My set is Mikasa that look very much like yours. They were my mom's, but came to me when Christmas dinners were moved to my house when my kids were little. We have twelve place settings, each stored in its own box, living in the basement all year until Christmas Eve, when they come out to join my sister and my family and me. We are the only two left of our original six; using them always brings a touch of melancholy to this lovely season. But I'm so glad to have them!
I had to look up the Mikasa pattern. So pretty. I'm sorry using them brings a touch of melancholy. But yet, you are so glad to have them. That's often the way it is with our nostalgic memories, I guess. I will think of you using your dishes as I use mine this year. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate you.
Oh Nancy, this brought back such lovely memories of my own Mom. She was always so thoughtful and would go the extra mile to make sure we had everything we needed, just like your mom with the Christmas dishes. She always made sure everyone felt special during the holidays x
I'm glad reading this brought back lovely memories of your mom. I have a feeling you are a lot like your mom. So kind and generous. Thank you for reading and commenting too. I appreciate you. x
Wow, Nancy, what a lovely post! Your mom was so resourceful to get all her kids the gifts she set out to get.
Yes, I had a perm in the 80s too. Didn't everybody?
I love hearing about the importance of these dishes for you and your family. Such wonderful memories and stories.
As you know, I'm Jewish, so I don't have Christmas memories. We celebrated Chanukah, and my memories included spinning dreidels (trust me, there are many ways to spin them, and one can get his/her dreidel to do amazing things, something I call extreme dreideling). The best ones are made of hard plastic.
One memory I'm fond of is when I brought dreidels to work and gave them to my co-workers in downtown Chicago. One of my co-workers had never dreideled before, but she got really good at it. She would toss it in the air and it would keep spinning. One day, the window her desk was near was open. You guessed it. She tossed it in the air, and it flew out the window! We were scared it might've hit someone on the head. After work, we found the dreidel on the street (without blood on it), and it was still in good shape.
I also remember eating latkes, aka potato pancakes. Delicious but as they are fried in oil, they should come with their own defibrillator! I forgo latkes these days.
Yes, my mother was resourceful, for sure! Such nice memories those dishes stir up every year when I use them. And yeah, I think everybody did have that 80s perm! So funny now to see those photos.
I love your dreidel spinning stories! Especially the one about the dreidel that accidentally flew out the window. I'm glad you recovered it and that it didn't appear to have caused anyone injury! As for latkes, aka potato pancakes, my dad made super tasty potato pancakes. So they must be popular in various of cultural traditions.
Thank you for sharing your holiday tradition stories. I appreciate them and you!
Oh, that pattern looks similar to mine, don't you think? And yes, they do add a lot to Christmas dining, for sure. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate you. Enjoy using those holiday dishes!
Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this story. I never know if and when I'm boring readers with my trips down memory lane. You know, you can still get yourself some holiday dishes. It's never too late! Thanks much for reading and taking time to comment, too. I appreciate you. Happy holidays!
It is so sweet that your daughter-in-law picked out those dishes for you. I hope you get to share a meal with her this holiday season and use them, of course. Thank you for sharing about your Christmas dishes. I appreciate you.
I definitely had the 80's perm and we definitely had Christmas China . . . three sets, one was the Spode, the other Lenox and the 3rd a pottery set that you cannot microwave. . . . very nice story about your Mom and sisters.
Wow, three sets including the Spode and the Lennox sets I mentioned - lucky you! Christmas dishes are fun to get out every year and reminisce about the stories they tell. I have to ask, do you put yours in the dishwasher? That's been the great debate over the years about my holiday dishes and my mother's china. I hope you are enjoying your holiday dishes this year. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate you.
My set is Mikasa that look very much like yours. They were my mom's, but came to me when Christmas dinners were moved to my house when my kids were little. We have twelve place settings, each stored in its own box, living in the basement all year until Christmas Eve, when they come out to join my sister and my family and me. We are the only two left of our original six; using them always brings a touch of melancholy to this lovely season. But I'm so glad to have them!
