The following paper was written around 2004 by Joy Norman. At the time of the writing, she was enrolled in Memorial University in her second year of studies. The subject of the paper, Francis Norman, was born at Red Island in 1945.

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This is an interview with my dad, Francis Norman, about the Christmas Traditions he maintained while growing up on Red Island, Placentia Bay.

A gentle smile creases the corners of his mouth as he recalls memories of long ago; still fresh in his mind.

We would all go to Mid-night Mass, he says. It would be so serene outside, the snow would be falling, as if it was floating from heaven, and the Church bells would be chiming, it made you feel so peaceful! We would all be so excited, me, my brother and my sister, we couldn't wait to get home, and into bed, so Santa Clause would come!

After we'd come from Mid-night Mass. Maybe a crowd would come to the house for awhile. There would always be a boiler of mutton soup made on the stove, and everyone would have some, even us, before we'd go to bed.

We'd always have a cut Christmas tree. There were no trucks back then on the island, so we would tow the tree home; dad, and every member of the family who was there at the time.

We would always wake up bright and early on Christmas morning. We would have to wait for the house to warm up first, then we'd run out and check our stockings. We would always get an apple, orange, and a quarter .... a few grapes if you were lucky. You'd have one stocking hung up at home, and another at your grandparents' house ... woolen stockings, but they were just as good as what you have now. Sometimes you'd get a gift, maybe a new outfit.

There was always a 'time' on Boxing Day, in the Hall. You would either have a 'Tea Party' and dance or a 'Soup Supper' and dance. For the Soup Supper, all the women in Red Island would make soup, wither on turrs, mutton or rabbit. And for the 'Tea Party', there would be all kind of homemade cakes, and such.

Over the Christmas holidays, there was always a House Party going on in Red Island. All your friends would come and bring an accordian or mouth organ. We'd all dress up, a crowd of us, and go Mummering. We would go to all the houses, dance, and then get some cake and syrup. They'd spend the whole night trying to figure out who was who, and before they were successful, we'd leave, and move on to the next house. It was always something to do for a good old laugh.

There was always a lot of snow around Christmas time, back then. We would all have homemade slides. We'd get together, all the fellas and the girls, and go sliding over the side of the hill, in the night time. The sky would be so clear overhead, and shining on the snow; it would be as bright as day. Those were the best times of the whole winter!

Even though you didn't have much, you were always filled with the spirit of the holidays. Family and friends would get together, and even though you didn't have much yourself, you would always help out another family who was less off then you were. I believe those times can be maintained, if you remember to keep the meaning of Christmas in your heart.