Thursday, December 6, 2012

A Cup of Christmas Tea

For me, Tom Hegg's book, A Cup of Christmas Tea, is as much a part of the Christmas Season as reading the Biblical account of Jesus' birth in Chapter 2 of Luke's Gospel. 

It's a tradition to have the short book read at our Annual Church Ladies' Christmas Tea, and even though I know the story well, it always moves my heart.

The book was published in 1982 and Guidepost magazine featured an article Tom Hegg wrote in their December 1992 issue, when the book celebrated its tenth anniversary.


Tom Hegg was asked to write and perform something for his church's 125th anniversary in December 1981.   He struggled to come up with an idea, but finally one night after his family had gone to bed, he sat down to write, and the words to a poem [about an elderly, invalid, great-aunt who hoped her nephew could make time to drop by for a cup of Christmas tea] began to flow from his pen.

Tom finished the poem three days later and titled it, "A Cup of Christmas Tea."  He related how his knees shook when he got up to read it in church, and when he finished there was silence.  He hastily concluded his poem was inappropriate for such a special occasion, when the congregation erupted in applause that didn't stop.  As they rose to their feet, many were wiping tears from their eyes.

In the days that followed, he was asked again and again where the book could be purchased, but at that point there was no book.   He contacted Warren Hanson about illustrating his book [which is another story] and then he proceeded to find a publisher.   It was a dead end because he was told poems didn't sell and holiday books were too seasonal.  Tom's parents loaned him $10,000 to self-publish 5,000 copies.   They were a sell-out in local bookstores, but Tom barely broke even.  It was then that he received a phone call from the owner of one of the Midwest's largest book distributors who had heard about the book - Ned Waldman.  He asked if he could come to see Tom.   Mr. Waldman wept as Tom read his poem and when he was finished, Mr. Waldman asked permission to publish it as a tribute to the lady who raised him the first five years of his life.   His mother died when he was only two months old, and the family's housekeeper raised him until he went to live with one of his aunts.  Mr. Waldman didn't remember childhood memories from school, but he remembered the Christmases spent with Adele in the early years of his life that were so similar to those described in Tom's poem.

In 1992 when the Guidepost article was written, "A Cup of Christmas Tea" had sold over 500,000 copies.  I don't know what the count for the bestseller is today.

Tom ended his Guidepost article by asking, "Want to do something monumental this holiday season?  Call someone you loved as a child, or someone you haven't seen for a while, who might be having trouble getting out.  Go visit them, and settle in for a talk over a cup of Christmas tea."

The sequel, A Memory of Christmas Tea was published in 1999. 

My bone china Cup of Christmas Tea teapot and teacups are dated 1992, while the sugar and creamer and cookie plate are dated 1998.  The china design is identical to Warren Hanson's illustration of the great-aunt's Christmas china in the book, and is highly collectible. 

Below is my collection, plus miniature Christmas tree ornaments that aren't pictured. 


There are more pieces to the china that I don't have, but I'm grateful for what I've got.

  
I have never opened my commemorative tin of Christmas Tea, but it's a black tea with almond, cherry, and orange natural and artificial flavorings, and a product of Holland.


You don't have to purchase the book to read the wonderful poem.  Googling "A Cup of Christmas Tea" will bring up several links.   It'll be worth your time if you've never read it, but be sure to have a tissue handy because it will pull on your heartstrings!





14 comments:

  1. I don't know why, but I had never read that poem! I just looked it up online and read it for the first time. How wonderful! Thank you for sharing this post about Christmas Tea (and your Christmas Tea china is lovely!).

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  2. I love this book too and have such warm memories of hearing it read aloud at a very special ladies' Christmas tea some years ago. It was one of the most intimate teatimes I have ever had the pleasure of sharing, made all the more so since one of the hostesses for that event is now in heaven. Sweet, sweet memories! Wish I'd been collecting the pretty teawares as long as you! But I did find the teapot for $8 last year, which I thought was one of my best finds of the year!

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  3. It is such a special book...and part of my Christmas every year reads. Wonderful post!
    Ruth

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  4. Hi Phyllis,
    I enjoyed this post so very much! I have heard and seen the book, but for some reason never purchased it. When I found my teapot recently I knew the name sounded familiar. Now that I've read your post my teapot means all the more to me. Thank you so much! Can you believe I only paid seven dollars for it at a antique mall in Green Bay Wisconsin! It was sitting there all dusty, just waiting for me! Have a great weekend!
    Nancy

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  5. This story is so beautiful. I'm pulling it out now to read at home with my niece. Thank you for the reminder!

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  6. The one book I don't have in my tea library is this. I just added it to my Wish List and will order the next time I order books. The teaware to go along with the book is just lovely.

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  7. Years ago I had Tom Hegg for a theater teacher at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. He was a wonderful teacher and an energetic, encouraging and kind man, just as you would expect of someone who has written such a thoughtful and sensitive story. All these years later I especially remember his kindness. Julie P.

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  8. Where can I purchase or order the tin of Christmas tea shown in the picture in this article?

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  9. I have this wonderful book and several others that Tom and Warren have done together. I love to give for gifts. AWESOME

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  10. I have been searching for this tea for years. Does anyone know where I can buy this? It is one of the most wonderful teas and I always think of it at Christmas.

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  11. Where can I buy the tea?I have the tea set and love the tea. Is there an address on your can or phone number?

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  12. This blog was... how do I say it? Relevant!!
    Finally I've found something whicdh helped me.
    Kudos!

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  13. Hello, I found this book which touched my heart of hearts and I bring out every Xmas! It gives me hope to one day be with my grandson again, Alexander David Gordan, that I love dearly and always will! I hope this reaches you! Nana XOXO

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  14. Where can I buy the tea? I got it as a gift one year and love it!

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