What Was Christmas Like in 1950s America?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ค. 2024
- The 1950s were a time of prosperity and abundance during Christmas in the United States. Families celebrated with lavish decorations and enjoyed a variety of new holiday foods. Many films, foods, toys, and TV shows from this period have become enduring American Christmas traditions.
Previously, the U.S. relied on Germany for its Christmas ornaments, toys, and customs. However, during the years following World War II, the United States became self-sufficient in these areas, and American-made decorations and toys were cheaper than their German counterparts.
Traditional Christmas customs like visiting department store Santas and writing letters to the North Pole remained popular, but the era also introduced new traditions, some that continue to be celebrated today.
Let’s look at Christmas in the 1950s.
00:00 Intro
1:14 Foods
2:39 Aluminum Tres
4:02 NORAD
5:06 Decorations
6:09 Toys
#christmas #1950s #christmashistory #history
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I was born in 1954. My mom made Christmas beautiful, my dad made it magical, my sister made it fun. I miss you all so very much.
BLESS
you was very lucky to get happy Xmas, mine were crap an poor In UK,. We never got much it was after the warl I was born in 55, sorry for your loss. ♥️♥️🙏
A simpler and more magical time I miss it.We didn’t have loads of presents but we had loads of Christmas joy ❤
It wasn't any simpler or more magical than any other time. You see it that way because you were a child. I remember my grandparents telling me how magical Christmas was when they were kids. LOL
😢no that's. Not true .
I am so thankful for having experienced the world of the 1950s in the US. We did not need much, had zero "social media", and TV was limited, strong families, kids were safe in their communities, entertainment was entertaining and kids were actually educated in school -- all that stuff....
Which is basically baloney. I am sure you had a great time because you were a kid but the fear, uncertainty, and dangers were still there. Now people are able to witness every crime and experience 2nd hand horrors via 24/7 news on all our electronics. It's tough to convince older people these are the good old days.
@@plicketyplunk The baloney is yours. You know nothing about what you speak. While you can always point out exceptions, everything stated by bjthinkingclearlygal is pretty much on point. I know, I lived through the era! Your assumption that "kids" have no idea what is going on is just ignorance personified.
@@anthonyjames4478 Wow, no worries in the 50s? Parents and older people just danced up the streets clicking their heels in delight? Maybe instead of calling me ignorant you should read a little social and political history of the time. In fact if one wants to recapture those carefree "simple" times one should ditch the cel, the computer, the TV, all the medications that have come on the market since say, oh, 1960. While we are at it toss the microwave, convenience foods, modern washers and driers, airline travel (because average people could not afford it), air conditioners, and a thousand and one other things one takes for granted but then still wishes it was 50 or 60 years ago. I had a wonderful childhood in the 50s as seen through a child's eyes. If you asked my mum if she adored it to bits you would get an eye roll and some swearing. Well, nice talking to you. I am off to read by candlelight.....NOT😅😅
@@anthonyjames4478comparatively speaking, even the 1970s and now is like night and day... I guess it's hard for these youngsters to realize things actually were different then... and boy were they different
@@plicketyplunk Drive by shootings did not exist back then. Many high schools had shooting teams and rural kids would bring their .22 caliber rifles to school on the bus on practice days. Store clerks said "Merry Christmas!" without fear of reprimand from store managers or atheist customers. Cities and towns put up public displays of Nativity scenes without fear of lawsuits. So, times were different back then. It is sad that your ignorance controls your behavior.
I wish I could go back to these wonderful magical loving times and stay there❣️
The era does have a certain timeless charm! Thanks for watching!
I think it mostly has to do with our age back then, not that times have changed so much. For me, anyway.
@@dod2304 Ummmmm.... if you think that the '50s are roughly the same as nowadays, wow. You may want to rethink or research that perception.
Me too
@@dod2304evidently you are in a coma if you think times haven’t changed. It would be better that you never wake up because you are going to be in for a big surprise. Happy sleeping.
