--Laura Ingalls Wilder
Momma's memories of Christmas as a child--
"Christmas, when I was a child, was family time. I remember my Mam did a lot of cooking but still managed to make knitted outfits for Christmas dolls and clothes for me and, later, for Molly. One Christmas I got a doll with beautiful hand knit outfits; another year I received a black doll dressed in a red knitted outfit--I thought she was so beautiful. Molly was born at home Christmas morning, 1932, and because I was only 5 years old, I was taken to Aunty Ginny's (Nanna's sister) until one of my older sisters came to fetch me back home.
We had a very small tree; Mam would put it on top of a high bookcase so the cat could not pull it over. We would string intricate, gaily colored garlands from each corner of the room to the light fixture in the middle, like spokes on a wheel. I don't think Mam appreciated them much. We had no clothes dryer in those days, and since it was impossible to dry things outside in England in the Winter, a clothes line was strung across the main room when we went to bed at night, and the sheets and towels were hung up to dry overnight. It was a jumble to have all those holiday garlands and washing hanging about, especially because the custom in England was to leave decorations up until the evening of January 5, the eve of the Epiphany (when the three wise men visited the baby Jesus) and formerly the twelfth and last day of Christmas festivities. I know Mam could hardly wait to get those garlands down.
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| In the 1930's the chocolate makers added novelty items to the holiday selection packs, such as this clock (center) |
Molly and I, the two youngest, always received the same gifts in a white pillow slip tied with a big red bow and placed on the bottom of our bed. We were awake by 5 a.m., eagerly going through those pillow slips. We always received a huge Selection box of Cadbury's or Rowntree's chocolates, games, books and clothes.
Before the war food was abundant at the holidays and included mince pies, fruit cake with marzipan and royal icing, a Christmas plum pudding with custard on top, and a large pork pie for Christmas breakfast.
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| British Christmas cake--fruit cake with marzipan and Royal icing |
Usually Christmas dinner was eaten midday and was a goose or a pork roast. A light 'tea' would be served around 5 p.m. Auntie Ginny, Mary, and Uncle Tom always came for tea and afterwards the grown-ups would play cards. Molly and I didn't care much for Uncle Tom because he was such a grouch, so we would look at his cards and then signal with our eyes to the other players. Eventually he caught on, threw his cards down, and stormed off. We all felt so sorry for Auntie Ginny, and I think Mam and Dad only tolerated Uncle Tom for Ginny and Mary's sake.
The stores in Nottingham had wonderful Christmas displays; Molly and I would go in, sit down, and go on a 'journey' to the North Pole; one Christmas the ride was a 'submarine.' It was magical, and as we exited the ride, we'd always receive a gift from Santa.
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| a modern day indoor Christmas market in Nottingham |
She'd hang around around until nearly closing time, then zero in on the goose she wanted. While we waited, we'd stuff ourselves with mushy peas. The shop owner would put the goose in a large straw bag with its head hanging over the side; we'd ride the tram from the city center back to Arnold, walk home, and then Mam would go to work cleaning that bird and getting it ready for the oven next morning.
When the war started everything changed--no more glittering shop displays because everything was blacked out to prevent lights being seen by the enemy during an air raid. As the war progressed we were also under more and more severe rationing, so it paid to stay in touch with the butcher and anyone local who raised poultry. We were more fortunate than others. Since Dad was a blacksmith, he kept in contact with two or three farmers for whom he did work and was able to barter his work for meat, vegetables, eggs and other things not available with ration cards.
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| A child sleeps in an air raid shelter festooned with Christmas decorations--a not uncommon sight during the war |
They made undergarments; I ran an embroidery machine.
From ages 14-17 I lived with my older sister, Win; her husband Les was away with the Navy. She was fearful and wanted someone with her. I did not enjoy it, but did it to spare Mam from having to go and stay with her.
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| During WWII Westminster Council, London, offered a prize for the best dressed shelter. These occupants have used Christmas decorations and flags, as well as portraits of the King and Queen and Winston Churchill--20th. December 1940 |
Uncle Les worked at a Co-op grocery store early in the war years. The Co-op had cats to keep the mice population down in their food storage areas. There were always kittens available. He brought me the first Lucky, and when she got hit by a car on Front Street, he came the next day with Lucky 2 in a paper sack. They would run away or get killed and he'd show up with another--always named Lucky and always black!
On Boxing Day, usually the day after Christmas, Mam would buy two rabbits from the butcher, hang them up on a big hook in the kitchen, skin then, chop off their heads, clean out the insides, stuff them, and bake them for our dinner. Dadda would have rabbit brains on toast for breakfast.
--Joan Shelton
(Wow, that is one family tradition I'm thankful we no longer observe!)
Bit of history:
Boxing Day--"In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect 'Christmas boxes' of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This custom is linked to an older English tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and maybe sometimes leftover food.
