We had a Forties wartime Christmas
The one problem I did not expect in with our rations-based Christmas dinner was our family’s reaction. They conspired to sneak in black market foods. Someone brought a dessert and someone else bought the crackers. So Christmas dinner was a much larger spread then we imaged.
With the no telly rule, I feared the family would be staring at an empty corner of the room were the TV once stood, but without the distractions of having to microwaving popcorn before watching a DVD we introduced our children to parlour and board games.
Then as soon as the day started it was all over. In-laws gone, children asleep in bed, finally we had time to relax with a cup of tea next to the open fire and reflect on our retro Christmas.
We did make some compromises. We still bought our children some of the modern toys they wanted, and the house was lit up like Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Years Day. But in true Forties spirit we fashioned our decorations from newspapers and our Christmas crackers where made using old loo roll tubes.
The television was banned and we all played games together while enjoying a little alcoholic festive cheer when the King’s speech came on the wireless. At the end of it when my husband and I sat down, with our feet up listened to Bing Crosby on the gramophone, I swear you would think it was 1940 again.
What made Christmas special for us was how much our children enjoyed our retro Christmas and spending less had not affected their enjoyment of the festival at all. Perhaps it was the lower expectation or the interaction of the family preparing, making and participating in the festivities. Or perhaps it simply shows affluence has no bearing on the level of happiness that can be experienced at Christmas.
So all we have to do now is stop our six-year old faxing her thank-you-letters to everyone, and I think we have cracked it.
Find out more about Edna and Harry on their website www.homefrontfriends.org.uk
Category: 1940s, Vintage news
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- Have a Forties Christmas dinner! | QueensOfVintage.com | December 9, 2009
who uses a fax machine anymore….?
this is a brilliant idea
I enjoyed your story, I too enjoy the simpler things in life. In the past year I have freely given up the cell phone and tv(never watched it anyway) although going digital with my camera gear was so hard, I clung to film as much as I could. I loved my Diana Camera and my trusty Nikon. But with techology growing so fast I had to give it to keep my busniess going.
oh and where can I find your wartime ration recipies?
Michelle
I almost cried reading about the retro Christmas. What a brilliant idea. Being a post war babe I do not remember the shortages, but, I do remember simple Christmas Day’s. The board games were simple ones, the holly was real and you got the gold pretend money with an orange in your stocking. We always had a Christmas Eve supper with sandwiches and Christmas Cake. Not to forget the candle in the window, lit to show Mary & Joseph the way.
I am 60 now and I have never failed to put a candle in the window regardless of where I am.
Thank you for such lovely memories. Sheila
I never had a retro/vintage Christmas but I remember for the first tens years of my life all presents except those from ‘Santa’ had to be handmade. I don’t know how much my Dad like his decorated tissue box covers but I remember the joy in spending the weeks in advance making, debating and wrapping the presents. I am sure your children will look back on this with happy memories.
Fantastic idea I would like to learn more about the decorations used. Wonderful job and a good teaching tool to the kids. Thanks