Fragrant tangerine peels on the radiator at my Aunt Angie’s house.
My Santa doll, the one my parents bought when I was a baby.
The jingle bells on the door of our top floor apartment at 222 DeGraw Street.
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My dad cutting littles crosses on the tops of chestnuts.
Shopping for Christmas presents with my sister Lisa at John’s Bargain Store and Phil & Paul on Columbia Street.
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The magnificent tree at A&S hanging over the elevator lobby.
The Christmas windows at A&S.
Visiting Santa at A&S and going to Sam’s for pizza afterward.
My dad taking us to see the Nativity Scene at the pier.
All the kitchen windows opened up onto the backyards while the fish was frying on Christmas Eve, with Christmas music playing on the stereo.
The Christmas nightgowns and PJs my Nana bought us from Martin’s Department Store. They came in beautiful silver gift boxes.
Falling asleep with the glow of Christmas lights in the bedroom window.
The year my mom had a live eel in the double sink and she had to call my grandfather to come from around the corner to "take care of it."
Midnight Mass at the Cabrini Chapel with Father Nichols and Father Mariani carrying Baby Jesus and how Father Mariani would advise that we shouldn't wake up Baby Jesus during the collection (i.e. no change in the basket).
How disheveled we all looked on Christmas morning, with my mom usually sticking a Christmas bow in her hair and my dad sticking one on his robe, and how we snapped pictures anyway.
Going to my Aunt Mary and Uncle Nicky’s on Strong Place on an icy New Year’s Eve when I was very little. They had a small apartment with a little tree with great big lights and I burned my finger on one of them. I still had a great time.
Advent ceremonies, decorating our classroom door like a big present and our first grade show at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary School when we had to wear our pajamas on stage.
Watching the Rockefeller Center tree being lit in a simple, half-hour TV show and how the lights reminded me of the little candies on the struffoli.
Making struffoli with my mom every single year of my life except for 2003, when we moved on December 21st, and last year.
The annual RCA Christmas albums and how we taped my brother singing along with Mahalia Jackson to "Go Tell If On the Mountain" on our new tape recorder.
The huge papier-mâché ornament with the deer scene inside that my Auntie Rie hung from her ceiling.
Reading the story of the wedding of Francesco Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti on the little blue boxes of Ferrara torrone.
Putting Baby Jesus in the manger after midnight.
How my parents’ nativity was wrapped up in a newspaper that included a story on the Jets winning the Super Bowl and a picture of Joe Namath; we reused that paper every year.
The year we gave my little sister Cristina a toy chest filled with presents and the look on her face when she opened it.
All the Christmas variety specials: Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Perry Como.
Watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; I even loved the Norelco razor commercials.
When Linus recites the Christmas story on A Charlie Brown Christmas and how I tear up every time the kids say “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!” and start to sing “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.”
Crying hysterically while watching Going My Way, The Bells of St. Mary’s, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, usually on Christmas Day.
Taking Cristina to see A Christmas Story at Cobble Hill Cinema (or maybe it was called Rex Cinema back then) the day after Thanksgiving.
When my husband's family came for Christmas Eve dinner for the first time right after we got engaged and how they were so stuffed after just two courses that his mom had to go lie down.
How my husband dressed up in a Santa suit he bought from the Surprise Shop, rang the bell and walked up three flights of stairs and how hard my mother-in-law laughed.
Buying a fresh Christmas tree from the Leone Brothers on Court Street and how great those Christmas tree lots always smell.
Dressing my little Matthew in his first Christmas outfit and how I misplaced Gabriel’s first Christmas outfit and he had to wear Matty’s old one.
How Matt and Gabe began noticing that the Santa who came to our house looked familiar.
My Uncle Louis reading ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas to all the kids on Christmas Eve at my sister Lisa’s house.
Buying my mom and aunt new house dresses at Frank’s Department Store (and later at Marietta’s) to wear after they fried the fish.
Buying the fish at DiMartino's on Douglass Street.
Going to Court Pastry with my mom and my aunt and now my brother Frankie to buy the Italian Christmas cookies to mail to our family far away.
Having to redo at least one string of bleeping lights at least once every year.
How good it makes me feel that my Aunt Debbie loves my cookies.
Jay Thomas' Lone Ranger story and Darlene Love singing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" every year on David Letterman. I really miss that.
A Christmas Day lasagna!
When my son put on "Buon Natale" by Jimmy Roselli as we sat down to Christmas dinner. That gesture was a gift in itself.
Loading half of Carroll Gardens in the car on Christmas Eve: the antipasto, including a mozzarella as big as Baby Jesus, from Caputo Fine Foods, the bread from Caputo Bakery, the baccala and clams, etc. to take to New Jersey in more recent years. And my brother-in-law frying most of the fish in the garage except the baccala which we still always fry in the kitchen.
Sitting down to the Feast of the Seven Fishes with my beloved family on Christmas Eve, the biggest meal and the most magical night of the year.
I know this is a long list but my Christmas memories seem to be endless. I hope this holiday season brings back happy memories for you and yours and creates some new memories, too. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the best to all of you in 2019!