100 Years of Ibsen Christmas

by David with Johanna Ibsen

This memory is written in two parts. The first part is an overview written by David and the second is quotes from David’s father selected by David’s daughter Johanna.

PART ONE: OVERVIEW

In 1905 my grandmother (age 9) spent her first Christmas in Alberta. She was on a homestead in a log cabin about 15 miles southwest of the present day Village of Keephills. Her father might not have even made it home for Christmas as he worked in a logging camp. This is what she wrote: “That year (1905) there was still no snow at Christmas and had we had any stock they no doubt would have still browsed on hills and flat areas. We did not have an animal of any kind that first winter…. My sister and I usually arranged the Christmas activities in our home. We would go to the swamp and drag in a spruce or pine tree and decorate it with paper chains, popcorn strings and other homemade decorations. One year we had a grand total of one dollar to spend so we got out the catalogue and managed a gift for each of us. I ordered a pretty calendar for Mother costing fifteen cents. Certainly, we couldn't get that much for one dollar these days.” See my grandmother’s complete story in the Hills of Hope history book (under family name Woodman).

My father states that my grandfather was likely living on a homestead about 15 miles southwest of Stony Plain, with his first wife. As this district was a little more settled, he likely attended Rosenthal Lutheran church that Christmas.

Christmas for my father centered around Rose Valley school (see his story in the Hills of Hope – The Next Generation). For two years I also went to Rose Valley School, about all I remember is the candy bags and decorations. We also went to Mewassin Free Methodist Church about a mile away from our farm (the church is still there much the same as it was when I was young.

When we moved to Stony Plain and later to Spruce Grove the most memorable celebrations of Christmas were at church. One year as a teen I played the part of an old farmer, I remember wearing floppy overshoes (which I would not be caught dead with on the street). Another year a new church was being built and we had candlelight service in it using construction heaters and lighting.

After I went to college and got married coming home to Spruce Grove Alberta for Christmas was a highlight of the year. As a family we would often rent the lodge at Camp Nakamun for the holidays and have a day to invite our extended family friends to join us. One of these friends was a university colleague of my brother’s and he liked to go “skidoodling”. After our family went to different parts of world, we had a Christmas family reunion at the camp, at which we had all the spouses and nephews and nieces (31 in total).

In 1994 we came back to live in Alberta and raise our daughter, now we carry on the family Christmas traditions in the same home I did as a child, enjoying our Alberta Heritage. One of things she enjoyed was to go the Catholic Church to visit their nativity scene. She waited all December for Baby Jesus to arrive on Christmas Eve only to find out that he was stolen on Boxing day. This year will be our first Christmas without my parents as my mother passed away a few years ago and my father in September of this year. Things have changed but there is nothing like Christmas in Alberta. I hope our family has another 100 years to celebrate Christmas in Alberta.

PART TWO: QUOTES ON CHRISTMAS (From The Memoirs Of C. Stuart Ibsen -Selected by Johanna Ibsen and Edited by David Ibsen)

Christmas in the Log Shack
"The Shack’ was about twenty four feet long and sixteen feet wide, built of spruce logs… The kitchen living room was in the centre and a bedroom at each end... We had a very large household that winter. Aunt Lucy and my brother John lived with us all the time and at various times we had Uncle Bob and Uncle Bill (Mother's brothers). There were three children, myself (5), Les(4) and Pearl(2) and Father and Mother. The men slept in the bunkhouses and the small bedrooms were for us kids and Aunt Lucy and Father and Mother. Besides that my sister Conamore was born December 31 that year…”

“Christmas that year [1926, Stuart age 5] was special too. We had no room for a big tree so we had a little one about two feet high that sat on the windowsill. To me it was a wonderful tree. We had only the bare necessities of life but to a child those things don't really matter. I remember those times as one big adventure. We had plenty to eat and were warm and cosy in the shack and had all our loved ones around us.”

Christmas in the 30s
“We only saw oranges at Christmas concerts. We really were not as bad off as many in the cities though. We had plenty to eat and a good home.”

Car at Christmas
“…We bought [a] car shortly before Christmas [from the neighbour]… We agreed to lend him the car for Christmas Day [to go to] his son?in?laws place About five o'clock in the afternoon we were just sitting down to eat our Christmas dinner when [the neighbour] came to the door. He said, "Why, I bet you don't know what happened to that car." We said, "What?" "Well, "he said, " I parked on the hill in front of Johnny's place and when we came out to go it was at the bottom of the hill backed into a tree. I think the old man (John's Dad) must have given it a push and started it down the hill. I'll get it fixed but I sure am sorry about your car." The trunk was bashed in nearly to the back seat. [He] got it fixed it but the trunk lid never closed well after that.”