It was the best time to be a child in the 50s and Christmas was no exception. I grew up and lived in the very best of times....and we had to do things that made you actually "think" before computers and smart phones. These things have actually made people lazy and unable to comunicate properly with others.
We got the BEST of America then those who rule us threw it all away.
Absolutely!!
Absolutely true
Amen! I’m 66 and teach music at a Middle School. Technology has made people VERY lazy and ignorant.
You can say that about anyone that grew up before the 2000’s, not just the 50s. The first smart phones came out around 2008.
7:44 - Back then, Mr. Potato Head did not include the plastic potato body -- consumers were expected to use an actual potato.
Oh yes, we had to get our own potato
Yes! I was telling this to someone the other day. Not sure if she believed me.😅
Fact 100%😊
I was born in 1950 and this sure brings back a lot of great memories. We always had full Christmas trees filled with glass ornaments, bubble lights, tinsel and a lighted angel on the top. Mounds of presents from Santa and lots of homemade candy, cookies and the like. Friends and family were over all through the Christmas season and Mom was always giving out candy and baked goods to anyone who dropped by. We had wonderful Christmas's!
spoiled rich kid eh!!!
@@myopinion6092you must be a troll kid, no love at home for you.
A whole lot less people with common origins.
@@myopinion6092rude arrogant kid eh??
Must have been nice.
I'm 73 and I can still remember simple Christmas joy not from a boatload of gifts but from family and friends celebrating the Yule tide season together! When I was 13 the family across the street got an aluminum tree and color wheel that I found fascinating and beautiful. I would stand at the window in my darkened bedroom and watch and enjoy! Then I would sit in the living room and appreciate our
lovely traditional tree.
It's heartwarming to hear your memories of simple Christmas joy centered around family and friends, and the fascination with the aluminum tree and color wheel across the street adds a charming touch to the holiday spirit!
@@thehistorystop I love the scene at the end of "A Christmas Story" where the parents turn off all the lights but the Christmas tree and watch the snow falling outside. We didn't often have snow for Christmas, but I loved when only the Christmas lights were on at night. It was truly magical to my child's eyes.
The application of icicles was special. First the technique started slow & deliberate, then we ended flinging icicles onto the branches. The adults would then threaten us that next year we’d never do icicles again. The following Christmas there it sat…a brand new box of virgin icicles ready to be ravaged!
Oooh. You mean tinsel! I guess I do remember calling it icicles. LOL
@@dod2304 ln Hawaii we called them icicles, tinsel is a better word.
My dad saved ours for the next year😂
The 1950's weren't all that wealthy. Many felt that the U.S. would slip back into the depression after WWII. That said, I still remember great Christmas gifts. On year I got a toboggan! That was huge. But the biggest Christmas gift of all came in 1958. I remember it like yesterday. Christmas eve found me, my Dad and his buddy Ed out in the fish house. I got dark and we weren't catching a thing. Oh but the "bottle bass" were really running! Dad and Ed were getting pretty loaded and each of my calls to "Let's go Dad" only brought out another round of beers. But finally they'd had enough and we headed home. There it was, under the tree. I slid it out of its container and held it in my hands for the first time. It was a Winchester model 62A 22 pump! I knew I had reach a new rung on the ladder to adulthood. It wasn't new, my Dad had put in a kitchen counter for my Grandma in exchange for the rifle that had belonged to my Uncle. I didn't get to shoot it until the following spring, when my Dad took me to a gravel pit for some plinking. And yes, I still have that rifle - 65 years later!
I saw all the 1950s. There is nostalgia here but also sadness. The folks that gathered around the tree and the dinner table are all gone. So are those TV shows and most of the department stores. That was so long ago that it used to snow and people often heated with coal. People commonly died in their 50s and that was normal.
