An old fashioned Christmas. 🌲🎄

Goodness me, why on earth do you join them, I would rather be on my own and cook a ready meal that endure that experience.

I’m not a fan of modern Christmas, but as a child it was without a doubt the most magical time of the year. Looking back I have no idea how our divorced mother managed to make it so wonderful, a full pillowcase each although I don’t have much memory of what was in them, apart from an Enid Blyton book which we devoured.

As for Christmas decorations, I used to loathe seeing them so early, until one year we went to Switzerland at the end of January, and they were still about every where. I was told that they are not Christmas decorations, but winter decorations, put up early and taken down late to bring cheer to long dark nights, so I look at them a bit differently now.

I wonder how many people can remember making paper chains for Christmas? It stays in my memory - maybe we did it every year. And the magic of a tree with lit candles is another lovely memory.

It's on my Christmas essential viewing list which I try to watch every year. The story, cast and locations are enchanting.

I must watch it, I personally have decided to go retro with my decorations.I ordered shiny garlands ceiling decorations and multicoloured baubles online.my kids and grandchildren will be surprised.
Back to the 70s and 80s

My everlasting memory of a Christmas back then was 1960, I was three and a half. Went to bed on Christmas Eve, house not decorated. Woke up on Christmas morning to a stocking on my bed which contained a small tin plate 'musical box' which I loved although it wasn't very tuneful 😂. When my Dad carried me downstairs into the front room I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a decorated Christmas tree, decorations hanging from the ceiling, Christmas cards on the mantlepiece and presents around the tree. My parents must have worked like crazy to do this. It was the first year my parents had rented the whole house rather than just the first floor so it was a special time for all of us.

I cannot remember when I last bought a Cristmas decoration. 10 years or more. in our last house, and old house in a village I cut variagated holly from the tree in the garden, I went foraging along local footpaths, secateurs in hand for ivy and draped that everywhere, then added ribbons I bought years ago. The tree had decorations dating back to childhood plus decorations made or given to me.

I am not sure what i will do thiss year we have moved house, old house in a town centre. There is a little bit of holly in the garden. I have contemplated the ivy in the churchyard, but decided that would be theft, and if I did it, others would and the churchyard would be denuded. But as all our belongings including Christmas decorations will not be delivered to our new home from storage until 12December, thee is nothing I can do until then.

Calendargirl, it must be 25 years ago now that a neighbour - slightly older than me - asked what colour Christmas tree we were having that year.
‘Er, green?’
What she meant, of course, was the ‘theme’ - every year she’d buy a whole new set of tree decorations, in red or silver or whatever. While complaining of being hard up!

apart from the Christmases when my DS was young, with cousins, they were lovely.

but its not generally been good for me, too many echoes long past. (tricky childhood ones)

My best Christmas expect for when DS was young, and we met up with cousins en famille, it was in my 20's, in the 1970's.

I lived in a fairly "alternative lifestyle" area inner city, and was not particularly going to do much, when word got around that X and Y were having a Christmas get together - bring food and booze.

We all had the best time ever 🙂

(btw, others in the family were having Mum, prior arrangement, or I would have of course stepped in)

Always loved Christmas, but my husband died then. Glad I remember all the lovely ones before. I loved seeing the extended family when I was young. Tried to recreate it for my own children. Then one estranged some years ago. I would always keep the magic for children however I felt.

This thread tells us what is so different about Christmas ‘now and back then’.

Just the simplicity of it, the modest presents, food, decorations.

Now it all seems about excess, presents, food, drink, the huge trees and decorations….

On our local Facebook page, I pointed out to DH a young mum we know was advertising for sale a 7 foot Christmas tree, plus a box of 150 ‘immaculate’ blue and silver baubles, plus indoor and outdoor lights, ‘no longer needed’.

I said “Looks like ‘Jane’ is having a change of colour scheme this year for her Christmas decorations’.

(Unlike us, with our many years of same tree and decorations ).

Goodness knows what presents her children will be getting.

