THE LITTLE GIRL & THE PUNCH BOWL

As you know, I was raised by my grandparents. My grandmother was a wonderful woman. She was very beautiful, as a matter of fact when she was a young teenager she was approached by an agent who wanted to put her in the pictures but her mother said a very definate "NO". She was very independent, was the buyer for the clothing department of a large store, and loved her antiques which she made into a full time business when she was in her late 40's.

She was always picking up the most unusual and amazing things, especially Christmas things. She was a bit of a gypsy and she dragged my grandfather from house to house, three which he built for her, until finally being able to buy the farm she had admired for years. In between living in permanent homes, they would rent part of a farmhouse in the spring, summer and fall and house sit for 5 months when her Uncle Bill went to Florida. He lived in a huge house and was a retired Mountie, I tell you that story another time.

When I was 8 years old, on Christmas Eve at Uncle Bill's, my grandmother brought out a big box. She took out many wrapped pieces. In the newspaper was a huge Santa Head and a lot of little ones and a Candy Cane. It ended up being the most beautiful Punch Bowl set. That Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, she set it up and filled it with Egg Nog (homemade) and we chose our mug ( although they were all the same). My grandmother ladled the Egg Nog into our mugs from the magic Candy Cane Ladle. It was a wonderful feeling drinking my Egg Nog and looking at that punch bowl. Every year after that until she moved to the farm she would bring the Punch Bowl with her to Uncle Bill's and take it out on those two nights for our little party. 

The year we bought our farmhouse my Grandmother surprised me with the Santa Punch Bowl. I was so happy to have it in my home. That Christmas Eve I went upstairs to get it and as I was coming down I tripped.

The box flew out of my hands and landed with a huge crash. My husband came running and I started to cry as we opened the box to look inside. Not a single piece was spared. Shards of china filled the space. I was so distraught, I could not tell my Grandmother. I was afraid she would be as disappointed with me as I was with myself.

 As Christmas's came and went, she never asked why the Santa set was not out. I could not ask her what the maker was because then she would know. When the internet came I searched in vain for a set but now luck.

I had seen similar ones but not that one. Occassionally I would see a mug. Never a complete set.

 My grandparents have been gone over 10 years now so replacing it to save face is not the reason. I really want a set so I can do the tradition with my son and his little girl.

 I had forgotten about it the past couple of years and then yesterday I just happened to look on Ebay. There was one but not complete and with mismatched mugs and in poor condition. The good new is I found out the maker. It is a Holt Howard set and I have found lots of pictures of it online.  A complete set in mint condition sold on Ebay in October. Darn!

 I will keep looking now because I really want to share those wonderful Christmas Traditions with my family. If any of you should happen to come across one let me know.