December 1941 Editorial [Stuart was the editor of the Duffield school newspaper]
“Once again our thoughts are turned to Christmas. This year especially we should try to make Christmas as happy as possible for everyone, for there is a great deal of suffering in the world today and any kindness or help we can give will be sincerely appreciated. We should especially remember the men and women who are in the fighting forces, and will not be able to join their families and loved ones this Christmas. Any letter or little remembrance from home will be a great help in keeping up their spirits. We should also remember the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it, for in the Christmas spirit we have 'Peace on earth, good will toward men". Our efforts should be concentrated on that goal, namely, world peace and brotherly love among men. In a world torn by the struggle of war, let us all work and pray for a lasting peace.”

Christmas [From the same newspaper written by the teacher, R. McLean]
“Many of the holidays could be dispensed with in these times but neither Christmas nor the spirit that this season engenders. This spirit of Christmas is one of the great needs of our world in it's present plight. One can hardly imagine the changes that would inevitably take place overnight if the leaders of countries like Germany, Italy or Japan had even an inkling of its import. The fact that we are inclined to commercialize and gloss over the true spirit ourselves is to be regretted. Much of the sham and pretence that surrounds this season could well be forgotten.”

“The giving of gifts, the spirit of joyousness, the renewing of faith need not be curtailed. Gifts are needed as much today as ever before. A Scrooge attitude will not assist us in our tasks, even though these be tiring and unpleasant. Rather should we carry this spirit with us through the year and benefit ourselves, our fellows and our work. Even though our future be cloudy, our plight almost desperate, our faith is firm. ‘Peace on earth! Good will to men. !”

Christmas in the City 1946
Christmas was always a busy time at the tearoom [owned by . They catered to parties and the Mounted Police new years party. They liked that one because the prisoners washed the dishes. Grandma McLean [Stuart’s mother-in-law] would never say no to anyone and one Saturday catered to five wedding parties…

Daughter Born Before Christmas
[Our daughter] was born in December… on my birthday, December 12. Edith had a long difficult time in the hospital. She joked that she was waiting for my birthday. She came home just before Christmas. Edith says that she handed her to me and said, "Here is your birthday and Christmas present. The wrappings will get more expensive in the future.

Christmas at Camp Nakamun:
Since about 1974, we have spent a few days together at Nakamun each Christmas. We skated, skidooed, skied, ate and reminisced… We had 38 for dinner including two African families one from Zaire and one from Nigeria.

Our Christmas In Costa Rica 1984
Christmas Eve we attended a candlelight service at the Union Church. The service was very beautiful. Each of us were given a lighted candle and then they turned out the lights. Christmas Day we had a 'fiesta' of chicken, ham, and plum pudding Costa Rican style…

Christmases in GUINEA West Africa
Christmas Day they had a big day at the church. There was a three hour church service, a baptism, a wedding and a feast. We were tired… On Christmas morning [our son] preached at the church. We had to leave on Christmas Day to go back to ICA [The school where they were teaching]… Herb (field director) met us. I was glad he did as our 30 day visa had expired and they gave us quite a hassle saying we would have to pay a fine for not getting it renewed. Herb has a very good relationship with the officials. He gives them gifts of calendars at Christmas so he was able to talk them into letting us go as it was only a couple of days overdue.

Christmas Back in Alberta Again
“To finish off November the 'Keenagers' [Spruce Grove Alliance Church’s seniors group] had their Christmas banquet on the 30th… Our Campers for Christ group had a Christmas banquet [they went almost every year to this event and did RV camping with them in the summers] in Sherwood Park Dec. 4th. Then (on Dec 12) we to the Black Gold Centre in Leduc to a Christmas Party for the Tennessee Walker Club. On the 17th we got an invitation to a Christmas dinner at the Good Samaritan Center here in Spruce Grove. We had our Christmas dinner at Dwight [Son] and Kathy's on the afternoon of the 25th. Sixteen sat down to a turkey and ham dinner about 3:00 pm. We spent a very enjoyable time together playing games, taking pictures and visiting. Kathy made a cushion with our wedding picture on it. Wes [grandson] made the stencil on the computer. It really is nice.”

Also see:

One Room Country School Christmas Concerts

Christmas At Queen Street School in Spruce Grove: