January 8,  2010 

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Mother Goodie rings in new year
 by Susan Esposito

 

There are many New Year's Day traditions around the world, and one of the interesting ones can be found on Campobello Island and a few other Canadian communities where Mother Goodie looks through the keyhole and, if you've been good, brings gifts.

"You always hang your stocking on the mantle for Mother Goodie," says Campobello native Wanda Newman, who has two siblings. "We'd get a little toy, but mostly it was filled with fruit, nuts and candy."

Her father, Bill Newman, grew up in Wilson's Beach in a family of nine children, and they always celebrated Mother Goodie, says Wanda, who "absolutely" gives Mother Goodie gifts to her children. "Even though the baby's 26, it's hard to break tradition."

"Also, when we were growing up on the island, the first person that came to your house on New Year's Day would get a dozen doughnuts," recalls Newman. "Kids would wish you, 'Happy New Year!' If the kids weren't the first to arrive, my mother would give out change."

"It gets you out of the house," she points out about the tradition.

Dorinda Davis of Wilson's Beach is not sure of Mother Goodie's origin, "but my mother, Sandra Brunet, celebrated it as kid. There were seven in her family. She did it for us, and I do it for my kids. It's tradition."

The gifts "are something I forgot to give them for Christmas," says Davis. "I throw in little somethings like socks and a movie."

"It's a Campobello thing," says Davis, referring to natives of the island. "People who have moved here don't celebrate it."

She has young relatives in Lubec who were jealous of the Mother Goodie visits and "always wanted to come over and spend [New Year's Eve] night in Campobello."

Gertie (Taylor) Pulk of Eastport celebrates Mother Goodie because her father, who grew up in Back Bay, carried on the tradition. "There were four of us, and we always had Mother Goodie on New Year's Eve," she recalls. The Taylors didn't hang up stockings. Instead, Mother Goodie left presents by the Christmas tree. "We didn't take the tree down until afterward."

Recalling the type of gift Mother Goodie gave out, she says with a chuckle, "It wasn't anything giant, but it could be something to wear or a piece of jewelry. Something that they forgot to give you for Christmas."

The following poem, entitled "Mother Goodie," is by Ruby Hunter Greenlaw, a Grand Manan native who spent time on Campobello.

We have a little custom

On the island where I live

We call it "Mother Goodie Night"

It was only for the kids. 

When New Year came it was quite a time

For all the grown-ups to dance and wine,

But for children of other places

They weren't allowed to show their faces. 

But way back home on Campobello Isle,

We had Mother Goodie, who came for a while.

We'd hang our stockings up that night,

And she'd fill them up. Oh! What a sight! 

There'd be an orange in the toe,

A polished apple, all aglow,

Then came some candies from the store.

What kid could ask for more? 

I've kept her for my family too,

And told some others what to do.

All my grandkids think she's a fright,

But thinks she's great on Mother Goodie Night. 

I'd like to share her with all of you

So you could have Mother Goodie too.

She'll bring you candy, fruit and toys,

Because she loves her girls and boys.

 

January 8,  2010     (Home)     

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