A coat button is a family tradition that has been going on for many years. It brings joy to the whole family and allows them to make memories.
Gwendolyn Sightler, a young girl, recalled the holiday time she spent with her family.
“Remembering my childhood is funny. I can recall things from many years ago, such as Christmas at that time. A real tree would smell so good, and Daddy would bring it home. Mom would pull out a box of ornaments from the hall closet. All of the family would gather around the tree and Mom would give each one an ornament to put on it. They were not given a place to be put, but she let them hang wherever they wanted. My Christmas lights were so large and colorful. Icicles would be the last thing on our Christmas tree. Sightler stated that we put a lot of icicles and the lights would make them shine.”
Russell Johns Sr., her brother, found a button for a coat that had been left behind and gave it to their mother.
“We didn’t know at the time that hanging the coat button on Christmas tree was a tradition that would last a lifetime. Russell and I were the only kids at the time. He was just 4 years old. Six more children were born in the years that followed, making us six. The button was always on the tree for Nancy, Kenny and Kenny. The button was used as an ornament on the tree for 60 years. The button was hidden somewhere on the Christmas tree by our parents and we would try to find it. We just smiled and giggled when we found it. Then, we said “I found it” and didn’t give the exact location so that others could find it. Although it might not seem like much, each year it has become a special memory for us.
Sightler said that the ornaments change as children get older but that the button was always on the tree. Christmas Eve was always an important day for us. As they would claim Rudolph’s red nose could be seen, we watched Christmas specials on TV. We discussed the birth of Jesus Christ, and why Christmas is celebrated.
They loved snacking on a variety of food items including bananas, Brazil nuts and walnuts. As they grew up, the children continued to visit their parents’ home for Christmas Eve.
Sightler stated, “As everyone arrived, every adult, including spouses, would anxiously still search for the button on the trees as smiles and laughter would burst forth each time someone said, ‘I found it.’ This tradition continued year after decade.”
— This story was shared by Gwendolyn Sightler with the Star-News.
The post Family joy for holidays originally appeared on The AndalusiaStar-News.
