But at Murray’s Mill in Catawba County, Christmas is just the same as it was in 1913. The mill is decorated in Christmas fashion of the early 20th century, back when people would grind their own corn for meal, go to church every Sunday and meet at the general store. Volunteers and visitors who are mature enough to remember those times reminisce about Christmases past.

Henry Detter and his daughter, Angela, volunteer at the mill, demonstrating to tourists how it operated. Smiling, Henry remembers how he spent Christmas as a boy.

“Iremember going to my grandfather’s house and having the best food,” he says. “Grandma was always cooking and there was always good food there.”

Family would gather, he says, to relax and enjoy each other’s company and the Christmas feast. Thememory is also familiar to mill visitor Goldie Reece.

“Ican remember sitting around the fireplace and Mama cooking all day,”says Goldie, 81. “Aunt Mary and her children were coming in and eat, or maybe we would go to their house and eat. We baked sweet potatoes in the fireplace by raking hot coals over it. We carried our own water, cut our own wood.”

“That’s the thing about Christmas years ago, everybody had a part in it because you didn’t have any modern conveniences,” interjects Hazel Rainey, standing next to her sister, Goldie. “You had to get your water, carry your wood in, you would beat your cornbread mix with a fork… now you’ve got an electric mixer.”

Food was also the major Christmas gift in the early part of this century, though toys were popular presents even then.

“We looked forward to Daddy coming home with a bag full of food that the people in his congregation used to give him,” says Jane Young, Goldie’s daughter, who is in her 50s. “It would be full of candy and nuts and apples and oranges. He was a preacher and they paid him in food, even though he had a job. We didn’t have to go to the store and buy anything. The church just gave it to us.”

“When I was growing up, all we got was nuts, apples, oranges and we were lucky to get one toy,”remembered Jane’s husband, Gary. “Now everything’s those computer games. And it’s so expensive.”

“It’s too commercialized, now,”lamented volunteer Pauline Drum, who grew up near Lake Norman during the 30s and 40s. “Back then, you didn’t get to pick your toys, you got what you got. Now, everybody gets to ask for what they want and they get it all year around.”

“And we didn’t get that one gift until Christmas morning,”Hazel added.

So, no gifts from Santa under the tree?

“Iused to be scared of Santa Claus because they would tell me that he’d throw candy through the house and if you’d run out there to get it, he’d swat you with the switch!”Goldie said, laughing. “And I can’t remember Christmas trees like we have now until years later. But when we did get to having a tree, we would cut down our own cedar tree. And when we did have one, we used popcorn, bows and construction paper to make it pretty.”

The group mentioned that commercialization has even affected the holiday’s religious celebrations.

“All the songs are different, Christmas tunes have different words. Even Christmas plays are not like they used to be. It used to be Joseph, Mary and the manger going down the aisle; now it’s more modern, like a jukebox,” grimaced Pauline . “It’s just all together different. The young generation is a lot different than the older generation. They say, ‘Oh, this is the 90s and you’re back in the 30s and 40s.”It’s not like what the Bible says; it’s a different generation but it’s the same Bible, the same Lord.”

“But they’ve got it wrong, anyway,”Goldie explained. “Jesus is not in the manger, He’s gone back to prepare a place for us . And, “If Igo back to prepare a place for you I’ll come again to receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also.’”

They agreed that the tradition of spending time with family and friends and the “true”meaning of Christmas suffers under the weight of technology and the need for convenience. And Gary’s final announcement reflected the reality that has forced many to forget why Christmas can be so important.

“The difference between Christmas today and Christmas of yesterday is family,” Gary concluded. “Family get togethers. You don’t see the family getting together Christmas Day like we used to years ago.”

“But things have gotten so busy, now, the kids do their own thing and have their own way,” Hazel said.

Goldie’s family hopes to recreate Christmas warmth and create new memories by beginning a new tradition.

This year, they will meet at a local seafood restaurant for food and fellowship. And they won’t exchange gifts.