Christmas was always magical as a child. I’m an only child but never a lonely child. We had a real tree which smelt Devine. Mam made Christmas lunch then me and dad walked to the cemetery with a holly wreath for his gran and aunty who brought him up. Boxing Day was cold meat and chips with pickled onions. Sat in front of the fire doing a jigsaw. Then visiting relatives the rest of the holiday. New Year’s Eve spent with next door neighbours. I loved it all.

I'm enjoying this lovely Christmas 🎄 thread, thank you, NanKate.

I look back on my Christmases of the 50's and 60's
getting up on Christmas morning,so excited finding my stocking filled with Tangerine,edinburgh rock, and sweets
presents on the chair,,,maybe a doll and a board game.and always a book, these were magical Christmases. not nearly as many toys as what the children get now ,,,but in my view so much better...

Loved both of those programmes. Watched with my own youngsters.
Christmas for me was sitting under the real pine tree reading my School Friend Annual.

Someone commented above about “gone cold” Christmas meals. I have noticed that no matter how posh the new kitchen is - and there have been a few super posh ones recently fitted at various younger families houses, the diners aren’t as hot as they should be, often served on cold plates. In my opinion for all their “cheffy” ways I can’t say they are any better than what my Mum dished up (usually a two handed affair with Dad helping) and with lashings of gravy and hot hot hot!
Last couple of Christmas meals one nephew has fetched over his food warmer which made a great difference.
Mum in 70s did have a Hostess trolley though😃

My mother managed to make a nice Xmas for us in spite of my Scrooge father (the epitome), who went to bed for the day!
Tangerine in a stocking and she laid out our presents unwrapped on a chair for each child. Table top Xmas tree, corner to corner decorations and an annual, Girl or Eagle (my father worked for a printing company so got them free). Apart from that, no acknowledgement that it was Xmas😢

Things bucked up at an aunt’s house, uncle dressed as Father Christmas, good food and drink, piano playing and an aunt and uncle dancing and falling into the large corner Christmas tree.

I remember watching it with my children. The music is delightful

Christmas starts, when you want it to start, whatever the shops etc are doing.

Perhaps, I am fortunate, I watch very little television, so rarely see Christmas ads. I have seen none so far this year.

I have a Christmas planning spread sheet and I have already ordered all the kitchen meats, but getting into the mood, and getting out the decorations will start a week before Christmas as usual.

Christmas for me lasts the 12 days as it did in medieval times, starting 4 or 5 days before Christmas and ending on the the 1 or 2nd of January, slightly earlier than the tradional 12 days. DS andfaamily have until this year lived a 4 hour drive away and they come to us for a week during the Christmas period. I appreciate every moment with them.

Our tree has lametta too Witzend

Usedtobeblonde

Talking of presents in the pillowcase, who else had a John Bull printing set, so every new book and any bit of paper has a crooked inscription in it?
Also a miniature toy sewing machine, alas it never gave me a taste for sewing if any kind.

I had one of those! Also remember a toy post office, ditto sweet shop. And nearly always, a set of children’s stationery, for writing the dreaded thank you letters.

Witzend

Who else remembers working for the Christmas post in December? Our headmistress tried to forbid it but quite a few of us in the upper sixth ignored that and helped to deliver mail anyway. The cash was extremely welcome!

Oh yes. I did that one year.

Talking of presents in the pillowcase, who else had a John Bull printing set, so every new book and any bit of paper has a crooked inscription in it?
Also a miniature toy sewing machine, alas it never gave me a taste for sewing if any kind.

HelterSkelter1

I do miss our Woolworths this time of the year. It just felt so Christmassy without being over the top. Boxes of lametta I have never seen since. Both DDs had christmas jobs there. Thirty plus years flown by.

My son, when he was about 13 and had a paper round, bought some miniature tree decorations shaped like parcels from Woolies,and gave them to my elderly mum, who had a little artificial tree.

Off his own back, I had no idea he had thought of doing this, and they were ideal for her mini tree.

Was proud of him for being so thoughtful. Mum was thrilled with them.

Who else remembers working for the Christmas post in December? Our headmistress tried to forbid it but quite a few of us in the upper sixth ignored that and helped to deliver mail anyway. The cash was extremely welcome!