Christmas childhood

As a child I remember Foley's showcases around Christmastime. The showcases open to the street in those days. They were full of trains and Santa's sleigh. Every year they added a new showcase. They changed every year. They were spectacular to a little child. I know my mom liked them as much as I did. Well maybe she liked them because my brother and I were so excited.

It was always a tradition going to see the Santa house. It was somewhere on North MacGregor I think. He had a very large front yard that at Christmastime he would rope off. Then he would dress up as Santa and with bells on would go around the circle giving out peppermint candy canes to kids. He would says, "Ho! Ho! Ho!" and talk to each child. That was amazing. It was a Houston tradition for many years in the 50's probably before and after too. Actually when this man died it was a major Houston story.

Also never to be missed was the wassail and gingerbread men (with raisin eyes nose and buttons) at the Bank of the Southwest. At noon during Christmas a choir would perform the Anvil Chorus ever day at noon. After we got for Christmas break we would make the pilgrimage downtown to get the wassail gingerbread and listen to the choir. It was so very crowded and it seemed like it took an hour sometimes to get the goodies. I think at least one year mom sprang us early so we can get down there without the big crowds. I'm sure we were not the only ones.

One year my cousins from Iowa came down and we went downtown for the big production. Perhaps that is the year mom let us skip school. Also one year I carried my hamster with me in my coat pocket. Poor animal. He did get home safely but he obviously was hot and stuffy much of the time. He probably did not have a good time. Why did I do it? I was an elementary aged boy. Of course my mom did not know about it until it was too late to go back. She probably did her "humpf!" and pretended not to know for the rest of the time.

BTW you can still find the wassail recipe from BotSW online. It is the best, tart and tangy and sweet at the same time. Other wassails do not pack the same wassail. You can probably find the gingerbread recipe too. It was amazing, full of dark molasses.