🔵THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THE 50'S AND 60'S WAS NO CELL PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA.🔴
Exactly
No cable tv either. Just 3 channels on the television with no remote control. To change the channel we had to get up and go click click.
I was born in 1942. We had lovely decorations at Xmas, in the ‘50’s but minimal and practical presents and fun stocking stuffers!
We are now overwhelmed with junk from China.
I am so glad this year we made it through Xween and Xgiving, hope all goes well though Christmas and Xanzaa!!!
I don't recall any abundant Christmas's as a kid in the 50s...I still believe and I am 73'...🌲🌲🌲
Totally agree with you;! I was a kid during the 50s
We didn't get a lot for Christmas; maybe one toy and a puzzle, coloring book and crayons, maybe Colorforms and your yearly slippers, new pajamas. If we opened 4 things we were happy. My mother baked nut rolls and we had ham or turkey on Christmas Day. No meat on Christmas Eve. Lots of company. Neighbors and family stopping by. Usually sled riding on a new sled or disc. Great fun and wonderful memories. Slower pace and friendlier times.
I'm with you Jeff....the word "lavish" was NEVER applicable to our 50's Christ, either and I'm 71
Only certain high employment areas older families were well off big divide in classes
@@CarolRogers50 Give us an example, Dear
My brother and myself received so much at every Christmas. I guess I was what people would call “spoiled”. I always took care of my things and have so many games from the 60’s. Even have my Barbie, Midge and Ken dolls. When I was a teenager, a little girl came to visit and she never had a doll before. I went in to my bedroom and gathered up a car trunkful of dolls. If I still had them today, the dolls would be considered collectibles. But seeing how happy it made that little girl, it was all worth it.
🙏❤️
Christmas in the 50s for me as a child were abundant in food and fun. We were not materially driven like today. Packages came from the UK and South Africa and were hidden until Christmas day but my brother and I found the hiding spot and still acted surprised on the day. Life was simpler and happier without a lot of material goods. The tree and decorations meant more.
Where do (did) you live then? Mentioning packages from the UK and South Africa make me wonder?
If it wasn’t driven by materialism, why do you mention packages, decorations and food? You don’t mention anything that isn’t materialistic.
@@Lisa-vb3gntell me you're a wet blanket without telling me you're a wet blanket
@@alecktidwell3479 Odd comment. There’s so much to enjoy during the holidays. My family enjoys caroling, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, getting together with friends, decorating our house, making traditional food, sledding, walking in the snow, going to church, etc. But when someone says their Christmas was not driven by materialism and then proceeds to mention nothing but materialistic aspects to the holiday it sounds very contradictory.
@@Lisa-vb3gn he wasnt talking about the gifts themselves, he was referring to the joy of hunting for gifts which most kids enjoy doing regardless of the gift itself. And by materialistic, I understood him to be talking about things like black Friday sales and the importance placed nowadays on the gifts themselves
Remembering the 50's and can attest it was the best of times.
It really wasn’t, but our minds only remember what we choose.
@@Lisa-vb3gnit might be the best time for them just like bellyaching over people's fondness for this time period is yours apparently
@@Lisa-vb3gn You understand. Thank you.
@@alecktidwell3479 She did not say one word about today. Something got you ruffled?
@@plicketyplunk yea I have a problem with pedantic aholes who think it their business to correct another person's statement. So both of you should mind your business and their won't be any ruffled feathers as you put it, mkay?
I really enjoyed this thanks! Obviously your narrator wasn't alive in the '50s and 60's. It's pronounced Syl-vay-nee-uh. They also made the flash bulbs and flash cubes that our cameras used back then ! lol
I know, I started laughing when she butchered that name. Sylvania also made a lot of TVs.
I was born in 1951 and I remember Christmas in the 50s and 60s very well. We always had a huge tree in front of our fireplace and lots of presents with all the lights on the tree and ornaments with an angel at the top of the tree. We always had family gathering my grandmother would start making cookies before Thanksgiving for Christmas, and I would always find them in big tins and sneak some every chance I could. It was a wonderful time and even some snow at Christmas sometimes. I still love Christmas! 8:11
It must've been nice.
