Polishing the Silverware for Christmas
- on 12.20.07
- Christmas, Grandparents, holidays
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
This is a simple memory that just popped into my mind as I was digging through my cleaning products getting ready to clean the bathroom and came upon a bottle of silver cleaner.
When I was a child, each year at Christmas we used the good silverware, and each year, it needed to be polished. There was also the silver salt and pepper shaker. I remember my grandmother being present for this, as my grandparents came from a suburb of Boston to spend Christmas with us each year.
We would sit around the table, and rub the pink silver cleaner into the silverware and other silver items that needed cleaning for the meal, that was my part of the job. Then I suppose it was rinsed, and then we took a clean, dry cloth and rubbed each piece into a shiny luster.
It’s funny how the simplest of things can bring such memories. We don’t use real silver in our home, and I imagine it is a thing of the past for many, but maybe I’m wrong? Do you use silver and fine china for your special meals?
Oh I so know what you mean! Those simple things sure trigger fun memories. I also remember my dad’s reel to reel which he still has and uses to this day!
Hugs,
Holly
Claudia - Oh, how this brought memories back to me! My mother had a huge 12 place setting silver collection right down to the seafood forks and place card holders. The “good silverwaver” like you said. This only came out at holidays, along with the special china, crystal stemware and tablecloth. My mother was so proud of these things as she had purchased them as a single woman.
I still remember the smell of that silver polish! Now, I am the owner of that silver and each time I use it I am reminded of Mom, family holidays and special occasions.
Things do carry so many memories and are special because of those memories. I’m glad to see someone else has a similar memory!
PopArtDiva aka The Martini Diva
Holly, that’s amazing, your Dad still using the reel-to-reel. I’ll never forget how well reel-to-reel tapes sold on eBay…there’s so many that make a hobby out of these things, but sounds like for your dad, it’s not a hobby
AND to one of my favorite artists, that’s great that you have the set of silver now, what wonderful memories it must bring. Thanks for writing, love your website!
I happen to own a set of silver myself that I got as a wedding present. I have never used it. But an older lady I once though of as a grandmother (She passed away.) used to let me help her clean hers from time to time. She did just about everything by hand and would probably roll over if she saw my family eating off paper plates. (LOL)
Karen,
Haha! Yes, things really have changed, haven’t they? We did the same thing during busy times in our home, but my children are grown, and will have different memories, no less fun, I trust!
God bless!
Claudia
We did much the same, but it wasn’t silver we polished but brassware my Dad had brought back from Vietnam. We had much fun deciding which pieces to use as there were about 15 different pieces per setting. From the tiniest dessert forks to huge soup spoons, or strange looking things for prying open shellfish and such.
We also had special china he had bought back from overseas.