'Tis the season - Christmas baleage art in Cambridge. Photo / Dianne Willis
Kem Ormond takes a look at the world of farming back in the day.
OPINION
I came across some wonderful stories written to the Hawke’s Bay Tribune dated December 20, 1930.
Children wrote in about their wonderful experiences having Christmas on their farm, their Aunty and Uncle’s farm or with their grandparents on their farm.
Some are just stories of how they imagined a rural Christmas would be.
It must have been a competition run by the paper as the stories were marked with some even selected for various coloured certificates.
Christmas on a farm is different than in town, as there are animals to be fed and sometimes cows to be milked, the turkey to be dressed, berries and fruit to be picked and vegetables to be dug in preparation for the long-awaited Christmas feast.
These stories are delightful and perfect to read over the Christmas table.
They show the importance of gathering together as a family and how much effort went into the preparation of the food to make this day even more special and memorable.
Excerpts from the Hawke’s Bay Tribune, December 20, 1930
Prize of 2/6 to Norman Wyatt aged 10 years, 508 Victoria Street Hastings.
As Christmas was drawing near I began to grow very excited, as I had been asked to spend the holidays on my aunt’s farm.
At last the day arrived, and, in great joy, I set off in my uncle’s motor-car.
As we sped along the silent country roads, my thoughts were all on the lovely Christmas I was to spend.
When we arrived, my aunt told me how for weeks she had been fattening up the ducks and turkeys, and making puddings and cakes.
On Christmas Eve after hanging our stockings in a prominent place, we dropped off to sleep.
Next morning we awoke to see our stocking nearly bursting with presents.
We rose early and drove in the cows to be milked.
Around eleven o’clock the guests who had been invited to dinner began to arrive.
We went in for dinner and what a sight met our eyes.
The table was laden with roast duck, a turkey, a huge ham, and other delicacies.
What a feast we had.
During the afternoon, the adults played tennis, while the children played other games.
After tea, we had a concert and all declared that it was the merriest we had ever seen.
Eight Marks to Leslie Howard aged 8 years, 310 Eastbourne Street Hastings.
Last Christmas I went to Woodville to my grandma’s farm.
I left Hastings on Christmas morning at about 9 o’clock and arrived at Woodville in time for dinner.
Grandma had such a lovely dinner cooked and as the journey had me hungry, I quite enjoyed the roast fowl, new potatoes, green peas, and plum pudding with cream.
I got sixpence and a button out of the pudding.
After dinner, we had a walk around the farm.
Grandma has nine cows, three dear little calves, two horses, six pigs and a dog named Tiu.
About four o’clock I helped to bring the cows in to be milked.
Grandma gave me a big mug of fresh milk to drink.
There was froth on top of the milk like ice-cream.
Then we had tea with all sorts of good things, such as jelly with strawberries in it, and iced cake.
After tea we had a party, and grandma gave us all some presents, and then I went to bed feeling happy after such a lovely day.
Blue Certificate to Kathleen Giffney aged 8 years, 609 Gordon Road Hastings.
Christmas on a farm depends upon the price of butterfat and wool.
This year Christmas will not be merry as things are so cheap.
First, Mother prepares the Christmas cake and puddings, and the mince-meat.
Christmas Eve the turkey is plucked, ham boiled, and everyone is busy preparing for Christmas day.
Bowls of fresh cream are put in the dairy, jelly is set and fruit is prepared for salads.
Our relations and friends come to stay at the farm with presents for all.
We leave by car for town, where we spend a merry Christmas Eve.
Getting home late, we hurry into bed and wait for Santa Claus.
In the morning, we hear Dad calling out “Father Christmas has been!”
Oh, how excited we are.
We run to see what is in our stockings, then we are off outside to see the cows being milked.
The most exciting part is when the pudding is served.
Everyone is wondering whether he has a threepenny or a sixpence or perhaps a button in his piece.
Well I will close now thanking you for 5/- and album,
With love.
- Source: Papers Past
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