Ten writers for children. All with something to say.

12/18/12

Christmas Traditions

Way back in December of 1990, my husband and I were Peace Corps volunteers. At a carver's market in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, I traded a short wave radio for a three and a half foot tall wooden Masai woman. Because she was too big to fit in our luggage, we left her with a dear friend who worked at the American Embassy who promised to bring her home when he packed out. Over two years later, we were living in western Minnesota when Mama Masai, as we christened her, made her way home to us. And every Christmas since then, she has been decorated. Here at our house in Oregon, we even had a special section of the bookshelves made just for her. ( The tapestry to the left is one of my treasures from a trip to Addis Ababa.) Over the past twenty years, she has been a constant in our household, first towering over my babies, and now of course, with them both in college, she seems short to them. I suspect that if I had to grab one thing in the house and my family and pets were safe, I would drag her out with me.

 
And another favorite item that just sees use at Christmas also came from the carver's market in Tanzania. I don't quite remember what I traded for it, but I certainly got the better end of the deal, because I treasure this nativity set. ( I lost Mary this year, but she turned up in a different Christmas box. Whew.)
Here's to a Merry Christmas to all of you!

3 comments:

Christy said...

Beautiful how Mama Masai and Mary weave together in your family traditions.

Edie Hemingway said...

What interesting and beautiful treasures, Stephanie! May they last you for many Christmases to come...

Lauren said...

The holidays carry so many memories, especially as the decorations are brought out from boxes stored for 11 months of the year-- what treasures you have! I love Mama Masai.