Jazz Age Wednesdays 14 ― Pip at the Holidays

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s the Jazz Age here at Teagan’s Books.  This time I’m not telling a story.  I’m just imagining what the holidays might have looked like for Pip and her friends during the Roaring Twenties.

Christmas tree hat Modern Pricilla December 1920

I imagined Pip decorating a Christmas tree.  Granny Phanny would have had a few prized glass ornaments to hang from the tree.  The baubles would most likely have been German-made back then.  Granny would have gotten in a lather if one was broken.  However, for the most part, they wouldn’t have had the sophisticated ornaments we have today. 

Pip would doubtless prick her finger many times while stringing popcorn, and that’s no phonus balonus.  She would painstakingly cut little strips of paper to make chains that would decorate the tree as well.  Granny Phanny would have likely been pretty handy with a crochet needle, not to mention deliciously preserved food treats.  She would have passed along those darb handmade gifts. 

Pip,  on the other hand would have needed to shop.  She is a bearcat, but she’s not very handy with crafts, and she’s still learning to cook.   During a few seasons Granny and Pip would have gone up to Atlanta for a special shopping trip at Rich’s department store.

Richs Department Store vintage
Rich’s Department Store

The holiday dinner table would have had a centerpiece made of lemons and oranges.   Granny Phanny would probably have served a baked ham rather than turkey, but I imagine she changed up the main course from time to time.  While her guests were waiting for the meal, Granny would have had Pip pass around some hors d’oeuvres like deviled eggs, roasted nuts, or olives.

Desserts?  There would have been more than one, but some kind of spice cake would have been in the offering.  If you’re looking for a recipe, try this delectable dessert from Suzanne at A Pug in the Kitchen.

Photo by Suzanne DeBrango

Now Granny Phanny is no Mrs. Grundy.  She might have had some giggle water on hand, and passed around a jorum of skee.  That is, as long as neither the G-man, Marshal Moses Myric, nor the copper, Detective Dabney Daniels, were around.

I’d love to stick around in the Roaring Twenties, but I have to get back to the present now.  

Hopefully it’s copacetic because I have to do the requisite shameless self-promotion.  Here are the links to the books about Pip and her friends.

Bijou front only 2

Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I

Novel-book-The Three Things Serial Story-Teagan Riordain Geneviene-The Writer Next Door-Vashti Q-spotlight-author

The Three Things Serial Story: A Little 1920s Story Kindle 

I appreciate your visit.  You are pos-i-lutely the bee’s knees!

 

This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2017 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

 

69 thoughts on “Jazz Age Wednesdays 14 ― Pip at the Holidays”

    1. Hi Christy. I could sure go for that menu right now! 😀 It really is a time of scrumptious food. I enjoy watching the faces of marvelous cooks who are sharing their favorite recipes. It’s as good as eating the food… almost. 😉 Huge thanks for taking a moment to visit. You’re the berries!

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  6. Teagan, what a wonderful description of Christmas during the good old days. I needed this post to get me into the Christmas spirit. Thanks and may your holidays be filled with happiness and peace.

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    1. And how, Joanne! Giggle water is one of my favorite Roaring Twenties terms. The slang of that era was darb! 😀 I realize the Sheiks and Shebas might get all balled up if I use too much of it, but horsefeathers! How can I resist?
      I appreciate you visiting. You’re the cat’s meow!

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      1. I’ve realized that so many of the expressions you’ve used in the Pip series of stories, I grew up with from my parents. I guess some of them – like ‘getting into a lather’ about something, has just stood the test of time.
        Some of them – like giggle water, are new to me, and are just so much fun 🙂

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  9. Pip Pip Hooray!!!
    Thank you, dear friend for another delight-filled (and this time, holiday-themed 🎄🎄🎄) Jazz Age Wednesday! 🎹 Which is totally copacetic!
    I love anything to do with the Roaring Twenties, I suspect I was, gee, maybe Dorothy Parker (I wish) ✍️
    Now I’m craving cake and clementines, not an unusual state but at least I have someone to blame, Teagan and Suzanne 🍰 lol 😉
    Thank you, dearest Teagan, for taking us back to a jazz age Noel, when times where simpler or at least appeared to be. 🎠
    Now where’s that giggle water? 🛁🛁🛁
    Mega stringing popping corn 🍿 never works, I eat it hugs xoxoxo

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    1. Hi Donna! LOL, the popular consensus seems to be that popcorn should be eaten, not strung. 😀
      I don’t know how you made the little bathtubs, but they adorable! I appreciate you taking time to visit. You are pos-i-lutely the cat’s pajamas! Big hug right back.

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  11. I remember well, the Christmas spike cake! My mother especially enjoyed those. A beautiful post on times past, Teagan. If only the best of the old could be brought along with the best of the new!

    I hear you on the ornaments that make noise. Those still make me jump when they go off in a store somewhere. 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much, John. Maybe I’ll do a future post for a dinner party with famous folks from the 20s…
      Yes, Suzanne’s desserts always look so delicious! Oh! It’s story day — I was busy and forgot! Must know what kind of trouble that PI is causing the cougars. 😀 Hugs!

