Christmas in Fort Beaufort

Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year, not just for the presents, but for everything it stands for. As a child it was definitely for the presents, but as I grew up it became a special time to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, a time for family get-togethers and a time for giving and sharing.

References to Christmas celebrations in Fort Beaufort can be found as far back as 1872. See the newspaper article attached regarding the Merry-go-round.

Preparations in our home started early with Mommy baking cookies galore. Hertzoggies, Fork Biscuits, Holkoekies and especially those yum-yums that she used to turn out through the mincer (it had a special fitting for rolling out the biscuits) and filled with caramel. Those biscuits would accompany us wherever we went. Whether we caravanned at Christmas Rock or stayed in our family cottage at Cove Rock. Or even just having a braai up at Highlands. Those were special times when families could still get together and celebrate Christmas. Accompanying us on those trips were also the famous and well-known Riviera assorted biscuits (savoury and sweet).

Spoiling our domestics was another exciting time. I would accompany Mommy to Buss’s Cash and Carry and we would buy yards of material for them to make their traditional dresses, ‘Iqhiya’s’ and aprons. We would also buy lots of multi-coloured beads with which they made their bracelets and necklaces. I used to have my own coffee tin with beads in and would sit with Joyce under the Jacaranda tree in our garden and do this beading. Special times. There would also be gifts for the children and boxes of groceries.

Other than the prize-giving at school, there was also the Sunday-School prize-giving at the St Johns Anglican Church and we always received a lovely Christian book as a prize. I still have many of these books and have passed them down to my children as they were growing up. Elize GROBLER (born TIMMS) shared a beautiful photo where she received one of these book prizes in 1956. The part I loved the most was setting up the Nativity Scene. Each Sunday school child would get a figurine and as the story was told, when applicable you would walk up and place it in the Stable. I still get a child-like feeling when I see a Nativity Set. It is very special.

There were also the Church Christmas Parties and Ian RAMSEY shared a beautiful photo of his sister Elizabeth receiving her present from Father Christmas in 1956 as well as a group photo taken in the Parish Hall.

There were so many Christmas parties and nobody can forget the Tower Hospital Christmas parties, where we as children would run all the way from the recreational hall at Old Site, down passed the Workshop to meet Father Christmas who sat in a cart, ringing a bell and surrounded by presents. I have also attached a precious photo of my brother, Wayne MOSS, sitting on Father Christmas’s lap at one of these Tower Hospital Christmas parties circa 1969.

There were so many activities in Fort Beaufort and it is unfortunate that I could not get my hands on any photos. There were the Sunday School Picnics at Hogsback, Christmas Carolling through town on the back of a truck, Carols by Candlelight and my most favourite was Midnight Mass. A funny story I remember is of a well-known man in Fort Beaufort who had been having a few toots before the service and this resulted in him arriving a bit late. He flung open the door and threw his hands in the air and shouted “Lord forgive me I am late, but I am here.” There was so much giggling after that and I don’t think I heard anything the minister said that night.

Heather WEBSTER STOBBS shared a photo of her family enjoying a Christmas Lunch at the Royal Hotel in about 1960. The Hotel was then owned by the DRESSEL family. It warms ones heart to see a photo of these well-known inhabitants of Fort Beaufort.

As the year draws to a close and this being my final article for the year, I want to thank each of you for reading my articles and all the positive feedback I received. Thank you also to each person who contributed information and/or photos. Special thanks to my husband for his patience and willingness to drive me all over to take photos. You are one in a Million!

And my final thanks will be to our Heavenly Father for the blessings he bestows on us every day. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and may the grace of our Lord be with you now and forever. Amen!

Sources:

• Elize GROBLER (born TIMMS)
• Ian RAMSEY
• Heather STOBBS (born WEBSTER)