Childhood Memories of 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" annual holiday movie that was made for television, originally aired in 1964 and was one of my ultimate favorite Christmas movies that will bring me back to my childhood memories and spending Christmas Eve at my Grandmother's house. I look forward to every December watching "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." In the last 40 years, I have been faithfully watching the movie that was made with animated puppets and filmed in a stop-action sequence to create an animagic effect. Although I loved Rudolph and his red-nose, it was the elves that I really enjoyed watching, especially Hermie who was the main character elf who did not want to make toys, but he wanted to be a dentist. As Hermie was dreaming of becoming a dentist, I was dreaming of becoming an elf. I felt sorry for Santa and felt that he lost an elf to become a dentist and I really wanted to be an elf to make Santa proud of me so that I can be on his good list and not his naughty list.

I lived in a small town in upstate New York where my Aunt and Uncle lived a few blocks away and my Grandmother just a few houses away from them. Many other relatives lived very close in the area and my Grandmother's children and grandchildren were able to get together for clam bakes and special holiday parties at her home. My opportunity came with an idea to play the part of Hermie's little sister elf who decided to host my Grandmother's Annual Christmas Eve party when all the relatives arrive to enjoy my Grandmother's cooking and opening gifts.

I took my portable cassette player and recorded Christmas songs from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in my best elf voice before I went to my Grandmother's house. I dressed up in green to look like and elf, made an elf hat and greeted all my relatives and friends with my best elf voice as they arrived at Grandma's Annual Christmas party announcing that I Hermie's sister, Santa's new elf because Hermie became a dentist in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and I took his position as an elf. I assisted them with their coats and placed the presents they brought under my Grandmother's Christmas tree. I just knew Santa Claus would be proud of me being an elf and serving people on Christmas Eve.

While everyone was enjoying the food and conversation, I would play my recorded songs on my portable cassette player and walked around asking if I could get something for each one of the guests and helped my Grandmother in the kitchen, as well as eating candy and cookies. I would really get into the elf role and really enjoyed playing an elf on Christmas Eve while everyone amused me by participating and acknowledging that I am Hermie's sister the elf.

Now that time has passed of almost forty years later, I am still faithfully watching "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" with my children. As I watch the holiday movie, I ponder and cherish the memories of playing Hermie's sister, an elf at my Grandmother's Annual Christmas Eve party. Memories of my Grandmother can be cherised forever, and I will never forget the opportunity that I had to play an elf at the Christmas Eve party my Grandmother worked hard every year to give our family fond memories and feast we would always remember all because of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."