Arthur Burmester: childhood Christmas memories

By Cara L. Dempski

DOWNING — Glenwood City resident Arthur Burmester has seen quite a bit of life in his 96 years.

Between celebrating Christmas in Germany or France or Belgium as part of a unit inserting soldiers behind enemy lines using gliders, to childhood memories of visits from Santa Claus, the things he ate for Christmas, preparing for the celebration, and the yearly tree, he had plenty of things to share about his life as a child and young man.

Burmester grew up in Glenwood City and lived there as an adult before moving to a home in Downing several years ago. He said he had to rely on one of his sisters to jog his memory for certain things, but otherwise remembers quite a bit of his childhood holiday experiences.

What with toys made of wood – including three-wheeled toys to ride – and seeing all the ornaments on the tree, the Downing man expressed fondness for what he says is a nice time of the year.

Childhood gifts

Art Burmester was born September 12, 1921, on a farm about four miles north of Glenwood City along what is now known as County Highway X. He indicated his parents were farmers and had a small herd of dairy cows.

Some people may find it hard to believe, but Burmester and his siblings did not hang Christmas stockings every year for Santa to fill with small treats.

“We needed those stockings on our feet,” he said, with a laugh.

Burmester recalls his household Christmas tree being quite beautiful. The family decorated with many homemade items, including ornaments, strings of popcorn and cranberries, and paper chains, but he remembers his maternal grandmother’s ornaments the best.

The ornaments were glass, and usually hung toward the top of the tree, out of reach of the small, questing fingers of children, to keep them safe from harm. They were accompanied by a special star at the very top and plenty of candles in their holders to provide light.

Except he does not remember the family ever lighting the candles, and explained his parents would not do so because they feared a fire if something went wrong.

Sometimes there were treats under the tree come Christmas morning, like the year Burmester’s father constructed a small wooden pedal cart for him.

“The front wheel was wooden, all nailed-together boards, and there was a shaft for the wheels that did not last too long,” the Downing man explained. “I was not very big when that was my gift.”

The wood on the cart’s wheel shaft may have worn down as Burmester got older but he recalls that gift as being one of his favorites.

Another memorable year was the one he noticed Santa Claus himself peeking at Burmester and his siblings – one brother and four sisters – through a small crack created by an open door at the home.

“There was a knock on the door, and Santa Claus was peeking through a crack,” Burmester said. “My dad had a big dog who was laying in the center of the room, and when he saw Santa, he jumped up and barked and the hair went up on his back.”

Instead of coming right into the room immediately, Santa, who was portrayed by Burmester’s Uncle Herman, instead made a peace offering to both the dog and the household children by putting his bag of “goodies” on the floor and sliding it into the room.

The children were just as surprised as the dog was, and the Downing man said his uncle never let him forget that particular Christmas.

Christmas itself

According to Art, the Burmester family always tried to attend the church service and children’s program on Christmas day, but there were some years they could not go due to heavy snowfall. Most of the time, he said, the family traveled to and from church via horse-drawn wagon or sleigh.

The night before, he and his parents and siblings made sure their Sunday clothes and their shoes were clean. Burmester explained people at that time usually only had a few outfits, those worn every day, school clothes, and “Sunday best.”

The morning meal was usually something like oatmeal or cereal, even on Christmas day, and he said he remembers the various types of meat, gravy and potatoes the family would eat for the main meal.

And to wash it all down?

“There was always plenty of milk,” he said.

The family was a musical one, and enjoyed singing Christmas hymns as part of the program at church. The Burmesters also used their talents at home, often singing along with his father as he played on a very old accordion with its bellows held together by tape.

His family did not limit its love of music to the holiday season, though, as he explained singing while working was a good way to help time pass more quickly and ease the work being done.

Burmester also recalled visiting his grandfather on New Year’s Day each year and getting a crisp one-dollar bill to celebrate his grandfather’s birthday.

“We would go over to his house for his birthday, and every year he would have at least $1 for us,” Burmester finished.