While families are making Christmas memories this holiday season, many Butler County residents recall special events surrounding Christmas in the past.

Here is what some people remember as memorable Christmases.

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“The first year we were married in 1993 we bought a beautiful tree — they look smaller outside — but it took three people to carry it to our truck. It broke two tree stands. When we got it up, we cut the baling rope,. and whoosh, it took up the whole living room.

“By the next morning, it was on its side, and we had to saw its branches off to get it out the door. We ended up buying a Charlie Brown Christmas tree because that’s all that was left.”

David and Jacque Puchnick, Butler———“As a boy, we had a little cardboard fireplace that had cost my mother 52-cents in 1958. It had a ‘brick mantel,’ a ‘log fire’ and a metal light we turned on. We still have it, and we put it up every year.”

Jim Zdilla, Renfrew———“When I was 14, I woke up at my dad’s house and I got a guitar for Christmas. I had wanted one the whole year.”

Trista Fischer, Butler———“Every Christmas Eve the whole family went to my grandmother’s house in West Virginia, where we lived then. It was wonderful.”

Randy Stalnaker, Butler———“My kids would all come in from college on Christmas Eve from Penn State, Behrend. They’d be there Christmas morning and we’d all open presents together.”

Karen Atkison, West Sunbury———“We moved here from McKeesport in 1976. We’d always brought our kids to the parade, and one year it was particularly bitter cold and windy. So I ran down to the Army-Navy store to buy wool blankets to bundle them up.“After the parade, we walked the whole way back to the car before I realized my son only had one boot on!”

Jack Fields, Connoquenessing———“Two years ago I got a sled that I use every year.”

Gabe Slagle, Butler———“My husband’s family lived in Iowa. So along with his brother’s family, eight of us packed up a pick-up truck with a camper on the back and drove to Iowa.“The four kids slept on bunks and we made coffee to keep us awake. We traveled all night and when we got there we had a wonderful Christmas, the kind you wouldn’t forget.”

Cleo Black, Butler———“In 1950, we got a bicycle for three of us boys. That was great back then. I have six sisters and five brothers.”

Jim McCune, Butler———“When we were children in the 1950s, the crowds in Butler were enormous. Troutman’s had animated figures and the elevators were packed. There was Jaffe’s, and Penny Aland’s Toyland was so crowded.“I wish my children could have seen it.”

Patty Flanigan, Butler———“From 1969 to 1980 I marched in the Christmas parades with the General Butler Vagabonds. I was in the horn line.”

G. Stephen Bajcz, Butler———“As a parent, my favorite memory is watching my son, Matt Cole, march in the parade with the Golden Tornado band. He plays the trombone.”

Brenda Cole, Butler———“We were talking about this just last night, about having dinner at my parents’ house. My mother made the best roast beef. It was great having everybody together opening presents, and then the paper battle after.”

Patti McCool, Harrisburg, originally from Butler———“When I was in the Navy, Christmas was pretty exciting. I was volunteered by my supervisor to be Santa for all of the kids where I was stationed (in Alaska).”

David Holmes, Butler———“I had nine brothers and sisters, and we lived on a large property, so we always used to go out and cut our own tree down. We had a big house, so it was always a big tree.“I’ll also always remember my mom’s stainless steel kettle. It must be 150 years old, and I still use it to make hard tack candy every year.”

Anna Marie Stanyard, Slippery Rock———“I’ll always remember our first Christmas with our daughter last year, having our first Christmas as a family.”

Kristen Hilliard, Butler———“We lived in Norway, where my father was stationed in the Air Force, and on Christmas Eve one year, we heard bells ringing outside.“We looked out the window, and there was a horse pulling a real sleigh carriage. It was the most beautiful thing.”

Marcie Schnur, Butler———“I was away at college and hadn’t been home in a year. I drove home Christmas Eve and when I got there, my whole family was there and all the presents were under the tree. It was like being a little kid all over again.”

Bill Weatherly, Harmony