Back in Time for Christmas

I bought a Vienetta, for the family gathering today. It sparked off a lot of conversation and memories!

x

The savings stamps which I had were bought from the Post Office. One of them had a picture of Prince Charles who was just a boy. Another value had a picture of Princess Ann.

I did enjoy the programme but it wasn't that accurate in places. I was born in 1949 and can only remember turkey.....may be wrong. We weren't wealthy.
We made more effort decorating the tree. Have never heard of deep fried avocados and no anchovies and olives with or without spam.

Cabbage, sprouts, carrots and parsnips followed a pudding.

I certainly can't imagine my grandparents sitting down to Ox Heart! As far as I can remember it was always turkey. I think they were quite posh really, my grandfather used to get a turkey from one of the London markets on his way home. I checked with DH and he said his family always had a capon, but as an Italian family that's what they would have chosen anyway. I remember the big thrill in the late 50's was frozen peas! It was the only time we ever had them. I noticed there was no mention of candles on the Christmas tree, we didn't have fairy lights till the end of the 50's. One of our neighbours back then was Jewish and he had a Christmas tree for Hannukah (sp) which was absolutely smothered in candles.

Yes I had them too. I wasn't allowed to draw them out but when I was 11 I bought a bike with them and other money from my post offie book.

As a war baby, one gift I hated having was a card with savings stamps stuck on. This had to go into my savings account. I never saw the point of it as I never drew anything out. Anyone remember these?

Chicken was an annual treat at Christmas in the '40s. My mother had to do all the preparing of it. I remember her singeing the last of the feathers. They were our chickens and my DF dealt with the earlier bit. We did have a good supply of eggs during the bit of the war that I can remember, and during continuing rationing. Christmas presents were much appreciated - a doll, with handmade clothes, an annual, a bouncy ball, home- knitted jumpers and the usual postal orders from aunts and uncles. We had family favourites on the wireless and played games after lunch. A really exciting time.

We had chicken or pork. We were poor, no doubt about it, but we had wonderful Christmases. We never seemed to want for anything. (How did they manage it?)

My mother would have thrown her hands up in despair if she'd been given ox heart for Christmas dinner! I was a new baby in 1951 and my parents had duck. We always had either Turkey or goose when I was growing up. What happened to the tradition Christmas stocking fillers? We always had an apple, an orange, a sugar pig, a bag of chocolate money, a clockwork toy, a puzzle book and a small tin of toffees. The rest, if there was room was filled with other small, interesting items. I think I might have strayed away from what was in the TV programme, but hey ho.

I've still got the trifle dish from the1970s!

I think they tried to make each Christmas Day generally representative.

I like the series despite the factual blips!

X

Personally I don't think the researchers were all that good on some things.

We always had a capon at Christmas. And oranges and apples in the fruit bowl!!

We never used detergent for snow but cotton wool. I was born in 1946 and I always had toys like a doll and pram. We were not well off - my father always worked in the printing trade - so working class.

I wasn't around in the 1940s, but I can'd imagine either of my grandmothers having anything to do with an ox's heart, however poor they might have been!

Stupid question, I know, but did anyone ever have Ox heart for Xmas. We were poor but we always had a chicken.

Yes I watched it. I think after the 60s it has just got more and more materialistic. Mind you ox heart for Christmas dinner!