Andrea here, wishing a Merry Christmas to those who celebrate the day—and happy holidays to those who welcome the changing season with other spiritual traditions. Today is the first day of Word Wenches’ annual tradition of short daily blogs over the Twelve Days of Christmas. Today, many of us are enjoying the ritual of exchanging presents today with family and friends. It’s a fun and festive occasion for all ages, but especially for children, for whom the sight of gaily wrapped presents under the tree is a magical.
So my my musings today are about childhood gifts, and how some of them resonate with you long after childhood is a mere memory.
My mother was Swiss and she remembered receiving the marvelous stuffed animals and puppets made by Steiff, a company founded in 1880 by a woman—Margarete Steiff, who was born with physical disabilities and trained as a seamstress to support herself. She started her own line of felt clothing, and then happened to find a pattern for a toy elephant . . . and the rest is history.
So my mother continued the tradition with us. Steiff animals are known for their wonderful quality. They are also expensive . . . and as kids, my brothers and I each got one animal each Christmas as a special present. We collected a menagerie over a number of Christmases, and played countless make-believe games with them over the years.
But kids grow up, and the Steiff toys eventually got relegated to a box in the closet. Somewhere along the line, I came across them, and with the blessing of my brothers took them back to my house . . . where they are cherished to this day, and make me smile every time I take them out.
Some of you who follow my Instagram account are probably familiar with the puppets, Fox and Bear, who serve as my editorial assistants. I also have my teddy bear, who has been with me since I was six years old. And then there is the reindeer, who originally belonged to my younger brother, but who now plays a starring role in my annual Christmas decorations.
I love that these childhood gifts conjure up such wonderful memories of family. They are a connection to those long-ago days, which is, well, priceless.
Whether you celebrate this day or not, may you all have peace, joy and health in the coming year!
Do you remember a special Christmas or holiday present that still stirs wonderful memories?
Merry Christmas, Andrea. I enjoyed hearing the story of your Steiff toys. Hope you and all the wenches have a lovely Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Andrea. I enjoyed hearing the story of your Steiff toys. Hope you and all the wenches have a lovely Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Andrea. I enjoyed hearing the story of your Steiff toys. Hope you and all the wenches have a lovely Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Andrea. I enjoyed hearing the story of your Steiff toys. Hope you and all the wenches have a lovely Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Andrea. I enjoyed hearing the story of your Steiff toys. Hope you and all the wenches have a lovely Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all of the Wenches! I hope everyone’s Christmas is peaceful and lovely and everything wonderful.
I have several Steiff, mostly bears, and just love them but you’re right, they are very expensive which is why I don’t have many 😉 I do love them though and while for me, they weren’t Christmas traditions, they come out now at Christmas and sometimes, I just forget to put them away. 🙂
Merry Christmas to all of the Wenches! I hope everyone’s Christmas is peaceful and lovely and everything wonderful.
I have several Steiff, mostly bears, and just love them but you’re right, they are very expensive which is why I don’t have many 😉 I do love them though and while for me, they weren’t Christmas traditions, they come out now at Christmas and sometimes, I just forget to put them away. 🙂
Merry Christmas to all of the Wenches! I hope everyone’s Christmas is peaceful and lovely and everything wonderful.
I have several Steiff, mostly bears, and just love them but you’re right, they are very expensive which is why I don’t have many 😉 I do love them though and while for me, they weren’t Christmas traditions, they come out now at Christmas and sometimes, I just forget to put them away. 🙂
Merry Christmas to all of the Wenches! I hope everyone’s Christmas is peaceful and lovely and everything wonderful.
I have several Steiff, mostly bears, and just love them but you’re right, they are very expensive which is why I don’t have many 😉 I do love them though and while for me, they weren’t Christmas traditions, they come out now at Christmas and sometimes, I just forget to put them away. 🙂
Merry Christmas to all of the Wenches! I hope everyone’s Christmas is peaceful and lovely and everything wonderful.
I have several Steiff, mostly bears, and just love them but you’re right, they are very expensive which is why I don’t have many 😉 I do love them though and while for me, they weren’t Christmas traditions, they come out now at Christmas and sometimes, I just forget to put them away. 🙂
Merry Christmas to you, too, Anne—though where you are it’s now Boxing Day!
Merry Christmas to you, too, Anne—though where you are it’s now Boxing Day!
Merry Christmas to you, too, Anne—though where you are it’s now Boxing Day!
Merry Christmas to you, too, Anne—though where you are it’s now Boxing Day!
Merry Christmas to you, too, Anne—though where you are it’s now Boxing Day!
Holiday hugs to you, Theo! Aren’t the Steiff animals wonderful! They deserve to stay out all year . . .my uppets have pride of place on my writing desk . . .though they sometimes shake their paws at me and tell me to start writing faster!
I wish.
Holiday hugs to you, Theo! Aren’t the Steiff animals wonderful! They deserve to stay out all year . . .my uppets have pride of place on my writing desk . . .though they sometimes shake their paws at me and tell me to start writing faster!
I wish.
Holiday hugs to you, Theo! Aren’t the Steiff animals wonderful! They deserve to stay out all year . . .my uppets have pride of place on my writing desk . . .though they sometimes shake their paws at me and tell me to start writing faster!
I wish.
Holiday hugs to you, Theo! Aren’t the Steiff animals wonderful! They deserve to stay out all year . . .my uppets have pride of place on my writing desk . . .though they sometimes shake their paws at me and tell me to start writing faster!
I wish.
Holiday hugs to you, Theo! Aren’t the Steiff animals wonderful! They deserve to stay out all year . . .my uppets have pride of place on my writing desk . . .though they sometimes shake their paws at me and tell me to start writing faster!
