Every Christmas Eve, Grandma Maureen’s “Can Do” grandchildren are in her kitchen making soda bread for Santa. According to Grandma Maureen, “Sometimes Santa likes a break from milk and cookies.”
Kathy, Annie, Orrie, Bobby and Arthur J never get tired of hearing her tell the story of making soda bread for Santa. She was only to happy to revisit that special time when she was a child, in Ireland, helping her mother make soda bread on Christmas Eve.
Grandma Maureen shared, “We baked the soda bread in a cast iron skillet that was too heavy for me to lift by myself. Our cottage smelled so good and I was getting so excited about Santa coming! When the soda bread was done, it was set to cool. A piece was for Santa and the rest was part of Christmas breakfast for the family. Just before my bedtime, I was allowed to cut a piece from the round loaf of soda bread and spread butter on it.
My mother and I would place the soda bread on a special plate and cover it with a linen napkin. We’d placed the plate on the mantle with a note that read, “The kettle is on the stove, the tea is in the pot, your special mug is on the table and here is your soda bread. Put you feet up and enjoy your tea and soda bread before you go out in the cold again. There is hay in the barn if the reindeer need a snack.”
Grandma Maureen’s eyes got moist as she continued,”In the morning I’d find crumbs on the plate and a few drops of tea in the mug with a note written under the bottom of mine that read, “Thanks for the snack! Look to the side of the mantle for your present.” It was signed Santa.
The “Can Do” grands did just what grandma did as a child, but since they all made a soda bread, they each left a slice for Santa and took the rest home for Christmas breakfast with their parents. Grandma reminded them that when they came for dinner the next day, to look under the tree for a gift from Santa.
Grandma Maureen said, “I know Santa will leave a present for each of you. I also know that Santa will be so pleased with the soda bread you made him!”
