Whenever I unfold a big roll of American Christmas wrapping paper my thoughts wander back to the wrappin' paper of my childhood, sold by the ladies of Moore Street.
"Anyone For The Last Of The Wrappin' Paper?"
I fondly remember the chorus of street vendors throughout Henry Street on Christmas Eve.
The sense of urgency in their voices was directly related to their excess inventory of wrapping paper at the start of the day. I
f sales were not to their liking their high pitched pleading rose to a crescendo as three o'clock approached.
"Anyone for the last of the wrappin' paper?
Get it before it's all gone!"
The Moore street ladies sold wrapping paper in sheets, a single leaf seldom big enough to cover any gift box.
Five sheets for 20 pence! No sheet matched, so any large present was decked out in multicolored, festive layers.
And nobody bothered wasting money on gift boxes. If the item didn't fit in a shoe box, the best solution was to roll it up in wrapping paper any which way. Gifts of every shape, size and dimension surrounded our Christmas tree each year.
I don't know if the Moore Street traders still sell "wrappin' paper" all along Henry Street coming up to Christmas. If they do, I'm sure it's a lot more expensive than 20 pence these days.
Every Christmas, when I buy a huge roll of thick, high quality gift wrapping in America, I reminisce about the "last of the wrappin' paper."
When I see my perfectly symmetrical packages, part of me misses the misshapen, mismatched wrapping of my childhood.
And no matter how long I live in America, I will always miss the ladies of the Moore Street markets.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
Christmas
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Christmas Recipes
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Mairead
You've brought back a nice memory for me Mairead. I can still hear "5 for 20, the wrappin' paper" as clear as if I'd heard it only yesterday.
Irish American Mom
Mairead - those memories will be with us for life.
Mary
I remember those calls for the wrapping paper so well. It was like tissue, but I bought it all the same.
Irish American Mom
Mary - those sheets of wrapping paper were so thin, but I think we all bought it thinking we were helping out the Moore Street vendors have a better Christmas. Best wishes,
Mairead
Penny Wolf
I like your story. It all sounds so warm and more genuine. i worked for 25 years in a printing plant and was allowed to take home the very end of paper rolls which were 98% of the time white. As a result I wrapped any and all gifts in all white paper with a color ribbon. Those gifts always stood out compared to the bells and whistles that everyone else used.
Of course now the gift most requested is in an envelope....I still like a present and all that accompanies it. 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Irish American Mom
Penny - I agree with you about presents. There is something magical about opening a gift from a friend or loved one. The effort and thought put into buying that special something is always so appreciated.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
Mairead
brian@irelandfavorites
Hi Mairead, Merry Christmas, The memories of times past are the best, When I was growing up in the back of the family flower shop we would wrap our presents in colored foil that was used to wrap the plant pots.
Again happy Christmas I'm sure Santa will be busy at your house.
Irish American Mom
Brian - Excitement is reaching fever pitch for my four today. I have to keep checking the NORAD Santa tracking site to let them know where he is on his rounds. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Mairead
Grammy
Happy Christmas Mairead! I wish I had some of the Moore Street ladies paper...
Irish American Mom
I hope you had a lovely Christmas too, Grammy.