79 replies to this topic

[JFM]

Now that another Christmas Day is over what are your best / worst memories of this or any previous Christmas Past.

1. Getting a Torch and having to wait for two days to buy batteries. (agony)
2. Christmas day with Grandparents and parents now long gone (Paradise but we did'nt know it)
3. Family fun games (No Telly)
4 Carol singing after dinner (lunch) with dads and uncles in good form from their pub visit
5 and yesterday being almost a summers day. (What is happening)

[Olliebeak]

Getting up on Christmas Eve morning to the smell of dried sage as my nan would be about to make her own stuffing.

Grandad trying to crack almonds on the tiled fireplace by using a WWI brass amunition shell (used to stand our poker in) - and my nan shouting at him that if he broke any of the tiles, the next thing to get cracked would be his head!

Grandad roasting chestnuts on the shovel and half of them jumping off into the red hot coals.

Brand new pennies (d not p) that my grandad used to collect in his change for putting in my Christmas Stocking.

Multi-coloured paper chains across the ceiling - none of these shiny foil decorations. Those three-dimension decorations that were pinned to the wall - snowmen and bells that sort of 'concertinaed-open'.

Always getting a calendar from relatives in USA and not being allowed to put it up until New Year's Day.

Nan's 'best tea-set' coming out of its hiding place (in the sideboard cupboard) for Christmas Teatime, along with the China Teapot and 'best glass fruit set' (usually won at UGB Sports Day during the summer). I think Christmas Teatime was the only time that all the crockery etc on the table matched.

All the uncles smoking cigars - even those who didn't normally smoke cigarettes.

[leschip]

The Eagle Annual

Tangerines not Satsumas

[tessmop]

The parlour being used to dine in with the posh stuff on the table and everything matching.
Tins of bluebird toffee,usually with a picture of a puppy or kitten on the lid,always for sale in Woolworths at Christmas time.My Grandad used the hammer for the nuts!!

[Alan]

Boxes of dates

Box of coloured crayons and colouring book

Sounds of rail wagons being shunted three miles away at St Helens Junction (drowned at by other industrial noises apart from on Christmas Day)

Next door neighbour on Boxing Day morning saying "well, it's as far off as ever today"

Saints v Wigan games

[SKYMAN]

Drunks going to Midnight Mass,,we didnt ,but they were the Christians,

[Nanny Ogg]

Boxes of dates for sure. Waking up and crawling down to the bottom of the bed to feel what was in the ... well ... pillow case I was a spoilt brat. Carols and those decorations which were strips of coloured paper you made into chains then stuck from the corners of the room to the middle. Lighting the candles on the tree. Yes, I am that old.

[Phyll]

Those times were the Best.
I can remember the Stockings, well big Socks at the bottom of the Bed, (probably me Dads).
Then I think we graduated to Pillow Cases, anyway really enjoyed waking up Christmas Morning
and they contained the usual Nuts, Oranges or Tangerines, don't remember getting any money.
I always got a Cadbury's Selection Box, Box of Turkish Delight and Bunty and Judy Annuals,
Colouring Books, Crayons, Pens and Pencils, Pencil Case and a Bag to put them all in, usually
it was leather look plastic, but I can still remember that smell even now thinking about it.
And usually a big present, like one year I got a Tressy Doll, another I got a Scooter and another
a Dolls House. We always sat down to Christmas Dinner, pulled our Crackers and put our hats on
that looked like Crowns, just as the Queen came on and said Cheers!
Can't think of any Worst. Good Times and Good Memories.

Edited by Phyll, 27 December 2011 - 07:36 AM.

[antonio111]

Buying new glass baubles each year to replace the broken ones from a man outside Woolworths, they used to be shaped like oranges and lemons.

Artificial Christmas tree which looked like a brush steel with flue brushes attached to it.

Retiring the set of twelve fairy light on account of getting a super big set with 20 on them!

Family dinners at my aunts with two tables put together and a collection of dining chairs, bedroom chairs and garden chairs.

Playing Rummy and Newmarket for halfpennies.

Ye Olde oake ham

[Alan]

Box of fifty Players untipped cigs on sideboard

Turkey soup on 28th December

Beery breath of all the men at Saints on Boxing Day

Broken springs on clockwork toys

New Years Day tea at my posh Auntie's in Eccleston Park. She had cake-stands, napkins and doilies etc

Thick yellow fog

Sound of drunks making their way home from Duke Street pubs

Carols on Billy Cotton's Band Show on the wireless

Pools of vomit on the paving flags

[vinty]

Christmas Day 1930s
Up at 6 am rush downstairs to find Stocking hanging from the Mantlepiece containing Apple ,Orange, Sugar Pig, New Penny, Bar of Meesons Orange Chocolate. and at the side of the fireplace maybe a Football, or a pair of Football boots or a tinplate clockwork car or a pair of Roller Skates.and Mum forcing us to have a wash before we could go out to see what Santa had brought for other Kids.
Leaving the Front Door open about 10am to listen to the local Brass Band playing Carols in the street ( my Dad was in the Band)
Moving into the Parlour for Christmas Lunch with all the best matching crockery coming out of the display cabinet for its annual airing as others have said.
Pulling Christmas crackers and scrambling for the small gift and Riddle that fell out and laughing when somebody knew the answer to the riddle "How do you make a Sausage Roll" .was "Push it down a Hill"
Goose was the traditional Fare with all the trimmings followed by Mums home made Christmas Pud, funny how I always managed to find a silver sixpence in my portion, and we were allowed to have a very weak Shandy after to wash it all down.
Happy cherished memories.

Edited by vinty, 27 December 2011 - 12:34 PM.

[Clancy]

...true though....oh sorry Vinty, same time. Was responding to Alan's post, it's just that it tickled me.

Edited by Clancy, 27 December 2011 - 12:40 PM.

[leschip]

Alan, why did you have to spoil it with your final line? Allus thowt you 'ad taste

[Alan]

Realism Les, truthful realism. It wasn't all holly and mistletoe

[leschip]

Alan, it was perfect in Prescot---- honest.