Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010
By Raymond Gagnon

Christmas in Claremont – it has a ring to it – don’t you think? As a now bona-fide senior citizen (I just turned 62), comes the luxury of becoming very nostalgic over the holiday. Some might say I am more familiar with nostalgia than reality – but that’s another story.

Of course everyone knows Christmas is better with children around. Last weekend we “did Christmas” a week early at the in-laws to accommodate multiple family schedules and of course the stars of the day were the two little girls of my nephew – Mikayla & Lacey. Their expanded eyes, giggles and sheer delight at getting to pass out and then open presents was truly invigorating, and got me to thinking about how many times this scene has been played out here and other towns around. More & more, I find myself looking at the holiday from a perspective that is a blend of six decades of Christmases – a composite blend of religious, family and secular traditions.

Claremont, for those of you unfamiliar with the community, is a small city in western NH that blossomed from around the Civil War to the mid 1970’s – it’s a Milltown. Although in Yankee northern New England – the community boasts an ethnically diverse history that included 19th century immigration from French Canada, Europe and other parts of the country. Consequently, growing up in the 1950’s, the town was vibrant and alive, it was normal to hear French, Polish, Italian, Russian as well as the occasional Finnish, and Norwegian spoken on the streets and shops of the town. What I think was most interesting about Claremont – was that the community was never large enough to foster ethnic enclaves, so we were all sort of thrown together into this multi-cultural toss-salad. And of course – the result was exposure to a spectrum of special foods and festivals, which fostered a better appreciation of differences – but that too is another story.

Christmas was one of those festivals which almost every group celebrated – and of course that included what seemed like weeks of preparation that only heightened expectations. For me – a French kid in Ward III – this would mean “Réveillon” - a feast which the purist would celebrate after midnight Mass, although among many who couldn’t stay awake for midnight Mass - it was a Christmas Eve feast with family and friends. Often this would mean going to different homes and partaking at each.

Central to Réveillon was this most special of delicacies – Memère’s Tourtière – sometimes called Tout-Kay, but regardless of how it is called, no more exquisite culinary delight exists. Historically – every family had its own recipe which would be protected and passed down through the generations. Consequently – there is no one correct filling – although for us, in Claremont, it usually consists of ground pork. Originally – back in ancient France – tourtière was the pie-pan name for the key ingredient – tourtes (a now extinct bird) – hence the name. Interestingly, this year represents the 20th year that my daughter and I have continued the tradition of making Tourtière using my mother’s recipe.

As a kid – Réveillon occurred after mid-night Mass and in addition to a feast – songs would be sung – tall tales would be told and gullible children like me would take it all in – truly delightful. And a week later, it would be repeated on New Year’s Eve – but last ‘til dawn.

Tied in with Réveillon was the whole anticipation of Christmas and in my case as we got closer to Dec 25 – where the air was crisp and days were short caused by the winter solstice – warmth would be felt from the salutation and wishing “Joyeux Noel” to family and friends. I don’t know why – but hearing Merry Christmas in French just seems to make it more comforting.

Unfortunately, one of the down sides of assimilation is each year represents fewer francophones so there are fewer and fewer spontaneous expressions of “Joyeux Noël” – thankfully, I can report the tradition continues (for another year). This week after a meeting at the Common Man, I stopped by the bar and struck up a conversation with a businessman named Jacques – who was here from Quebec – and OUI for another year I can say that Joyeux Noël was exchanged in Claremont. How fitting in an old mill in a historic mill yard where so many French-Canadians toiled to make a better life but to hear.
Joyeux Noël – et Bonne Heureuse Année et le paradis au fin de tes jours...