The following is a true account of an evening I spent in a small bedsit room in the Alfama district of Lisbon, Portugal in 1974.
December had thrown its chill cloak over Lisbon, the nights had turned towards Christmas, bone-cold, silent and dripping with pendulous stars.
I finished dinner around 8.00, and as I slumped into an armchair, my limbs heavy with food and my head thick with red wine, there came a soft knocking at the door.
I opened it and was confronted by five or six small tousle-haired urchins aged around 6 or 7.
Their leader was a cherubic Moreno boy, his hair tight with curls, black as pitch and framing a face that seemed to move like water in the light of the lantern he held.
He bade me, ‘Boa noite senhor. Feliz Natal’, then gravely issued a few hushed instructions to his companions.
After some preliminary shuffling and nudging, they began to sing with diamond-clear voices that seemed to slice through the chill night air. Sharp, falsetto and unutterably beautiful.
They sang of a child born in a stable; of a star hanging in the night sky, of The Virgin and the lowing of the beasts that stood over the infant.
As I watched and listened, it felt for all the world as if the tidings they were bringing were new, the joy still fresh.
A tiny, doll-like girl, took up a solo and sang in a voice so clear and pitched so high that one felt stripped and shriven of all sin.
As she sang, the others watched her with solemn eyes, lips pursed, ready to enter the chorus. Their heads appeared disembodied, floating in the night air like Botticelli spirits.
And looking at this ragged little bunch, I believed all that they told me. For they were bone-thin with eyes that swam with disease and knew what it was to sleep on beds of straw.
After giving them what few coins I had and some thick slices of bread and jam, I closed the door and returned to my armchair.
I sat motionless for some time, listening to the chatter of passers-by in the street below, staring thoughtfully through the bare window at the quartered Iberian moon pinned against the black night sky.
Feliz Natal, os meus amigos!
Apologies for posting this one again folks. It’s one of a series of short stories about my time in Lisbon that I wrote some years ago. It tells of fond memories of a Christmas long ago and we could all use some of those. – Ed
December 24, 2022 at 3:41 am
Beautiful. I wish you’d write more posts like this.
Have a wonderful Christmas, Mr Whelk. xxx
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December 24, 2022 at 5:56 am
Thank you, my lovely and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours x
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December 24, 2022 at 6:17 am
I remember this. Nice to read it again. Merry Christmas to you!
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December 24, 2022 at 7:05 am
Cheers Audrey and a very Merry Christmas to you and all the ornamental elves in your garden.
Although, I do sometimes wonder. Haven’t they got a gnome to go to?! *seethe*
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December 24, 2022 at 7:28 am
A wonderful Christmas story. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful memory. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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December 24, 2022 at 8:39 am
My pleasure, Pegleg, glad you enjoyed it. May I now sieze this gilt-edged opportunity to wish you and yours a riotous Christmas and a jail-free New Year!
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December 24, 2022 at 8:20 am
By comparison a week or so ago, when the nights were indeed cold, and snow did lay all around, I heard a commotion as I came home to my South London suburb. Approaching from a neighbouring street was a great noise and gaudy colourful light. I knew it instantly to have something to do with the festive season, and I hoped for a moment that the crass noise was some sort of introduction to some more natural rendition of anything Christmassy. As it came around the corner, I saw it in its full horror. A generator, mounted on a the back of one of these 4 x 4 open backed truck/oversized car thingies, and festooned in plasticey disney lights. I fled into my front door just as they were drawing near, but recognised briefly the symbol of the Rotary Club, on the tabard of one of the pedestrian escorts to this foul show, and I felt a pang of guilt, as I know that they do raise money for good causes. I slammed the door shut, and bolted up to my attic abode where I found my dear wife in a state of distress.
Where did we go so wrong?
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December 24, 2022 at 8:41 am
I used to think that The Rotary Club was a society for lawnmower enthusiasts. Thanks a bunch for shattering my illusions!
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December 24, 2022 at 9:51 am
Happy Christmas. That is a wonderful story .
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December 24, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Thank you kindly. Praise indeed from a proud Scot. 🙂
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December 24, 2022 at 4:30 pm
But truly it a lovely, lovely story. I’ve just read it again there. And also for me because when I travel I don’t want the beaten to death track of a place, I want the places like this. SO thank you again for retelling it.
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December 24, 2022 at 7:07 pm
That’s very kind of you and much appreciated. Merry Christmas!
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December 25, 2022 at 9:35 am
You too. Have a wonderful day.
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December 24, 2022 at 9:51 am
It is worth it to read again and again, my good friend. Wishing you a lovely season.
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December 24, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Yes, well don’t read it for too long. You still need to get my Xmas present! ;P
Merry Christmas, my good friend!
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December 24, 2022 at 12:51 pm
Merry Christmas. You can post this every year, it’s beautiful.
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December 24, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Thank you kindly young man. Your kindness belies your tender years 🙂
A very Merry Christmas to you, junior!
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December 24, 2022 at 4:11 pm
No apology needed for such a very beautiful story! I enjoyed reading it again. Wishing you and your family a Happy Christmas and New Year!
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December 24, 2022 at 4:23 pm
Thank you very much. You’re very kind.
An exceedingly Merry Christmas to you and those you hold dear…and I don’t mean your bookie and off-licence manager!
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December 25, 2022 at 9:50 pm
Merry Christmas!
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December 26, 2022 at 4:05 am
And to you too, dear boy!
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December 26, 2022 at 6:40 am
A lovely remembrance! There is no reason not to repost it each year as it is a perfect fit and there will always be people who missed it before.
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December 26, 2022 at 7:38 am
Thanks Weggers. In that case, I shall post it every year, and if I get any flack over it, I shall put the blame fairly and squarely at your door.
Merry Christmas, my friend!
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December 26, 2022 at 11:22 pm
Good for you! I’d feel terrible if you had to take any shit for posting something I insisted you post! I’m an old fart, besides, and will likely drop dead before anyone can complain about me making this request!
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