An old fashioned Christmas. 🌲🎄

We watched that last year and were enchanted by it. Although my boys saw it when it originally came out, I didn’t recall much of it. The production values were so high. Although the special effects are nothing like as sophisticated as today, the first class script and the actors were top notch. No dumbing down because it was pitched at children!

I remember watching it but soon went off it as I thought it was a bit posh for posh people.

I agree about the magic of Chrsitmas though- for me it still lies in the music which can transport me back to childhood in just a few notes...

My memories of Christmas in the 50s are mainly the Christmas tree covered in real candles, and the smell of my grandfather's cigars. He once brought home some fantastically expensive crackers which were so beautifully decorated that we saved the decorations and used them on the tree for years. Real treats were frozen peas with the dinner. Not having a freezer this was the only time we had them, and I would be given a maraschino cherry on a cocktail stick in my squash, which was very grown up! I still have the beautiful embroidered Christmas table cloth which must be over 100 years old and still comes out every year.

Back then Christmas wasn’t commercialised with adverts starting in October and people putting up their trees in November. I really don’t like what it has become. My parents would put up the tree just before Christmas, and presents were never more than a book or doll, perhaps a game, and some chocolate. My parents never gave each other anything because they spent their money on us.
It was magical because we gained so much joy from the simplicity of Christmas, the tree, the candles/lights, and just being with our loved ones. Or at least that is how I remember it.

I watched The Box of Delights and The Children of Green Knowe last Christmas and possibly the year before, too. It has an internet fan base. Also listened to The Dark is Rising on BBC Sounds; I only discovered that recently. They all made me feel like a child again but also took me back to being a mother with young children. I’ve got just a few of the baubles from my mums tree but there’s a shop I’m going to next week that is selling retro ornaments. I still like to buy a few new ones each year. Such memories of going to Woolworths to buy presents for people and a local shop where me and my dad bought mum’s Californian Poppy perfume.

SueDonim

We watched that last year and were enchanted by it. Although my boys saw it when it originally came out, I didn’t recall much of it. The production values were so high. Although the special effects are nothing like as sophisticated as today, the first class script and the actors were top notch. No dumbing down because it was pitched at children!

A lot of the snow was real. And they were in a real canal at the end. They actually got into trouble for damaging a real building with their pyrotechnics. I’m going away for three weeks and was going to start watching it when I got back but think I’ll take it with me in case I want to start early

I watched it - and then read the book it is based on and absolutely loathed it.

I think this posh not posh nonsense is silly we should all be capable of reading books about all kinds of people in all kinds of places doing all kinds of things, or, in future will all books have to have a social grading warning on the cover?

Babs03

Back then Christmas wasn’t commercialised with adverts starting in October and people putting up their trees in November. I really don’t like what it has become. My parents would put up the tree just before Christmas, and presents were never more than a book or doll, perhaps a game, and some chocolate. My parents never gave each other anything because they spent their money on us.
It was magical because we gained so much joy from the simplicity of Christmas, the tree, the candles/lights, and just being with our loved ones. Or at least that is how I remember it.

I agree, Christmas wasn’t the long, drawn out affair it is now.

I remember the postman bringing a parcel from an auntie who lived ‘away’, it arrived Christmas Eve, which was perfect.

Heard on the regional news the other night that a garden centre started putting the Christmas stuff out straight after August Bank Holiday.

And we wonder why we are fed up with it, the whole shebang!

In Scotland in the sixties, Christmas wasn't the big celebration, New Year was. At Christmas we had a chicken, not a turkey. Mum made lots of vegetables and their was one pudding, usually trifle. My paternal grandparents came for dinner and invariably fell out. My presents were second hand -not that I knew that at the time - and much appreciated. Mum spent hours knitting clothes for new dolls at night when I was in bed. It was a simpler time but I look back with gratitude

I tried watching Box of Delights but didn’t get in with it. I have very mixed memories of Christmas as a child, there was a lot of tension. Now I love my relaxed Christmases with my DD and family.

A brilliant idea and one that I will adopt for next year. Being ultra organised, I have bought most of my gifts. I have mentioned this to one of my DD's and she wholeheartedly agrees. Saves money and reduces the mountain of plastic and paper.

I used to volunteer at a high street charity shop and Christmas cards would arrive in July/August, as would new goods - Christmas ornaments etc. Is all about big business and I understand that this is one of the most lucrative times for shops, but it feels like it is just one big con. Another good reason for us to scale back, and for families without much money it must be the worst time of year.

