Readers submissions from the H&R requests for their favorite Christmas stories:

Growing up as a child in the 1960's is not, I repeat, not like growing up now in the year 2004. My family of five children would gather at my grandparents' house, Lyle and Nellie Boyd's of Argenta, to watch Christmas movies on their color TV. My family just had one plain old black and white TV that only received three channels on a good day. We spent many Sunday's at their home watching that color TV on many occasions but Christmas seems to be my fondest to remember.

Additionally several of our 26 cousins were sure to join us on the hardwood floor to sit quietly to watch my all time favorite: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." We would hopefully be able to return in the hear future to Grandma and Grandpa's to watch any other Christmas show that may have been shown during the Holiday season (of course, on color TV).

Topping off the Christmas season for the entire Boyd Clan was our own Holiday tradition of Santa coming to visit on Christmas Eve. From the time I was a toddler and still today I have not missed Christmas with the Boyd's. This Santa tradition continues although we had to give Christmas Eve up once our families got so large. We still meet at the Friends Creek Community Center in Argenta with each of my mothers' siblings hosting the event. I feel grateful for these treasured memories. My only hope for my boys, Christian and Scott, is that their memories are as grand as mine.

Thank you for letting me share my stories and my traditions.

Rachel Miller

Decatur

My favorite Christmas story has and always will be "The Little Match Girl" by Hans Christian Andersen (1846). It stirs my heart everytime I read it, for it reminds me of the importance of giving and sharing what I have with others. The poor little neglected girl would have survived if someone had cared. And I'm not just talking about physical needs, but reaching out to the poor in spirit, the lonely, and the downhearted as well.

Rhonda Smith

Decatur

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was always a favorite Christmas movie for our children as they were growing up. As they watched the movie, I'd serve them hot chocolate with cookies on a TV tray on the living room floor so they wouldn't spill anything on the rug. I had as much fun as they did sitting on the floor watching the movie. I didn't pay too much attention to the dialogue of the movie but one of our daughters, Jennie did. Years later, with the feminist movement came changes in it and one Christmas Eve when our children were home for the holidays, we watched both the old and new versions. The changes were that when Rudolph is lost, Santa doesn't say to his wife, "Stay here, this is man's work;" he says, "Stay here in case Rudolph comes back."

Another Christmas movie that was always a favorite of mine was "It's A Wonderful Life." I thought it was really appropriate for our more liberated and modern times when Marlo Thomas appeared in the role made famous by Jimmy Stewart. A Christmas movie made for TV called, "It Happened One Night." Even the angel was portrayed by a woman, Cloris Leachman.

Say what you will about movies and TV, they do help us to enjoy Christmas.

Shirley Ann Blickensderfer

Decatur

Years ago, a made-for-TV movie with Loretta Swit aired on television called "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." It was based on a book by Barbara Robinson. I have been unable to find it on television for a long time, and it is a wonderful story. I really wish my 11-year-old daughter could see the movie, she has the book.

Kathy Allen

Decatur

Memories are one of the best parts of Christmas. They are with you always. The Christmas program that brings me so many good memories is "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas." In the late '70s, HBO was just getting started and Jim Henson was creating Muppets. I remember my oldest son, Scott, about 3 years old, laying on the living room floor in front of my folks, John and Jane Williams, big console TV watching Emmet Otter. He was laughing and rolling around. He enjoyed the Muppets that first time but as the years went by loved the story about Emmet and his mom. The story is similar to "O'Henry's The Gift of the Magi." Scott and his wife Shannon are expecting my first grandchild. (It's a girl!) They have found the movie on DVD. I can't wait to see her watch it and make another memory that I'll have forever.

Marla Stine

Argenta

My favorite children's Christmas story book is "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. I have a collection of them, not only in children's books, but also adult books. I also have a "Scrooge" music box, plus four video versions of the movie.

It is also my favorite Christmas TV show, along with "It's a Wonderful Life".

"Frosty" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" are my favorite children's animated TV shows.

The first Christmas show that I remember ever seeing was "The Littlest Angel."

I also enjoy "The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever." I have it on video.

Ruth D. Wakeland

Decatur

My favorite book for Christmas was one called "The Birds' Christmas Carol." I no longer have a copy of it, but my daughter has it. I don't know who the author is and doubt if you can find a copy. It was a book that I received when I was about 10 years old. I am now 68. I have reread it several times, but not in the last 15 years.

Marilyn Long

(Editor's note: The complete text of "The Birds' Christmas Carol," written by Kate Douglas Wiggin, is available online through The Baldwin Project, a Web site that reproduces books that are in public domain. The Web site's story titles index is: www.mainlesson.com/displaybooksbytitle.php, and "The Birds' Christmas Carol" is listed alphabetically with the Bs.)

Hello, I just had to write and tell you about not only my child's favorite Christmas stories but mine too. As my friends and I were growing up on Decatur's east side (East Garfield Avenue), it was a tradition for us to listen to the radio every night before Christmas to hear the "Adventure of the Cinnamon Bear" and "The Search for the Silver Star." WSOY had that tape and every year that I can remember they ran the series.

