It is that time again where I will be signing off until the New Year to take time to spend the holiday season with family and great friends. As the youngest girl of nine children, money was always tight and my parents could not realistically afford to buy us all gifts. I am actually quite happy about that as I can truly say that my fondest memories of Christmas involved spending time with my parents, five brothers, and three sisters at our huge dinner table on Christmas Eve. We would spend about three hours together, starting off by going around the room and individually hugging each family member to wish them the best, then raising a glass of wine (regardless if one was anywhere near legal drinking age) to toast the past year, and finally sitting down to enjoy conversation and lots of ethnic food.
I would like to wish you and your families a very peaceful and joyous holiday, extending the same sentiments to my own family pictured to the right in 1973. Standing in the top row behind the couch from left to right is my sister Mirga (Indianapolis, IN), oldest brother Vytas (Chapel Hill, NC), oldest sister Danute (aka “Bunki”, Boulder, CO), and brother Raimis (Cleveland, OH). From left to right sitting on the couch is my brother Jonas (Corning, NY), brother Saulius (Seattle, WA), sister Sigute (Boulder, CO), brother Audrius (aka “Vince”, St. Louis, MO) and me, Aukse “A.U.” Bankaits! All the best to you and see you in 2012!
Hello from Switzerland – happy New Year across the Atlantic …all the best AU. Keep well and happy Lisa&Franz PS: wonderful xmas memories …
Hello Lisa! All the best to you and Franz too! It was so nice to hear from you. I hope all is well!
What a great photo! Hope you have a wonderful time off with your family and all the best to you in 2012!
Love the picture!!!!!! -paulukas 🙂
Aciu Pauliukai! I came across many a photo from Baltimore with all the cousins so this was just a great stroll down memory lane in general! All the best to you guys at Kucious, Kaledos, and in the new year! Miss you!
Thank you so much Blaine; have a wonderful holiday and all the best in 2012!
Charming and warm holiday wish. Wish you wonderful season and thanks for the useful information that you share. What a contribution you make to Oak Tree
Thank you for writing such useful blogs. I learn something every time! Today I learned you were one of 9 – wow! I too remember my parents serving us some kind of sweet fruit wine at Christmas when I was very young… and recall the photo well – candles on the white table cloth and all of with red cheeks and BIG smiles. We laughed so much my mother had to ask us to tone it down! After dinner we would pray and with the final “Amen!” we would all bend towards the candles and blow like crazy to quickly extinguish as many candles as possible… my youngest sister was never fast enough and would cry! Oh well… great memories. Zalig Kerstmis and Gelukkig Nieuwjaar to you too!
Juliette!
What a wonderful memory from you childhood. We used to have a white table cloth (marking a special occassion) and this 4-candle Angle thing where the heat of the candle would make the angles go in a circle and make a chiming noise. Love it.
Have a wonderful holiday; thank you for sharing your knowledge and feedback. I am so lucky to have met you this past year and look forward to seeing you in 2012!
Love that picture…it brings back many memories!!! I hope you have a wonderful kucia! All the best to your and the rest of your family!!!
Rasa!
Same to you and your family. Oh how I love Kucios. When I lived in Boulder, my two sisters and I did a NEUVO KUCIOS where it was still all fish and no meat but we put a twist on it to make it more interesting food-wise. What fun. when I lived there, we started a tradition (Dane, Siga, their husbands and kids and I) where we pick a name and instead of buying a gift, we have to make it. We have been doing this now for ten years and it is the kids that always want to keep up that tradition. Isn’t that awesome! All the best to you!
Thank you Amy! You are missed while in Florida with your family. Have a wonderful Christmas and seee you in the new year!
What a lovely sign off to the year. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you and yours!