely?” said mother.

Chelsea frowned slightly. It wasn’t what she was looking for – she was still hoping for the Claddagh ring. Maybe it was still waiting beneath the tree.

Aunt Meg and the rest of the Pyles arrived just before midnight.

“Here’s potato soup for tonight,” said Aunt Meg.

“I’ll take it,” replied the younger Meg. She placed it in the refrigerator for safe-eeping. It was getting late and time had come to go to church. The SUV, pickup, and the family wagon went one-two-three to Midnight Mass at Saint Andrew’s Church, just down the lane from the Cahill house.

“It’s so beautiful,” said Chelsea.

The little bit of snowfall had softened and then crystallized again in the near zero weather. It formed a sheet of ice that reflected the yellow-white lights of the cathedral upon the snow pack. Holly and Mistletoe wreaths decorated the doors. Outside, the line of parishoners waited to go inside. Still, they found time to catch up in conversation with friends old and new.

“Come in, come in,” said father Thomas Terry. He, too, was dressed in his best robes, in honor of Christmas and the celebration of the Christ’s birth.

Chelsea’s entire extended family pushed into one pew, which they occupied from one end to the other. Chelsea was situated between Grandpa and her sister Meg and that was just fine by Chelsea.

The Midnight Mass was just the beginning of Christmas festivities for Chelsea’s family. After the Mass, everyone returned to the Cahill house and filled it with family.

“I’ve got mulled wine for the adults and mulled cider for the kids,” said Mrs. Cahill.

“And mulled Whiskey for me?” asked Grandpa Jack.

“And whiskey for you, dad.”

“Jack,” grumbled Grandma, “why in heaven’s name would you need whiskey on Christmas morning?”

“You know I drink it every Christmas. It’s the perfect match for roast lamb.”

“Why don’t ‘cha have some mulled wine like the rest of us?”

Grandpa Jack just smiled at Grandma.

“Quit smiling at me, old man.”

Although Mrs. Cahill didn’t want to mix matters with her parents, she served a small glass of whiskey for her father and Aunt Meg served him a glass of mulled wine.

“A little of each,” said Aunt Meg.

Large portions of roasted lamb, mashed potatoes and boiled carrots filled everyone’s plates and everyone filled their tummies with Mrs. Cahills foodstuffs.

“Who wants Kerry ice cream and rhubarb pie?” asked Grandma.

“Grandma, I think we’d all love to,” said little Meg, “but everyone’s tummies are full.”

There was certain sadness in little Meg’s voice, but Grandma understood completely.

“That means it’s time to open presents,” said Uncle Danny. The children immediately jumped from their seats.

“Hey!” he commanded, “nobody opens their presents until all the dishes are clean!”

The children groaned, but the children obeyed Uncle Danny. In no time at all, every dish was not only washed and dried, but neatly stacked in cabinets, too.

“”Now can we have Christmas, Uncle Danny?”

“Yes, Chelsea, I suppose we can have Christmas now.”

The children raced to the living room, all in search of the best seat near the Christmas tree. Little Eric, who was the youngest, had the honor of handing out presents. Once everyone received his or her gifts and was in place, they began opening presents. It wasn’t slow and orderly like it had been for Christmas Eve, but more of a race, with the youngest children leading the way.

When the bows and wrapping paper had settled, it was time to enjoy gifts. Sallie was restringing her banjo mandolin and Korrit was testing her new puddle-jumpers with long walks around the living room. Chelsea, however, was the slightest bit disappointed. She had not gotten her Claddagh. When Grandpa Jack held his arms outstretched, Chelsea sat on his lap.

“How was your Christmas, dear?”

“Oh, it was okay.”

“Horse feathers! How can Christmas just be okay? Are you tired?”

“Maybe that’s it,” said Chelsea.

“Maybe we should all get some rest.”

The night had grown long and everyone had grown tired, so nobody objected to Grandpa’s suggestion. The children unfurled their sleeping bags and found a place in the living room while the adults took over the children’s bedrooms upstairs.

“Good night, sweet grandchildren,” said Grandpa Jack as he switched off the light.

“Good night to each and every one of you,” said Grandpa.

“Good night, Grandpa,” the children said in union.

“Nollaig Shona,” he said quietly. There was a smile in his voice. There was a smile on each of his grandchildren’s faces, too. They listened to the creaking of the floorboards as he headed upstairs. As the house fell silent, it wasn’t long until everyone found his or her own way to sleep.

.