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    1. LOL, sorry about the munchies, Diana. 🙂 My family always cooked ham at the holidays. I was the only one who liked turkey.
      But in rural Georgia (of days gone by) pork was what most people had, because it was cheaper to raise pigs… So I’m assuming that in the 1920s even in cities like Savannah they would have done the same. Since Granny is not particularly wealthy, I put ham on her menu. Okay… I suddenly have a hankering for ham too. I appreciate your visits Diana. You’re the cat’s meow!

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  14. Loved this fun post, Teagan! My granny used to decorate her Christmas tree the way you describe. She also had this old set of lights that were flickering candles in little holders that nestled on the branches and turned the tree to magic!
    Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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    1. Hi Jacquie! I didn’t think I had done much of a post here, so I’m tickled to see that people are enjoying this humble offering. The Christmas tree lights sound delightful. I remember when I was really small we had those really big lights and they got hot blistering to the touch. And with them and the little ones later, if one burned out, the entire string went out… and you had to search and search to find the bad bulb. LOL.
      A wonderful Wednesday to you as well, my friend. You’re the bee’s knees!

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  15. Teagan, absolutely delightful, It was fun and a bit gossipy and dripping with Christmas. It reminded me an article that might have been in one of those magazines you featured (Gorgeous cover incidentally: that artwork was superb) about a movie star family or a well known local dignitary’s family Christmas… or even (more delightfully) maybe a fictional family from a popular book or movies series. Have a lovely Christmas Paul X

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  16. Good to have my Jazz Age Pip to brighten the day. I was in and out of your neck of the woods, sorry for bringing the cold down with me. I remember liking the old ornaments more than the sophisticated ones. I don’t think everything should light up and I don’t think anything should make noise, except for Pip and Crystal and MiMi and MuMu, if they get into the tree.

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    1. Haha! Thank you Dan — I really needed the smile from your image of the kitties in the tree. Sorry you had to venture so close to Mordor. Yep, it’s extra cold today and crazy-windy too (for these parts anyway, just a rather blustery day for Albuquerque). 😀 And I’m with you about any of the noise-maker-y things.
      I’m glad to know you’re safely home. I appreciate you taking time out to comment. You’re the cat’s pajamas!

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    1. Dear Ape, thank you so much for reblogging. Now I’m wondering how the Naughty Chimps would be stringing popcorn. 😀 Maybe Pip could follow the kernels that broke off from the string back to another visit with Artie.
      You’re the berries!

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  19. What a great view of how Pip and Granny Phanny might have decorated the tree and the menu. I remember as a child, making the chains out of construction paper to decorate with. But, I had forgotten until you mentioned it. Love this, Teagan.

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    1. Haha. That’s another hazard to popcorn stringing, Judi. I know they used to string cranberries too… Horsefeathers, I just can’t imagine how messy that would be!
      Loved your shrimp recipe today. You’re the bee’s knees!

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  24. I can picture it all. Especially the stringing of popcorn, which I tried, only once. What made it worse, I alternated the popcorn with cranberries…again, only once. So interesting that many of their ornaments were German…makes so much sense. Thanks, Teagan. Really enjoyed this one.

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    1. Hi Van. The German ornaments is partly my imagination… but when I briefly researched 1920s Christmas ornaments, all I found were German… so that’s what I gave Granny. I’m delighted you enjoyed this post. Thanks so much for visiting. You’re the bee’s knees!

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  25. Fabulous post and I quite like the sound of Christmas in the Roaring Twenties. I’m afraid I would also have pricked my fingers if I’d tried to string popcorn. Thanks for the recipes and great images and have a lovely day, dear Teagan.

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    1. It’s great to see you, Olga. It does sound much more peaceful and genuinely festive than holidays today!
      Once as a teenager I wanted to make old fashioned looking decorations, and I strung popcorn. It was much harder than I expected. Actually I was a royal pain. LOL.
      Thanks for reading and commenting. You’re the cat’s pajamas.

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  26. Good morning dear Teagan….you have captured the exciting and vibrant jazz age in your words and images so beautifully…..It all makes me want to get up and do the Charleston 🙂 I hope that you and Crystal enjoy a day of dance, music, colour and of course magical hummingbirds. janet xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for this visit, Janet. I should be doing the Charleston in stead of freaking out with work, LOL. Although, with my poor dancing ability, the two might look about the same! 😀 I’m delighted you enjoyed this post. You’re the cat’s meow!

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    1. Horsefeathers, Christoph. I sure wish there was giggle water in my desk, because I’m about to pull out my hair with work. Getting splificated would be a good idea. LOL. Thanks so much for visiting. ❤ Hugs right back. You're the berries!

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  28. Teagan, I love this! Your creative account brings the holiday to life. My grandfather was in his 40s in the roaring 20s. He played the trumpet in symphonies and cafes! For sure he had some pretty amazing Jazz Age holidays too. 🎼 Christine

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    1. Applesauce, Christine! Wow, the stories your grandfather must have told. I can imagine the trumpet and the venues right now. I’m so glad you shared this comment.
      I’m happy that you enjoyed this little post. I was afraid it wasn’t good enough to share. You’re the cat’s pajamas!

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