Christmas Carolers

As is the case with most people, our Christmas decorations bring back warm memories of other Christmases.  Some of them bring back poignant memories of those who have gone.  Others remind us of our very young children, and rather young selves.

One of my favorite decorations was a gift from my son many years ago.  It was one of the Byers Christmas Carolers.  A nurse.  We loved it so much that we added to the collection over the years and now we have Carolers all over the place.  The photograph below shows the carolers singing in the streets.  You will notice that there is a doctor behind the nurse.

[NOTE:  Interestingly enough, this is what nurses actually used to look like.  When I first became a nurse, we wore those white uniforms along with a cap unique to the school of nursing from which we graduated.  And yes, we all had a blue cape, just like this caroler.]

We now have an extensive collection of Carolers.  We have a large set of street vendors.  My favorite of these is a fishmonger with her cart, complete with a cat sitting below with a fish in its mouth.  My husband's favorite is an organ grinder, with a monkey holding a tin cup.  We've had many laughs over the years at my husband's expense because he once referred to it as the "monkey grinder."

We have a set of "A Christmas Carol" with the spirits, the Cratchetts and even the Fezziwigs dancing in front of the fireplace.

I really love all the Carolers, but none more so than the nurse.  Ah, the joys of Christmas Past.