by Daniel N. Paul, CM, ONS, Mi’kmaw Elder & Historian

The following is a December 24, 1998 – Halifax Herald column I wrote about some of my memories of Christmases past. As a present to, at the end of it, I’ve included a reciept for my late Mom’s Christmas pudding, enjoy!

Christmases past: a trip down memory lane

The arrival of the Christmas season puts most folks in a mood to celebrate with good cheer. They, as the holiday nears, empty store shelves with purchases of gifts for family and friends, and prepare loads of great food. All the abundance and glitter which surrounds the celebration brings home how fortunate most Canadians are.

But the majority’s affluence tends to obscure the fact that there are many poor Canadians who cannot spend lavishly preparing for the holidays. Sadly, some of these good people turn bitter because they believe that money is a must for a happy Christmas. However, those who haven’t got loads of cash should not pine for what they haven’t got; lavish spending is not a requisite for having a memorable Christmas, nor for happiness. With this in mind, I invite you to travel down memory lane with me.

Shortly after my birth in a small log cabin, our family moved into an uninsulated home that was barren of modern conveniences. Indoor toilets, water, central heating, electricity, etc., were things to dream about; in far to many instances, so were adequate food and clothing. However, despite living conditions which bespoke Third World poverty, it was mostly a hap ...