Bob Whysman
- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,931
I’m sure we all have memories of how Christmas used to be when we were young. Those that are still young or have young family members must also have stories that others would find interesting too.
Remember making paper chains, dragging home the Christmas tree, family fallouts, visits to the great mans grotto..........and much, much more!
It’s got to beat moaning about Brexit!
Jan Higgins likes this
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,017
My Grandad used to find a large branch of holly,for a Christmas Tree.We made a star or angel out of paper.If we received books usually a Rupert Bear annual,was included we had to cover them with brown paper ,to keep them nice.Presents wrapped up in brown paper .
Bob Whysman likes this
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,782
My earliest recollection is having what seemed like a huge tree (I was only little) in the bay window and the inevitable hunt to find the bulb that stopped the tree lights working, also not being allowed to touch the few glass baubles we had.
Making paper chains with the packs of gummed colourful strips was the sign Christmas had started that and my mother icing the cake and a normally virtually empty cupboard that had bottles in it.
Bob Whysman likes this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,931
As a child Christmas was a time of Family gatherings and the house used to be warm and decorated with home-made looped paper chains and real holly. The Christmas tree would invariably be the top of a Conifer tree from the Warren!
The house would be full of the aroma of the food that was being prepared for the Christmas meal.
Chicken was a treat that in most households was only enjoyed at Christmas. Plenty of sprouts and roast potatoes were also on the menu with home made Sage and Onion stuffing! This would be followed by home made Christmas pudding and mince pies with cream off the top of the milk. The adults would treat themselves to Port or Sherry and there would be Stone's Ginger wine for the older Children and Lemonade for the younger ones.
Christmas presents were eagerly anticipated and would be found in a stocking hanging on your bed on Christmas morning. The stocking would usually contain a couple of nuts an apple and an orange (oranges were only available in season), a book, some coloured pencils or crayons and maybe a few sweets, if you were lucky. Knitted gloves and a balaclava' could also be a part of your Christmas presents too. Sometimes the girls would be pleasantly surprised and receive a knitted doll, if they were lucky!
After Christmas Dinner families would spend the afternoon playing cards or board games and generally spend time enjoying the atmosphere, which seemed magical as a child. We would also play party games and at tea time there would be jelly and custard to look forward to, with home made sausage rolls and Christmas cake!
It may all seem a little tame by today's standards with the many technical toys, expected and received, but, we were happy and enjoyed Christmas immensely!
Much of the food we consume at Christmas is now available to us throughout the year and so lacks the feeling of being 'special' Christmas food, however Christmas with the Family around you is still rather special.
Alec Sheldon likes this
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,017
My recollections of a Christmas as well .We were happy and families stuck together .I forgot the mistletoe.Happy days
Pablo- Registered: 21 Mar 2018
- Posts: 614
I seem to remember being made to sit quietly in front of the TV to watch the Queen’s Speech followed by a re-run of an old Mr Pastry film, while my grandmother and my parents all spent time doing Egyptian PT.
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
What is Egyptian PT please?
Jan Higgins likes this
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,225
Lying on your back with your hands crossed across your chest, i.e. sleeping. We used to say it in the army..
Bob Whysman, Guest 673, Judith Roberts and
1 more like this
Bob Whysman, Guest 673, Judith Roberts and Jan Higgins like this
Arte et Marte
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,931
Santa was very cross. It was Christmas Eve and NOTHING was going right.
Mrs. Claus had burned all the cookies. The elves were complaining about not getting paid for the overtime they had worked making toys, and were threatening to go on strike. The reindeer had been drinking eggnog all afternoon. To make matters worse, a few of the other elves had taken the sleigh out for a spin earlier in the day and had crashed it into a tree.
Santa was furious. "I can't believe it! I've got to deliver millions of presents all over the world in just a few hours, and all of my reindeer are drunk, the elves are walking out, and I don't even have a Christmas tree! I sent that stupid little angel out HOURS ago to find a tree and he isn't even back yet! What am I going to do?"
Just then, the little angel opened the front door and stepped in from the snowy night, dragging a Christmas tree. The angel said, "Yo, fat man! Where do you want me to stick the tree this year?"
And thus the tradition of angels atop the Christmas trees came to pass...
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,782
On a happier note.
I prefer this to the original and will raise money for these brave men.
Brian Dixon likes this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,782
As a child I would have loved to see some of these, we were lucky if we saw a lit Christmas tree in a window.
Interesting the top ones are in Dover with many others mentioned considering how miserable the people and town are usually portrayed by people and especially in the Dover Express news group.
https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/family-kids/kents-best-christmas-light-displays-2346734?fbclid=IwAR3PetCcTup_AUi4k3PrmYJBJfrMC8tq00XdNHQlIEQVMOqrE6rhErpyhekBob Whysman likes this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
A recording of the poet Dylan Thomas reading from his own account of childhood Christmases at home in Swansea. Wonderful!
Pablo, Bob Whysman and howard mcsweeney1 like this
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"