We always had Christmas with my maternal grandparents My grandad loved Christmas Nan was the cook… me being an only child amongst four adults it could get a bit boring after the first flush but I did love it
We too had real candles (what a fire hazard and no fire alarms in those days) on a real tree and ceiling decorations using drawing pins and going from one corner of the room to to middle and then to the other corner
My dad always bought me a Rupert album, even long after I had got past them 🤣and I d have an Enid Blyton of some kind and sit happily reading sometimes playing board games
My grandad used to put a little table tree in the middle of the table with a ribbon and a little present to each place setting
Nan would be busy cooking We always had celery and ham for tea and my grandad bought a jar of pickled walnuts( I use to love them) and remember cracking the nuts with silver coloured nut crackers
Boxing Day would be visiting my other grandparents I don’t remember presents from them maybe there was and I just dont remember and going for windy walks on the seafront
Then it was over fir another year and back to normal

I m sure the build up was only a week or two
Now our charity shop had to put the cards out start of September and the Christmas clothes and good as new presents end of October They have been flying off the shelves I m sure we won’t have any left soon but totally spoils it I think

It was simple but so much better. The Christmas tree, the scent of pine. The stockings at the end of the bed, a real treat in the bottom, a mandarin orange! Present opening. Notes made so we wrote our thank you letters on Boxing Day. Dear Auntie G who never saw us, but without fail sent a modest postal order.

And the meal! A whole roast chicken! then, if weather permitted, out into the street with the news skates or similar to play out as other kids emerged post big dinner.

My memories in the early early 60’s are rekindled every year, we always had a real tree, as I do now, we still preserve some traditions inherited from my Mum and Dad. I love Christmas.
One of my greatest pleasures in the lead up is coming downstairs in the morning, switching the tree lights on and just sitting quietly with the smell of pine and glow of lights reviving memories.

BlueBelle

I m sure the build up was only a week or two
Now our charity shop had to put the cards out start of September and the Christmas clothes and good as new presents end of October They have been flying off the shelves I m sure we won’t have any left soon but totally spoils it I think

In early September I remarked in a charity shop that the Christmas cards were already out- I suppose in a slightly sniffy way.
The person behind the counter said more and more people want to spread the cost- and this made me change my attitude a little.
However when I was little my parents had very little money and eleven kids so I'm not sure it is all about spreading the cost.
I made a decision last year that I would buy earlier but I haven't- maybe there will be nothing left by mid-December but I'll take that risk...

My parents had pubs with restaurants when I was growing up.

These were decorated on 1st December, then it was all go until New Years Day.

I can remember them being so very tired, the pub opened from 12-2pm on Christmas Day, my maternal Granny was always with us. I remember helping her cook the lunch on our huge professional kitchen from a very early age.

One year I woke up and Santa hadn’t been went into their bedroom they were sound asleep. Santa had left my stocking in Mum’s wardrobe, as apparently he thought I was awake.

When I had my children Mum confessed that they had just been so busy they fell into bed and forgot.

I remember sitting on a stool at the corner of the bar, with someone playing the enormous grand piano, other memories are of all the Christmas music on the Juke Box when it arrived I was fascinated by it. This would have been mid sixties.

I have to admit that the Christmasses of my childhood weren't magic.
My mother hated the season and complained a great deal about the chaos and expense.

I tried to give my childhood wonderful memorable Christmasses .

I've spent the last three Christmas days with my neighbours.
They are a family ,who are continually at war with each other .
They never stop complaining about each other continuing this habit throughout the year .
If invited,I'll spend most of Christmas day waiting for the lunch .
It is always burnt and almost stone cold .
The grown up daughters sit around the table glued to their phones and wanting to be elsewhere.
Gifts that I buy for them aren't even acknowledged with a bat of the eyelid.
Their faces faces remain impassive.
Their parents don't speak to each other .
I usually sit drinking wine with the husband who is completely ignored by the rest of his family .
I make attempts at conversation and feel like a court jester with bells on my hat.

My father was in the army, so we never knew from one year to the next where we would be next Christmas. During my childhood I had Christmases in six different places in the Uk and in 3 different countries in Asia and 2 in Europe.

However whereever we were, Christmas day was alwayss the same. It meant no matter where we were we had Christmas traditions and knew exactly how the day would go. All these traditions came into the family from my father, whose own father had also been in the army and introduced these fixed traditions to his family. It meant that when my sister and I spent one Christmas with our grandparents, the day was identical to the one we would have had at home

Thanks for the tip, I'd never heard of BOD. Started watching it last night on BBC iplayer, it's lovely.

I thought my childhood christmases were magical and tried to re-create it with my own children.

I suppose shops nowadays have to order their supplies months in advance, then have to put it all out in November to make room for the Easter eggs....

We get out the Christmas mugs and tea towels on 1 December, don't have anything else special. Oh and always kedgeree on Christmas Eve, no idea why.

No magic of childhood Christmasses for me. Of course back then only New Year counted in Scotland. We did get presents from Dad's kind patients. Things like diaries, books and home made tablet (which we weren't allowed to eat). My kind Gran did her best and bought us actual toys or items that we wanted. My other Granny gave up practical presents like clothes. No fun though. On alternate years lunch would be with one set of grandparents at the golf club or a roast lunch at the other grandparents. Nice but not festive.

Esmay. Stay home...dont go to those neighbours. It sounds awful