Even when I was grown and my son came along; it once again became our family tradition to listen to the "Cinnamon Bear." Jimmy was even given a Paddy O'Cinnamon bear by his grandparents, which I still have today.

We also had another Christmas story and song that we played daily during the Christmas season. In 1964, the year of Jimmy's first Christmas, we bought him an LP Golden record. (No one remembers those anymore, but I still have his.) The record is Bing Crosby tells and sings "How Lovely is Christmas," the story of a young frontier boy who wished for an "An Ax, An Apple, and a Buckskin jacket."

My son passed away four years ago, but he left my beautiful granddaughter whom I will continue to share this great family tradition with, and my hope is that every one who grew up here in Decatur will stop and remember the wonderful story of the Cinnamon Bear and others that are close to their hearts with their children and grandchildren. These wonderful memories of both my childhood and my son's makes each year special for me.

Julie Clark

Oreana

When I think of the perfect picture of the holiday season, I think of the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Most of us have heard that poem read to us by grandparents, parents, and even radio/TV personalities throughout our childhood. If we see the vision of the scenes in our minds, we can imagine the perfect Christmas. Children are anticipating the arrival of all the presents. Parents are exhausted after assembling toy after toy, and everyone waits for the Christmas morning. Unfortunately not all Christmas celebrations will be this jolly nor will families be together in this idyllic scene. Unemployment, military obligations, and loss of family members may be the center of attention instead of our faith and family. Whatever each of us can do to make the people of Decatur enjoy the holiday season should be our goal. In this way, the themes in the poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" can be enjoyed during the season.

Karen Rivera

GED Teacher

Education and Training Center

My favorite TV program during the Christmas season is "A Christmas Story." I like this movie because it never gets old. It's always funny and never has a dull moment. But this movie makes me thankful for what I have. I think it teaches a lesson about listening to others and not always thinking that you are right.

Lauren McCoy

Education and Training Center

The "Tom and Jerry Christmas" movie was great because I think it shows how two opposite characters can get along. This is a great Christmas movie for kids to watch because it is funny. The characters may argue, but the special time of year helps them realize that they can have a wonderful Christmas.

Andre Turner

Education and Training Center

My favorite children's Christmas movie is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." I love how he scares the kids, but in the end, everything turns out for the best. It is a good movie for kids to watch with their families. One funny scene showed the Grinch eating garbage. He felt that no one should enjoy Christmas if he couldn't have a good holiday season. The people of the town helped him realize that Christmas is a time to enjoy family activities, and that is one good outcome of this movie.

Kristy Krietemeyer

Education and Training Center

I like the children's Christmas story "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" because it reminds me of a very snowy Christmas. It makes me remember when I first moved to Decatur. I lived with my grandparents as an only child. Since I was new to the neighborhood, I didn't have any friends. Another boy, who was my age, asked me to play basketball with him. When his friends realized that I was pretty good at the game, then everyone else in the neighborhood accepted me. The story of Rudolph is similar to my experience, because he was lonely and rejected until Santa asked him to guide the sleigh. Other reindeer accepted him because they realized that he had something to contribute to the Christmas season: guiding the sleigh that would bring toys to the children. The movie and my experience as the "new kid in town" made me see the similarities in the two situations.

David Mann

Education and Training Center

The best Christmas show ever is "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas." I haven't seen it in a few years, but it was my favorite when I was a kid.

Rod Horve

Art Director

Grain Journal

Before VCRs and DVDs, children had to scan the TV Guide to make sure they didn't miss two programs vitally important to the Christmas season: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." The ending lines "Christmas day will always be, just as long as we have we" brought joy at the thought of the coming holiday but a touch of sadness, too. You see, with only one chance per year of hearing that unmistakable bass singing, "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch" or the crisp childish tones of Linus saying "And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown," you built your evenings around that TV schedule.

Sure, Rudolph was good (Bumbles bounce!), but nothing compares to the hope inherent in both of my favorite Christmas shows, Charlie Brown and the Grinch. Of those two, the Grinch wins top honors, for a brilliant score and lyrics, plus the characterizations of both the Grinch and his faithful sidekick, Max. Name one person who hasn't had their dog get into the car with the same hopeful doggy face! To this day, "packages, boxes, and bags" and "roast beast" are parts of my vocabulary, and my oldest daughter, Samantha Louise, has been called "Martha Lou Who" more than once.

"The Christmas Story" wins for the best movie, with its dead to rights rendition of childhood, be it the late 30s or today. The numerous side plays (watch Mom while Dad is assembling the last piece of the leg lamp) make this easy to watch over and over.

But still, in terms of heart (pun not intended), the Grinch lives on. All of us have some Grinch, and we all hope for redemption in the end. At only twenty-two or so minutes, "The Grinch" is short, but oh so sweet.

Diane Andrick

Decatur

As a child, I remember listening to the annual talking of the "Cinnamon Bear" on the radio. Although I heard it every year, I always waited in anticipation for the retelling, which was read in installments on Wednesdays.

Mom and Dad had a grocery store, the Stop and Shop, and I would sit on a milk case behind the meat case to listen.

Mrs. Nancy (Bridge) Davis

Decatur