@@nuttybar9 it was very nice time. Long ago.
I was born in 1952 and this sounds like our house!! Mother would start her Christmas baking the day after Thanksgiving making up tins to give away. She was of
German descent.
Dictate that’s interesting, my great grandmother, my grandmother‘s mother was actually from Germany, in Germany. Apparently she had a restaurant her and her husband and I remember when I was very little that every Saturday she would bake bread and make cakes all kinds of goodies for the week Sticky buns things like that. All year long actually. And my grandmother was an excellent cook. I learned a lot from her but she would bake a lot around Thanksgiving for Christmas and the whole family came over. It was a wonderful time.
Great video. My aunt and uncle had the aluminum tree, andy grandparents had the bubble lights. I was born in 57. A simpler time I wish I could relive. I miss the magic.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! It sounds like your family had some classic holiday traditions. Nostalgia for the simplicity of the past is something many of us can relate to :)
I loved the bubble lights….and my dad dressed up as Santa after we went to bed and I used to watch under the crack of the bedroom door…😅
1957 Boomer here, too! We had THE Best Christmases in the Best time to grow up! I'll never take it for granted ❤
I wish I could find a silver aluminum tree. My mom had one and I loved Christmas at her house. Wonderful memories. I lost her twenty two years ago on my 30th birthday. I miss her so.
I remember all these things. I was born in 1956.❤
We had anticipation not non stop barrage of junk two months before and no hitting a button instead of shopping for it in person.
Me too…..😁
Those bubble lights were a throwback to earlier times when they put actual candles on trees.
At the children’s home, where I was raised, we had great Christmases.
BLESS
I was born in the Mid 50s. Life then was totally different. Came from a middle class family. Each child recieved one big gift from Santa. One medium gift(clothes)from Mom and Dad. Small gift from grandparents. 4 gifts, that was it..Grands get more than that on X Mas eve. Christmas morning turns into a gift orgy with each child opening several dozen gifts. A month or two later there lucky if they remember 3 gifts and rarely have more than 1 or 2 left. It was more about spending time with family and friends. Today after opening gifts everyone goes back to their phones.
My grandparents mailed me my Legos, stuffed animals,. chocolate from Germany and lots of item's. Clothes. They were much better made. And tasted better. I remember this in the 50's &60's. Thank you for the memories.
Such heartwarming memories! It's amazing how special items from grandparents hold a unique charm. Your description of the Legos, stuffed animals, and chocolates from Germany paints a vivid picture of a cherished Christmas past. Thanks for sharing those delightful moments with us!
They didn’t have legos back in the fifties.
Remember late 50s. I always got a nice present as did my brother. Family was poor but we got our wishes. Nothing extravagant. Daddy always saved through Christmas club at work that took money from check to give it back at Christmas He also got a weeks salary.
Seems like a more simple Christmas than today. Loved the Christmas music and Christmas eve Lutheran services as of Nordic descent. 🎄🎅🏻
You forgot Glass Wax and their Christmas stencils. Also mail ordering the presents.
Yes. Such as the Sears Wishbook catalogue.
We didn't have an aluminum tree but we did have a color wheel. Toy companies used TV to reach kids. I can still remember toymakers such as Ideal and Remco starting to advertise their new toys as soon as school started in September. They even put the price on the screen! I remember in 1960, asking for a Remco Flying Fox, a simulation of a passenger airplane. The price was $14.98 and my father told me to forget about that one. Don't recall who bought it for me, but I did get a Flying Fox that Christmas. Christmas was truly magical in the 1950s.
Remember well my mother making the million dollar fudge. To this day it is the best fudge I have ever had.
Thanks for sharing that wonderful memory!
