Soldier recalls the meaning and traditions of Christmas in 1930's Indiana and how the holiday enriched his youth and brought his family closer. He describes the signs of Christmas, sledding and "car sledding" in the snow, the longest ride ever, the four types of snow, killing the winter hog, buying and decorating the tree, the time it fell, shopping at the ten cent stores, the Christmas play at Read Memorial Church, the car trip to the grandparents, playing the magical voice of Santa record on Christmas Eve, the "purgatory" of trying to sleep on Christmas Eve, blackmailing the grownups to wake early, being teased with the announcement that Santa didn't come, and the wild run down the stairs.