Christmas Reminiscence

I was lucky enough to grow up in the 1960’s and 70’s.  Every generation thinks their childhood was the best era to grow up in as everything seemed simpler and we were much more innocent and untainted by the world for sure. We always had a Christmas play at school and church.

Kids of my era had to wait all year for our favorite Christmas shows to come on television.  If you missed it, you just did!  There was nothing to “record” them with.  The school days leading up to “Christmas” break seemed to drag on forever!  Kids would spend hours looking through the Sears, J.C. Penney and Montgomery Ward catalogs circling the toys they dreamed of and making a list of wants for Santa.

You couldn’t just see Santa everywhere like today either.  You might see him in your town’s Christmas parade or at one of the major stores.  We didn’t have shopping malls where I lived. You had to hand deliver or mail your letter to Santa.  Everyone was on their best behavior because they knew Santa was watching!

If you were lucky, Santa would come by your elementary school and give you a candy cane and a tangerine.  The stores used to sell these red mesh stockings that had fruit, nuts and a little candy in them and you were thrilled if you got one!  You were more likely to get tangerines and candy canes in your stocking.

Most people had real Christmas trees.  The silver aluminum Christmas trees and color wheels came out in the 60’s and the older people were horrified!  If you like to watch Charlie Brown Christmas you will hear Lucy referencing them and the fact that Christmas was becoming so commercialized.  I can only imagine what she would think today!  Christmas didn’t creep into the stores in October like it does now.

We were so excited to drive through the little towns that were decorated with lights strung over the roadway with lighted wreaths and such.  All the store windows feature wonderful displays that often feature animated figures and glorious toys.  Families used to pile up in the car to drive around and look at Christmas lights which were not nearly as elaborate as they are today.  I wonder what kind of memories of Christmas my grandkids will cherish when they are older?  Happy Collecting!