More please. I was born in the early 50's, Christmas was a great time.
Fruit cakes were delicious and toys and trains were Made in USA. Santa Claus were everywhere. Christmas tree had glass ornaments and bubble lights. Girl toys were the talking dolls and boy toys were guns and Indians vs Cowboys.
My best Christmas was a little later, in the late 1960's. I spend a few days at a lovely farm outside Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. A horse-drawn sleigh into the woodlot to cut a Christmas tree, making popcorn chains to string on the tree, hot cocoa in front of the wood stove and, of course, a wonderful turkey dinner. Great memories.
Growing up in the 50s wear great
My dad is from 1945 - as a child in Denmark, this really was when America was the land of all things good and new! Happy holidays and lots of love from Denmark 🤗
Thank you so much for sharing that lovely sentiment! It's heartwarming to hear about your perspective growing up in Denmark and seeing America as the land of all things good and new. Happy holidays to you too!
I wasn't there then but would love to have been. People are so vicious today! Sometimes I wish there was a time portal to get away from this time we live in.
There is one. Look to The King who will soon come and change it all. Be ready.
But you can find that simpler time today. Step away from the computer, TV, and the cell phone. It is that easy.
@@user-kk2rj2pn6o Are you telling me Elvis Presley is coming back?!?! 😲
I was born in 1946, so I remember every Christmas of the 1950's! We actually had two Christmas' each year, one
at Grandma's house & another at our's! Dad had a tradition of buying the tree only on Christmas Eve, so he could get
the best price, his best deal was $.75!/ Unfortunately, on Christmas, 1955, Grandma had passed & Mom was
hospitalized with pneumonia, but the rest of the 1950's Christmas' were happy times, filled with extended family fun!
I remember all of these things. It is wonderful to walk down memory lane. Thank you.
I'm glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane! Thanks for watching!
My chorus teacher created the peanut theme song and gave it too Mr Shultz for the song for the peanut gang
I'd like to take a time machine back to the Fifties.
Me to. ❤
Me too! I'd jump off in '51 and not come back here
Gifts were very simple in the 50’s & 60’s. Miss those times but enjoy Christmases now too.
Yes, that’s so. I enjoyed Christmas so much but we didn’t tell Santa what to bring (give) us like kids do now. They are extortioners! We were so glad we got something! I got roller skates and skated with my friends til the wheels wore out! Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄
Ahem: how could you possibly leave out Lionel and American Flyer trains?
Charlie Brown Christmas first aired in the 60's. I think that's when the green bean casserole started too. Dawn dolls came out in the 70's.
Thanks for watching! Dorcas Reilly created green bean casserole while working at Campbell Soup Company in 1955. A Charlie Brown Christmas did come out in 1965. We discussed it in this video to explain the decline of aluminum trees, popular in the 50s.
Christmas in 1950s-60s seemed more family oriented with extended families close. Going to my grandparents Farm with all my cousins. Lots of good food fun and we still recognized what Christmas was about😮
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful Christmas memories from the 1950s! Wishing you a joyful holiday season 🎄
Great memories!
Born in 51, really hits home. Train sets really soared in popularity too. We had Lionel freight train, passenger train and trolley car.
Model trains are sadly a thing of the past. Now kids get game systems or cell phones. Model railroading is now a hobby for old people like me (born in '52).
I always wanted a train set and never did get one. Think it’s too late?
Loved this! So many traditions that are still around today
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!
❤ fun to watch! Born in 1955. Frankfurt Germany Military family.
Wonderful time to be a kid
I was born in 1951 and the 50’s were the Santa era for me and my sisters, but although we believed we never received very much if anything. Believe me, we never experienced the wonderful christmas times portrayed in this video. Any time I think back on this time I remember no gifts, no holidays foods and doing everything we could just to stay warm.
Chex party mix = Nuts and bolts. 😀
😂🤣 hahahaha
We are in our fifty's and just had to leave a note expressing our appreciation .
