As a kid you knew it was Christmas when...
- 6 December 2012 14:35204779The 'Eat Me' dates arrived - who actually ate them?
Nuts, a big bowl placed in the centre of the table. Why? 80% of the relatives didn't have their own teeth and we could never find the nutcracker.
We had a jar of piccalilli for the cold turkey tea - who in their right mind eats piccalilli?!
The sliced beetroot was replaced with serrated (crinkle cut) beetroot - wow!
And of course Christmas wasn't Christmas without the mega size tin of Quality Street. The flat toffees in the gold wrappers that no one ate would still be knocking around at Easter. The tin would always 'come in useful for something' when they were finished. We had seven tins waiting to be useful in the cupboard!
The Christmas tree was a family heirloom. It resembled some of the family members- not all the branches were there, bits fell off and the bald patches got bigger every year!
Tradition dictated that Uncle Tom would always set alight to the Christmas pudding - along with the net curtains!
Tinsel - who knew it could burn that quickly!
What are your memories of Christmas as a kid? - 6 December 2012 14:42204780Jeane,I knew it was Christmas when I would get a smack for being too hyper after eating all the sweets and my father would get drunk with the Father.Happy days
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
6 December 2012 15:00204783When I was little I knew it was Christmas when the front room was decorated with a large Christmas tree and the coal fire lit, I do not remember it ever being used otherwise but I suppose it must have been at times.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 6 December 2012 15:03204784the dates, picallili with cold turkey on boxing day and the tin of quality street cetainly strike a chord.
the match at upton park on boxing day morning used to feature various pairs of brand new gloves and the smell of cigars. - 6 December 2012 16:31204801I remember on one of the regular visits to grandparents at Cleethorpes, my grandma assisted by one of my aunts or uncles, methodically icing one of the large square cakes she had made - each one of her family received one at Christmas (she had worked as a cook before she married and cooked everything for her 7 children. Cakes were iced with royal icing in white, pale pink and pale peach, with the silver dragees carefully placed in the flowers in rows.
She also made and iced wedding cakes.
And she always cooked goose for Christmas, we would go over and have a taste after Christmas, and she made pork sausages after they had killed a pig they had fattened up. Us grandchildren would play cards, usually Newmarket, for pennies, and all be given port and lemonade in a glass, and smell the lovely white crusty home made bread she made every day in her fire oven. But we always had to behave well and not be noisy or talk when we were eating.
Decorations were made with strips of coloured papers hung together in chains across the room.
These were special occasions during austere times at the end of and after the War when you had to manage on a low income.---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 6 December 2012 16:35204803A few more -
Making paper chains at school to bring home.
Getting embroidered initial handkerchiefs from uncles/aunts you've never heard of!
Being very disappointed if you got any clothes as presents!
Using the "good" cutlery which seemed twice the size of normal cutlery
Having to get the deck chairs out of the shed so everyone could have a seat.
Being allowed a sip of sherry - and pretending that you liked it.
After eight mints.
Christmas specials on TV , Noels house party, The Two Ronnie's, Morcombe and Wise - 6 December 2012 17:31204809The christmas adverts started in December !!Been nice knowing you :)
- 6 December 2012 17:43204813hearing someone saying that christmas is too commercialised these days.
i first remember hearing that in the infants at primary school. - 6 December 2012 17:47204814The Christmas Hamper arrives! My brothers and sister and I would unpack it, there was always Tunis cake and Chinese caramelised ginger Yeuch! which none of us liked
We would try to sample the Turkish delight and Lemon, Orange and Lime sugared wedges before Mum caught us out, five innocent grinning white-powdered faces were always a dead giveaway
- 6 December 2012 17:532048175 of you barry?
the ruling classes like to ensure the bloodline continues with an ample supply of heirs, hopefully the downstairs staff had an hour or two off over the festive period. - 6 December 2012 18:18204821One has to keep the bloodline going
We had a Christmas party for the downstairs staff where we served them Christmas dinner cooked earlier by Mrs McCaverty of course and had a formal dance, Great Fun, What!
- 6 December 2012 18:18204822Kath that bread sounds deliciousAudere est facere.
- 6 December 2012 21:33204845I loved those dates Jeane, I used to eat the whole box safe in the knowledge than nobody would actually notice they had gone.www.kent-engine-clean.com
mobile Terraclean engine de-carbonising in Kent - 7 December 2012 09:27204900My nan used to make Picalilli. She would make a massive pot-full on her hob which stunk the house out. Once it was cold and in a jar it was lush though... Everyone in the family got one..."If it ain't broke, fix it til it is."
- 7 December 2012 13:26204930I used to know it was Christmas when............
...the school carol concert came and went
...the double issue of Radio Times went on sale
...the dekkies came down out of the loft
...we used to go and pick Nanna up from Stoke On Trent
These days I know it's Christmas when...
...you start hearing Stop The Cavalry piped around the shops
...you see the 'Holidays are Coming' Coca Cola ad on the telly
...the Hallowe'en aisle in the supermarkets disappears
...you have to start planning and publishing your opening hoursTrue friends stab you in the front. - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
7 December 2012 14:552049431 orange,
1 tangerine,
and 1 handfull of last years nuts,all in a holey sock. - 7 December 2012 15:06204951you were spoiled brian all we need now is sue to come on with the story of the bowl of gruel for christmas dinner.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
7 December 2012 15:07204953