I wish.
What a lovely post, Andrea! I enjoyed hearing about your Steiff collection.
My daughter used to collect Ty Beanie Babies. When she decided to part with her collection, I kept five white angel bears; they visit each Christmas and sit on the table under our tree.
What a lovely post, Andrea! I enjoyed hearing about your Steiff collection.
My daughter used to collect Ty Beanie Babies. When she decided to part with her collection, I kept five white angel bears; they visit each Christmas and sit on the table under our tree.
What a lovely post, Andrea! I enjoyed hearing about your Steiff collection.
My daughter used to collect Ty Beanie Babies. When she decided to part with her collection, I kept five white angel bears; they visit each Christmas and sit on the table under our tree.
What a lovely post, Andrea! I enjoyed hearing about your Steiff collection.
My daughter used to collect Ty Beanie Babies. When she decided to part with her collection, I kept five white angel bears; they visit each Christmas and sit on the table under our tree.
What a lovely post, Andrea! I enjoyed hearing about your Steiff collection.
My daughter used to collect Ty Beanie Babies. When she decided to part with her collection, I kept five white angel bears; they visit each Christmas and sit on the table under our tree.
And merry Christmas to all!
And merry Christmas to all!
And merry Christmas to all!
And merry Christmas to all!
And merry Christmas to all!
That’s a lovely story, Kareni!My Steiff critters are waving at your Beanie Bears!
That’s a lovely story, Kareni!My Steiff critters are waving at your Beanie Bears!
That’s a lovely story, Kareni!My Steiff critters are waving at your Beanie Bears!
That’s a lovely story, Kareni!My Steiff critters are waving at your Beanie Bears!
That’s a lovely story, Kareni!My Steiff critters are waving at your Beanie Bears!
My parents were German and Austrian, and we had quite a collection of Steiff puppets, everything from the alligator to the fox. My brother’s favorite was his monkey puppet. I also had a beloved Steiff teddy bear, which I kept until all his fur was worn off and the straw stuffing starting coming out!
My parents were German and Austrian, and we had quite a collection of Steiff puppets, everything from the alligator to the fox. My brother’s favorite was his monkey puppet. I also had a beloved Steiff teddy bear, which I kept until all his fur was worn off and the straw stuffing starting coming out!
My parents were German and Austrian, and we had quite a collection of Steiff puppets, everything from the alligator to the fox. My brother’s favorite was his monkey puppet. I also had a beloved Steiff teddy bear, which I kept until all his fur was worn off and the straw stuffing starting coming out!
My parents were German and Austrian, and we had quite a collection of Steiff puppets, everything from the alligator to the fox. My brother’s favorite was his monkey puppet. I also had a beloved Steiff teddy bear, which I kept until all his fur was worn off and the straw stuffing starting coming out!
My parents were German and Austrian, and we had quite a collection of Steiff puppets, everything from the alligator to the fox. My brother’s favorite was his monkey puppet. I also had a beloved Steiff teddy bear, which I kept until all his fur was worn off and the straw stuffing starting coming out!
Thanks for this lovely post. It is wonderful to hear about your animal friends. I loved the photos.
I wish each of you a Happy New Year….just think …..as rotten as 2021 was…it will soon be but a memory.
Y’all take care.
Thanks for this lovely post. It is wonderful to hear about your animal friends. I loved the photos.
I wish each of you a Happy New Year….just think …..as rotten as 2021 was…it will soon be but a memory.
Y’all take care.
Thanks for this lovely post. It is wonderful to hear about your animal friends. I loved the photos.
I wish each of you a Happy New Year….just think …..as rotten as 2021 was…it will soon be but a memory.
Y’all take care.
Thanks for this lovely post. It is wonderful to hear about your animal friends. I loved the photos.
I wish each of you a Happy New Year….just think …..as rotten as 2021 was…it will soon be but a memory.
Y’all take care.
Thanks for this lovely post. It is wonderful to hear about your animal friends. I loved the photos.
I wish each of you a Happy New Year….just think …..as rotten as 2021 was…it will soon be but a memory.
Y’all take care.
Oh, how fun that you had a collection of Steiff animals. My brother had the monkey puppet, too! It has a wonderfully expressive face. We had such fun putting on puppet shows for our parents.
Such fun memories!
Oh, how fun that you had a collection of Steiff animals. My brother had the monkey puppet, too! It has a wonderfully expressive face. We had such fun putting on puppet shows for our parents.
Such fun memories!
Oh, how fun that you had a collection of Steiff animals. My brother had the monkey puppet, too! It has a wonderfully expressive face. We had such fun putting on puppet shows for our parents.
Such fun memories!
Oh, how fun that you had a collection of Steiff animals. My brother had the monkey puppet, too! It has a wonderfully expressive face. We had such fun putting on puppet shows for our parents.
Such fun memories!
Oh, how fun that you had a collection of Steiff animals. My brother had the monkey puppet, too! It has a wonderfully expressive face. We had such fun putting on puppet shows for our parents.
Such fun memories!
Thanks, Annette. So glad you enjoyed the photos.
Happy New Year to you, too. May 2022 bring all good things!
Thanks, Annette. So glad you enjoyed the photos.
Happy New Year to you, too. May 2022 bring all good things!
Thanks, Annette. So glad you enjoyed the photos.
Happy New Year to you, too. May 2022 bring all good things!
Thanks, Annette. So glad you enjoyed the photos.
Happy New Year to you, too. May 2022 bring all good things!
Thanks, Annette. So glad you enjoyed the photos.
Happy New Year to you, too. May 2022 bring all good things!