The Old Tradition:
It is said that all domesticated animals can speak on Christmas Eve. This was their gift on the night that Jesus was born. In the legends, the animals celebrate the birth of Christ by speaking of his arrival, for they where there, in the manger. The animals do not fight on this night, for it is a night of peace and wonder.
The History:
It was a couple weeks before Christmas; we’re not sure which year, when we found out about it. The original cast was the three Davis dogs, Beauty, Cha Cha, and Gus, our three dogs Northwest, Bandit and Raisin, as well as Richard the rat. Over the years, the tradition grew as new animals came and others passed on. I will say that these are, as best as we can deduce, the happenings on Christmas Eve, here on Slate Hill.
Every year on Christmas Eve, when all the humans are sleeping, dreaming of sugarplums and other nonsense, the creatures of the neighborhood gather in the buildings behind the Davis’s house for a little party.
Now I am sure that there was always a little neighborhood get-together on that night, yet this was beginning of a real party. The addition of two more dogs, plus a rat made the Slate Hill gang decide to go all out. That first Christmas was one of welcome and good spirit. Well, maybe not all good spirit. The great black German Shepard, Beauty, perhaps put a little too much into her rendition of “Santa, Baby”, but then Northwest was eyeing Bandit a little too closely. The evening of song, dance and food began with a heartfelt and sweetly sung “Feliz Navida” preformed by a festively attired Cha-cha (the Chihuahua) and led into the rocking styling of Northwest, complete in his black leather jacket, with a rather punk version of “Jingle Bell Rock”. The miniature poodle Gus, with his version of “The First Noel”, which was not as well received, as he would have liked, completed the original set. Cha-cha pulled him aside later and told him to lose the fake French accent and try not to get so high pitch.
Soon the Huskies got into the spirit, and blew their host away with a joyful duet of the ever so popular “Let It Snow!” and Richard completed the solo performances with a wonderful “Silent Night”. The rest of the evening was spent in good cheer and happy caroling until dawn.
The Christmas Eve party stayed pretty tame for those first few years. Buster’s arrival added “Little Drummer Boy” to the line up. Yet, in 1996, things started getting a little wilder. This was the first year that Pharaoh, the black cat attended. His sister, Dustball fit right in, singing duets with the others and enjoying the jovial atmosphere, but Pharaoh was a little trouble-maker. His opening salvo was to spike the punch bowl, which got Gus drunk. He also, loudly, told his sister that the rat would make a lovely appetizer.
Pharaoh hasn’t changed much over the years. A little more gray and grizzled, he also knows that now, no one can really reprimand him, as they did in those early years. I foresee this Christmas to be one of his worst ever. He will most likely get drunk, harass the others and be a general pest, but that’s Christmas with family. We all have that obnoxious uncle who we really just wish would skip this year.
Sadie’s first performance was “Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head” and brought tears to the eyes of the old dogs with her youthful voice and sweet manner. In later years, she and Buster did hound dog duets of “Deck The Halls” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas”. She still manages to travel over to Slate Hill every year for the party, and always tells the Christmas Story.
The latest crowd grew up with the traditions that are now firmly in place. Performances are still at the heart of the party, with each animal bringing his or her own flare. Pharaoh’s “Mr. Grinch” and “The Twelve Pains Of Christmas “ have become staples, as has the chorus of felines singing “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”. Pearl and Diamond, the two redneck girls, blew everyone away with “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” one year and it is now a standard performance along with Southwest’s “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”. Despite her snobbish comments towards the others, everyone looks forward to Chestnut’s “The Huron Indian Carol”, since she sings it so well. Graham always sings “Nuttin’ For Christmas” and Shaft always follows with “Hooray For Santa Claus”. Captain Wow will be premiering with Graham in a version of “Santa Claus And His Old Lady” this year, although they may end up giggling to much as they munch through the snacks. Butterfly and Skippy are scheduled to perform a new song this year as well, being last years “O Holy Night” didn’t work out so great. Hopefully, “The Holly and Ivy” will work better.
As the evening winds down, the performances of the past are remembered, with a toast to those who have passed on. They celebrate the dawn of Christmas with a rousing chorus of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” as they pack up and head back to their homes for another year.
This is the Christmas of Slate Hill and the party in the Davis’s garage.
And coming in Easter, the story of how the Easter Bunny rides a moter-mo-mo and Northwest chased him away from Slate Hill.
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