With Christmas just around the corner, many of us sometimes take a moment to reflect on the holiday season of old.

That said, here’s a look at some of the stories of Christmases past from the newspaper archives. Some readers may remember the stories, while others may have been a part of them. Admittedly, a few snippets go back a bit longer, but offer a look at a holiday spirit in simpler times.

• “What Christmas Means to Me” was the theme of compositions written by pupils nine years old in Asa Packer School. One child captured the spirit of the holiday in these words:

“We celebrate Christmas because that is when Jesus was born. When Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem they saw an inn and asked for a place to stay, but there was not enough room for them. The inn keeper said that there was a barn in back of the inn and they could stay there. When Jesus was born a bright star shone and the three wise men followed the star and so did the shepherds and they found where Jesus was born.”

In another description of Christmas, the pupil stressed:

“I pray for Christmas day and other days, too. It is a holiday I love. I love Christmas day and I thank God for everything.”

Christmas as a time of giving was told this way:

“My mom buys gifts and my aunt wraps them. We get a tree, a Scotch pine, then we decorate it. We put up a platform. It is also Jesus’ birthday so we pray. At night there is church. I always have fun on Christmas.”

Another child told of a highlight of her Yuletide holiday:

“We go to grandmother’s to celebrate Christmas. My aunts, uncles and cousins come too. We have a lot of fun.”

Another manner of relating what Christmas means was this paragraph:

“I like Christmas because Jesus was born and that you get gifts. I like Christmas because I can run my train and you get a vacation from school. I like Christmas! I get turkey and other good things to eat.”

Give yourself a treat some night during the holidays by getting into your automobile and driving through town. The homes are decorated beautifully and the holiday effects are a pleasure to see. It would be difficult to decide which residence is the most attractive as all are lively in holiday attire of lights and greens.

Rev. Oscar Schiessman Jr., pastor of St. John’s, led 50 Luther Leaguers in a caroling tour of the Heights last night. The carolers enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies afterward in the social rooms of the church.

- From the Jim Thorpe Times-News, Dec. 24, 1962

• The Christmas spirit has spread to official Lehighton. Those yellow pieces that are appearing on over-parked cars are not tickets, but season greetings. Here is what the card states: “You are in violation of Meter Parking. However, in keeping with the holiday spirit, no ticket for Meter Violations will be issued at this time. Merry Christmas. Borough of Lehighton.” “This is our way of extending greetings to the motorists and the business people of the Borough,” Mayor Albert U. Koch commented.

- From the Jim Thorpe Times-News, Dec. 26, 1965

• Wm. Showalter is nothing if not ingenious and progressive. He has an electrical tree atop of his home, formerly the Dr. S.B. Ervin mansion. It is attracting much attention.

- From the Mauch Chunk Times-News, Dec. 24, 1926

• Dear Santa Claus: Only a few more days and it will be Christmas. Oh, I am so glad! You shall have my first letter and now I will tell you what I would like you to bring me. Please, dear Santa Claus, bring me a tree, candy, nuts, a dress, a pencil box. Thanking you for every thing that you will bring to my home and wishing you a very Merry Christmas, I am, Your little girl, Ida Cossman,

- From the Mauch Chunk Times-News, Dec. 24, 1929

• There will be no issue of the Daily Times tomorrow, Christmas Day, in common observance of the great festal day. We wish all a full stocking, a peaceful heart and an overflow measure of all that goes with the day and the occasion.

- From the Mauch Chunk Times-News, Dec. 24, 1926

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Merry Christmas!

ED SOCHA/TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM

Ed Socha is a retired newspaper editor with more than 40 years experience in community journalism. Reach him at tneditor@tnonline.com.

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.