Here in a time when heart, and values have vanished and been replaced by attention getting, this video grounds ya right back to remembering Life :) Thank you.
The bubbling candle lights ! Omgsh! We would lay beneath the tree looking at those for what seemed like Days....
Thank you again😊
I was born in 1957 the 5th child of 8 these are the Christmases I remember so well. We had a silver aluminum tree with the reflector or color wheel that amazed us kids. The living room floor was so full of presents it was impossible to walk through. Most of those gifts were not store bought, not with that many children. It was a time when Mother became a seamstress and using her sewing machine and crochet hook or knitting needles created the most beautiful handmade gifts. We appreciated receiving a handmade bathrobe, slippers for our tootsies to keep them warm. I remember my 1st phonograph and record album of the Mammas and Papas on Christmas Day in the early 1960's. My sister and I received go go boots and put them on to walk up and down our street to show them off. What a wonderful time to grow up. Wish those days never ended.
I’m 72 and I do remember
Thanks
I remember it all. Thank you. I’m 71 ❤️
Really not point in glamourising times gone by. I remember some of the 50's and my parents were the shell-shocked products of the Depression and the Second World War, trying to find something better for their children after such chaos. People were pretty naive then about what would make them happy or the true purpose of life. There's still a long way to go in considering how the world shoudl function, and people struggle to be more authentic -- which is GOOD.
It was family and food and fun and Santa and a special wish for a certain toy or doll. We never expected a lot of stuff. The tree, the candles in the windows, but mostly just being together as a family. It was everything.
That was a lovely time for us girls. We went out with mother to our grandma's 20 acres of forest and got our tree. ♥️🙏🌲
Not sure, but at least in Chicago ,we pronounced it “sill-vane-ya” not “sill-vahn-ya” when talking about Christmas lights
The 1950’s was absolutely the best period to live in the USA!!!!!
It’s true we didn’t get more than 3 presents each. You forgot to include tinsel. That silver stuff was everywhere! Mom made us put it up once strand at a time. I hated that stuff.
That stuff would fall off the tree and land on our Lionel train's tracks... shorts 'n smoke!!!!
I remember my newly married brother and his bride got an aluminum tree. She decorated it with hot pink twinkle lights and ornaments. Made me nauseated to look at it…😱
This was great! My birth year was very popular for new toys!
We used to have the Chex mix in the 60s and 70s.
Called it "Nuts and Bolts".
Bigger than life.
That was the Best of Times.
Full Stop,
I guess one could be nostalgic for this era if your family was lucky enough to afford all the fixings. The 50s weren’t kind to everyone.
True enough, but the 50s were an improvement over the War years and the Depression that proceeded them.The Depression began in 1929 and WWII ended in 1945.
Loved this video. Such good memories
Thank you for sharing I've learned so much maybe even more so when I was back in school!
I was 3 in 1950 and remember Christmas time well!! OH how I WISH we could go BACK to those SIMPLER TIMES!
They were not simpler. It is about perspective. You are looking back through the eyes you had as a child.
@@plicketyplunk Probably TRUE, but I DO believe, as a 77 year old retired person, Today's World is so much more Complex than when we were raising children & working towards retirement. I wouldn't want to be a young person TRYING to succeed in Today's World for sure!
@@ronbrandich4196 Well, I won't see 70 again but the fact I am here is thanks to science and modern medicines and that is one reason I would never go back to the 50s. And who would want to wear a girdle again? 😄
This was such a fun n informative video! I really appreciated it!!!! Made me think about my parents who were young at this time!!!! 🎄🧑🏻🎄❄️☃️❤️
I was born in 1953, memories.
I was entering my teen years in 1949. My Father had joined AA in 1948 after many years as an alcoholic. In 1950 my parents with the help of my older Brother were able to purchase a home in Bay Village, Ohio. The years of the 50's were almost magical. Thanks for the video. I am now 86 and grateful to have the memories of wonderful days gone by.
