CHRISTMAS WITH AUNT JO

Where did November go? We're not sure, but it went fast for us Bullis Room volunteers.  Now it's December and time for holiday celebrations.  This brings up the question (once again) of how the Bullis family observed Christmas. Here's an excerpt from a July, 2009 interview with an extended-family member who is connected with the Bullises through her grandmother.

Question: "Did you ever spend any holidays with them (Bullis family)?"

Answer: "Yes, Christmas with Aunt Jo. But Charlie and Nettie weren't there. I don't know if they celebrated Christmas or not. Auto Jo always celebrated. We always got books or we got money. We always got gifts from her and I still have all of the books. They were nice books. They were Richard Halliburton books, The Occident and The Orient, they were travel books (The Book of Marvels: The Occident; The Second Book of Marvels: The Orient). I had one about the Erie Canal. We had some of those Thornton Burgess books - children's books about animals and the seashore. I liked the books. I'm not a Bullis, but I like books."

The time frame for the Christmases referred to in the interview was the 1930s and early 1940s. Charlie and Nettie Bullis were adults  by then, which may be why they were not present at those holiday celebrations.  However, another source quotes Nettie Bullis as saying that when she and Charlie received gifts from their parents, they were books or practical toys.  This fits in with the Bullis frugality recorded in many other accounts.

Another question in that July, 2009 interview solicited Christmas memories as well:

Question: "Any Bullis family recipe?"

Answer: "Always had goose for Christmas. Nettie and Charlie didn't have much in the way of recipes (or food!) I don't mean to disparage them in any way at all. They were very good people. Aunt Jo used to have a big wooden bowl and her chopper and she would always chop a cabbage salad. That was one of the things that was always a part of Christmas dinner - cabbage salad."

So, in a nutshell (chestnut?):  The Bullises observed Christmas by giving books to the children and eating goose and cabbage salad for dinner.

From the Bullis Room: Happy Holidays to you.