Saskatchewan Christmas Eve 1950

1948 winter photo with the one horse cuter courtesy of the author.

Saskatchewan Christmas Eve 1950

Tonight’s stars and full moon light our way

through snow filled roads and neighbour stubble fields.

Huddled in our green narrow box sled stall

all bundled up in woolen mitts and scarves

we six straddle horse blanket covered bales.

Our carol, ‘Angels We Have Heard On High’,

muted by our blanket-covered heads

keeps time with Maud and ol’ Bob’s trotting tread.

In beaver coat and hat Dad grips the reins

driving smoke breathing plodding faithful coursers

to onion steepled St Pete’s Church in time

to celebrate the magic midnight hour again

when the Lord God leaped down from way on high

to our lowly snow drifted prairie land and sky.

Frank Obrigewitsch, SJ, is pastor of St. Ignatius parish in Winnipeg.

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5 Comments
  • Patrick Burns
    Posted at 03:07h, 08 December Reply

    Thank you Frank

  • Paul Baker
    Posted at 06:05h, 08 December Reply

    Thanks Frank. Your poem brings back a great memory of going to midnight Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, Tilley, New Brunswick by horse and sleigh. It was in the early 40s. I remember the horse blanket and even gingle bells! We “parked” on the church grounds with other horses and sleighs.

  • olga protz
    Posted at 08:20h, 08 December Reply

    Thank you for this….your beautiful poem brings back memories of my Saskatchewan childhood winters too and especially Ukrainian Christmas eve. The open buggy and horses, the crisp air, singing Christmas carols as we visited neighbors and friends. The northern lights lighting up the sky….simple and precious times. Wonderful!

  • Viola Athaide
    Posted at 12:10h, 08 December Reply

    What a lovely memory and picture. Thank you.

  • Peter Bisson
    Posted at 16:39h, 08 December Reply

    Thank you Frank!

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