On the Second Day of a Feminine Christmas
Every Christmas morning after the mad unwrapping was over, my mother presented my grandmother with her annual Christmas corsage. It always came in a snow-white florist box with a clear plastic cover. We were lucky in that we had a flower shop right on the street where we lived. I don’t remember running that errand for my mother but I do know my grandmother’s corsage, a gift from her only child, was sacrosanct.
The image of this young miss melted my heart. Her age, her purity and the simple pleasure of selecting the most perfect corsage to pin on her wool coat no doubt had her imagining the young lady who would soon be looking back at her from the glass. It also reminded me of the corsages we made in school as well as the brightly crafted dime-store variety that could be bought all over town. They never rivaled the beauty my grandmother pinned on each Christmas morning but they were every bit as expressive in their intent.
Christmas and flowers just seem to go together – the poinsettia, the rose and the astonishing Star of Bethlehem – all connote the deeper significance of the nativity. I say we bring the Christmas corsage back…for all the right reasons.
6 Comments
Donna
P.S. I just checked Pinterest and there are lots of lovely boards with vintage Christmas corsages. Apparently we are not the only ones reminiscing.
Donna
Love the picture of your grammy! A Christmas corsage was mandatory for your winter coat. Most of what we had came from the 5&10 and fluffed up each year until they were so bedraggled they had to be thrown out. With so many nice holiday flower picks, it would be simple to put together a festive corsage. I hope you are enjoying the holiday season.
La Contessa
I do not know about that TRADITION!
YES, bring it BACK!
Karen
Oh, Donna, that picture of your grammy in her Christmas finery is wonderful!!! I love this post for so many reasons, mostly for the glimpse into something that time has forgotten, but YOU didn't! The gaily wrapped gifts in the background of the photo are so wonderful. When folks took the time to do such things!!! I have several retired friends who tell me that they cannot "find time" to make a bit of fuss over Christmas. What a sad commentary! I think we waste a lot of time online that might be better spent making memories for our families and friends. Wonderful post, my dear friend! XO
DebbyMc
Oh my gosh, yes! I'd forgotten all about Christmas corsages! We always had them. If they were packed away carefully, we could use the ones with only ribbons, nicer artificial flowers, and tiny ornaments the next year. The grandmothers always had the real flowers and the prettiest ribbons.
cherre henderson
I love this idea! Traditions like these just don't exist these days. I say bring it back too.