Thank you for sharing your memories of the 1950s; it's inspiring to hear about the positive moments your family experienced!
Wish i could have experienced that decade
I remember the y0s which was wonderful!!!!! Thank you for this wonderful episode!!!!
There also was a traditional showing and watching of Dickens "A Christmas Carol", which seems to have been totally
left out as a part of the season.
I wish I was a kid back then everyone looked so innocent and friendly😊
Hello everyone! Thank you for watching - I hope you enjoy this video and happy holidays!
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Ron on Christmas 1946. The 50s were simply time. I don’t remember an abundance. But the family did things together, things that did not cost a lot of money.
great video!
Love the aluminum tree portion…. Too funny 😂
I grew up in the 1950s and Christmas was always great fun. My brother got a train set one year but my younger sister and I played with it more than he did. We lived in a big two story home then and there was a fireplace that gave off a warm glow to the living room were our tree was and it was a real tree no aluminum one for us. Our aunt was the only one that visited us as she lived not too far away. I remember one time we had a little field mouse that came in and we thought of it as a pet. Well Aunt Grace didn't and she got rid of it. Thank you for the memories because the 1950s were the best time to be a child. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and God bless.
The most magical thing I miss from the 1950's and 1960's are the department store windows, lavishly decorated with all sorts of moving components. We would go downtown and shop for Christmas, stopping at every single department store window, looking in amazement at their displays. Once malls took over in the outskirts of cities, big department stores were abandoned - and one of the best parts of Christmas was lost with it.
Thanks for sharing! I totally get what you mean about those amazing department store windows back in the day. They were like mini wonderlands, and Christmas shopping just isn't the same without them.
😂 remember the 1950s very well. Ribbon candy at my grandmother’s house and lots of chicks party mix. Canned Christmas “ snow”and stencils to paint things on our . My mother hated aluminum Christmas trees and nothing but the real tree; bubble lights were plentiful. Thin aluminum strips (tinsel) that we called icicles always put on last and only by my mother. As for the topper on our tree it was a three tiered silver mercury glass Ornament….each section was teardrop shaped and got successively smaller in size from the bottom to the top. It was covered by a delicate Spiderweb thin, gold mesh. My mother got the topper at Jordan marsh in Boston. I remember our treat being the most beautiful magical thing that I had ever seen.
We always had a tree skirt around the bottom of our tree never one of those tin Christmas tree holders. The tree never went up before Christmas Eve.
Every year we go into Boston to see the animated figures and Christmas displays and all the large department store windows. And we would never miss the town Christmas parade. Most years, All six of us kids had to go to the town Square and stand in front of the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols in the middle of snowstorms in the middle of a sleet storm. No matter !
Our Christmas stockings always had an apple or an orange. A homemade cookie and some new socks.
I also grew up in the ‘50s, just outside Boston. I remember those Jordan Marsh display windows well, along with ribbon candy and bubble lights. I doubt a year went by when some relative didn’t give me socks as a present. Big disappointment back then. In fact, I realized I had grow up when I actually started appreciating receiving socks and underwear as Christmas presents; otherwise I’d have to buy them myself. 😮
I come from the south shore. And it was always a special special rare trip to go into Boston. Central Park ? With the Swan bolts, the Boston Pops, summer concerts at the Shell
And all those damn museums that my father would drag us to
Great video!
Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed it!
Although I’m Egyptian, but the video was pretty interesting to me,, keep it
Thank you, Muhamed!
So many memories!
I really enjoy this.
Receiving a Schwinn bicycle was my favorite Christmas present as a child.
My Mom always loved to have a flocked white Christmas tree with red glass ornaments. Relatives brought over fruit cake, fudge & minced meat pie.
