Toys you remember from your childhood Christmas

A large dolls house, I remember wondering how it had come down the chimney. Our lovely neighbour had made curtains and carpeted it for me, they nicknamed it Balmoral. Also one year a cash register then later on a train case, loved the names in the paintbox, rose madden, burnt sienna, can’t remember any more!

Like the OP I had a paintbox with little squares of paint colours. Unusual names I thought - Gamboge (an orangey yellow), coral pink, vermilion, Prussian blue, Cobalt blue and too many more to mention. Post office set, Etch a Sketch and a Diana annual every year which was read from cover to cover many times.

The ones I remember are those Dinky Toys or Corgi Toys , the difference between them was Dinky did not have windows or gadgets like the Corgi range.
Mick

A dolls house built by my Dad when I was 6 my Mum made me furniture out of matchboxes covered in green velvet. Dad made my brother a garage the same year he was 4. My grand parents bought me some kitchen items and tiny dolls that legs were stiff so the couldn’t sit on the lovely arm chairs. I loved that house and spent many happy times making furniture rugs etc.

A John Bull printing set and a Post Office set. I was born to be a civil servant

Someone mentioned "We'll see".
That was the stock response to asking for something for Christmas in our house.
You really did have to wait and see, too, because you didn't always get what you'd yearned for.

My brother also got quite a lot of Meccano and also a Bendy rabbit I think he was called Brer? Rabbit. Also when we had made our Christmas lists there was the excitement of setting fire to them and sending them up the chimney to Santa ? I expect health and safety would have something to say about that these days but it was innocent pleasure and also we were always so grateful for what we received, it may not have been much compared to what kids receive today but I think I was a lot happier than a lot of children today with my Christmas presents because that was the only time we had anything, maybe a small something on my birthday but Christmas was the big one for toys, such a shame it isn’t like that now, I think with my own grandchildren they have far too much and I have to really rack my brains to think what to get them.. i’m seriously thinking of opening bank accounts for them if any banks do bother with children savings accounts these days

My Girls Crystal annual was usually my big present. One year I got a muffin the mule string puppet. He was made of metal and lasted for ages. I also got one of those things that you press the bottom and the creature on top wriggle and jiggles about. Don’t know what they’re called.

Whitewavemark2

Anyone remember the magic painting books?

Yes I remember those. You just used a paintbrush dipped in water and the colours would magically appear. They were very wussy washy colours as I recall.

My brother always got Meccano from an Aunt but he never wanted it! I couldnt wait to get my hands on it. Much better than the silly dolls one Aunt kept giving me. I was always a Tomboy & never have changed! Very ungrateful child at times!

Walking, talking doll that walked like Frankenstein if you held it by the shoulders and forced it along. The talking was limited to Mama.
A toy cash register, Rupert Bear annuals, colouring books, crayons. Not all in the same year.
I remember longing for a dolls house but never got one. Don’t think my parents knew but anyway they probably couldn’t afford anything like that.

Every year we would sit down to write our Christmas lists. At the top was the main present followed by a selection of smaller ones and ending up with chocolate - which was always a selection stocking made of net and a tube of smarties. I can remember receiving my first pair of stockings - lace ones with a suspender belt to go with a kilt and polo neck jumper. Must have been about 11. I felt very grown up.

When I turned 13 I was in teen territory! And Aqua Manda was the must have fragrance! Still would love it , deep warm spicy mysterious.......bit like my sock drawer at the time....

i don't remember having many toys. However, my great aunt used to make the most delicious fudge for us children. Each piece was individually wrapped and put in boxes she had carefully and beautifully covered with bright paper and ribbons. They were really special.
Another great aunt was good at embroidery. I treasured the things she made for me and keep them safe.

A dinosaur 'theatre' !! A big cardboard stage with cellophane covering the stage gap filled with plastic dinosaurs in scenarios with little cavemen! It delighted me so much ! I kept some of the dinosaurs and painted with oils from painting by numbers! A gay box that I broke trying to put together myself aged 5 and never got it replaced☹️ shiny red apple satsuma in pillowcase with presents and dates Brazil nuts to try and crack! Pretty peach set by Avon from my aunty, lovely. I was 12 so bit different from a full body tan HD brows Mani/pedi and waxing voucher sold at local spa for 12 yr olds!!

When I was seven (1930) I was given a life size six month baby bisque headed baby doll, Billy Boy. I still have him.
Another time a little table and two chairs. My sister was at the same time given a Worcester dolls tea set so we had lots of tea parties. We always had one expensive present.

I always had a Magic Drawing Board in my pillowcase along with a chocolate Smokers Set, I also remember Bendy Toys I think I had a Rupert Bear. A face filled with iron filings and a little stick with a magnet to give him a beard, eyebrows, hair. Cut out Dress a Dolly books.

Oh yes,Avon pretty peach,it was really lovely

Oooooooo, pretty peach, soap on a rope. Sugar mice, Milly, Molly Mandy books.
One Christmas morning when I woke up, at the end of my bed was a baby doll dressed in the most beautiful clothes with her own shawl. Mum used to knit for a magazine her baby shawls were so beautiful and intricate. Happy days.

The first Xmas present I remember was an earthenware doll - a big baby doll! I was bitterly disappointed. I had clearly asked Father Xmas for a small doll with lots of clothes, he obviously hadn't listened, this baby doll had one outfit - Boo-hoo!

I had much of what has been mentioned here but an unwelcome present comes back to mind.

Whilst I was downstairs, mum put a small bedroom chair in my room and also replaced my beloved cuddly yellow candlewick bedspread with a new quilted slippy shiny one.

I tried not to show too much disappointment but after a few days mum asked if I wanted my old one back. I was over the moon.

Spirograph

Zoejory, I always wanted a Katie Kopycat but never had one. I was very lucky though. When I was six l had my Tiny Tears doll, Deborah, and my mum knitted her a lovely set of clothes. I had a Casdon cash register at that time too, probably from my grandparents. My mum kept packets and tins and I had a lot of fun playing shops. As I grew older l had a Lilliput typewriter, Sindy and Sindy bedroom furniture, Pippa and Britt dolls and when I was eleven l had a cassette recorder. I would always have books and at least one annual. Jack and Jill, Twinkle or Pippin when I was very small and Bunty and Judy when I was older. I had a post office set and, as a bookish child, used the stamper in my books to play libraries.

Various dolls with hand-knitted and sewn clothes - I played with dolls until I was about 14.

A doll' s cooker with a full set of saucepans, frying pans, baking trays, grater, ladles - you name it. If you could use it in a kitchen it was there in minature.

Annuals from the comics we read as children.