Hi Denise,
I had to look up the Mikasa pattern. So pretty. I'm sorry using them brings a touch of melancholy. But yet, you are so glad to have them. That's often the way it is with our nostalgic memories, I guess. I will think of you using your dishes as I use mine this year. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate you.
Oh Nancy, this brought back such lovely memories of my own Mom. She was always so thoughtful and would go the extra mile to make sure we had everything we needed, just like your mom with the Christmas dishes. She always made sure everyone felt special during the holidays x
Hi Marie,
I'm glad reading this brought back lovely memories of your mom. I have a feeling you are a lot like your mom. So kind and generous. Thank you for reading and commenting too. I appreciate you. x
Oh Nancy, your words truly touched my heart. I believe keeping their legacy of kindness alive is a beautiful way to honor their memory.
Indeed it is, Marie.
Wow, Nancy, what a lovely post! Your mom was so resourceful to get all her kids the gifts she set out to get.
Yes, I had a perm in the 80s too. Didn't everybody?
I love hearing about the importance of these dishes for you and your family. Such wonderful memories and stories.
As you know, I'm Jewish, so I don't have Christmas memories. We celebrated Chanukah, and my memories included spinning dreidels (trust me, there are many ways to spin them, and one can get his/her dreidel to do amazing things, something I call extreme dreideling). The best ones are made of hard plastic.
One memory I'm fond of is when I brought dreidels to work and gave them to my co-workers in downtown Chicago. One of my co-workers had never dreideled before, but she got really good at it. She would toss it in the air and it would keep spinning. One day, the window her desk was near was open. You guessed it. She tossed it in the air, and it flew out the window! We were scared it might've hit someone on the head. After work, we found the dreidel on the street (without blood on it), and it was still in good shape.
I also remember eating latkes, aka potato pancakes. Delicious but as they are fried in oil, they should come with their own defibrillator! I forgo latkes these days.
Hi Beth,
Yes, my mother was resourceful, for sure! Such nice memories those dishes stir up every year when I use them. And yeah, I think everybody did have that 80s perm! So funny now to see those photos.
I love your dreidel spinning stories! Especially the one about the dreidel that accidentally flew out the window. I'm glad you recovered it and that it didn't appear to have caused anyone injury! As for latkes, aka potato pancakes, my dad made super tasty potato pancakes. So they must be popular in various of cultural traditions.
Thank you for sharing your holiday tradition stories. I appreciate them and you!
I have Christmas dishes. Spode. They add so much to Christmas.
Hi Nancy,
Oh, that pattern looks similar to mine, don't you think? And yes, they do add a lot to Christmas dining, for sure. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate you. Enjoy using those holiday dishes!
Love this story! I do not have Christmas dishes, nor did my mother. Reading your story sort of made me wish that I did!
Hi Grace,
Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this story. I never know if and when I'm boring readers with my trips down memory lane. You know, you can still get yourself some holiday dishes. It's never too late! Thanks much for reading and taking time to comment, too. I appreciate you. Happy holidays!
I have eight place settings my daughter-in-law got for me. I love them if for no treason than she chose them.
Hi Liz,
It is so sweet that your daughter-in-law picked out those dishes for you. I hope you get to share a meal with her this holiday season and use them, of course. Thank you for sharing about your Christmas dishes. I appreciate you.
I definitely had the 80's perm and we definitely had Christmas China . . . three sets, one was the Spode, the other Lenox and the 3rd a pottery set that you cannot microwave. . . . very nice story about your Mom and sisters.
Hi Molly,
Wow, three sets including the Spode and the Lennox sets I mentioned - lucky you! Christmas dishes are fun to get out every year and reminisce about the stories they tell. I have to ask, do you put yours in the dishwasher? That's been the great debate over the years about my holiday dishes and my mother's china. I hope you are enjoying your holiday dishes this year. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate you.