Miss those times
Hello...Thank You for sharing Christmas memories from the 1950s As a child and an adult I loved President Eisenhower cause he looked just like my grandpa Guy. Its interesting that our Christmas ornaments were mostly made in Germany but then its a shame America made most if not all Christmas ornaments and they're all made in China. No wonder China is out doing America. We're giving all our jobs away. We'll end up belonging to China. I'm 78 and remember not having a TV till about 1950-51 we listened mostly to the Radio or went to a local family style Bar and Grill to watch something on TV. I don't remember an over load of presents 🎁 but as an only child did get more than most kids cause I was also the only grandchild. I do remember the popular beverage Coca-Cola and it's still my favorite. Thanks for sharing Christmas memories 🎅🎄⛄ Bye from Ohio
It was so great!
I guess you weren't at our house on Christmas. We had a tree that we cut in the woods---some years a real Charlie Brown tree depending on what my father and brothers found.
The decorations were homemade or something we made in school. For years we had an angel that I colored in school, and we always had that on top of the tree. Popsicle sticks made some pretty classy ornaments, and with four children we had to be crafty to get "our" special ornaments on the tree. No outdoor decor---we couldn't afford it. We were happy with that tree---it was everything to us. As far as gifts, nothing lavish or over the top. We were fortunate to get one toy each, socks, maybe a sweater----but no one got more than three gifts each. That's what our parents could afford. We were just grateful we got something because some families in the neighborhood could only afford a coloring book and 8 pack of crayons for their children---and that was it. A few didn't even have a tree, and we knew who these children were an invited them to our house where my mother made hot chocolate and let them take a candy cane off our tree. For some families, milk was a luxury, believe it or not. They had water with their meals because they couldn't afford milk for the children. We always had relatives visit on Christmas Day, and the "luxury" turkey that we had was made to stretch for lots of thinly sliced turkey sandwiches and hot coffee for the adults. We children considered ourselves living large when our mother gave us hot turkey with gravy on a slice of bread. Those were the days! And, we didn't have a tv set until I turned 10----just couldn't afford it. We played outside a lot, and we went to the library a lot too. We made do with what we had. Compared to most families we were lucky that we had a hot meal for supper and a sandwich for lunch----mostly PNB&J. Our Christmases were never elaborate or lavish----we had what we could afford, but that didn't spoil our holiday and the week off from school. We went sledding (we used folded up cardboard boxes to make primitive sleds/saucers) and we had skates that strapped onto our shoes for skating.
I wouldn't trade those adventures and memories for anything in the world now.
A sane country was much better
Amazing !!!!
Being born in 1950 I was the youngest of 5. This year marks the first Christmas being alone since my last brother died 2months ago. May they all RIP. I remember at age 3 questioning Santa coming down the chimney when ours was fake. Dad explained early Santa was the spirit of. Christmas 🎄
Best time of my life!!
I grew up in the 50' and 60's. My mom and dad struggled to make ends meet. Didn't always get a Christmas present but we got lots of love and joy. It was such a comfortable time even though the 60's would bring about many unsettling events. We had Santa for the kids but Jesus is who we honored and adored! Sang Christmas carols outside to neighbors and it was very special! Now I don't know why Christ is in Christmas because He's so ignored. Now it's all about shopping and materialism. Christ gave us the greatest gifts forgiveness of sins, conquering death and eternal life. But now a days we settle for gifts that we loose interest in or wear out.
Well said! 👏
Jingle Bell Rock, Rockin Around the Christmas Tree and Elvis' Christmas Album. Never did get any better.
I remember when those aluminum trees came out. We didn't have money to buy one, so my daddy took a live tree, and spray painted it silver. We thought it was awesome!
I wouldn't of even like the futuristic feel in the 50's. I love the classic red and green, vintage look.
I'm from Germany, born in 1955. I don't know how anyone did not have 3:27 time, each and evert year. We were middle class and, somehow my , om and dad found the funds, so Christmas was always glorious as it still is today.