That Little Bag of Goodies

I don’t remember a name for that little bag of goodies, but it was a tradition when I was a child to receive one at church on Christmas Eve. My mouth watered during the service in anticipation of things eaten only at Christmas, and waiting for me when the service was over.


The bag was just an ordinary brown lunch bag, but “oh”, how special it was. Most of the time, the goody bag had an orange, a tangerine, an apple, a variety of unshelled nuts, and some candy. Those English walnuts, pecans and Brazil nuts (innocently called by another name) and hazel nuts were only eaten at Christmas. Chocolate drops and peppermint sticks were rarely seen except at this time of the year. Just like many things in life, that which is rare is most valued.

When we moved away from West Virginia, we lost this tradition in my family. Perhaps my relatives will tell me if it still continues, but just now, on Christmas Eve, as I was reminiscing, I remembered something wonderful that my children will never understand as being such a treat – That Little Bag of Goodies.