What was Christmas like, in the 50's? Back to Golden Days

Let's see. I spent half the 50's in Venezuela, I don't remember celebrating Christmas there, no tree or Santa, and it was summer there in December. The other half of the 50's was spent in the US and we started using the tree and giving presents. I remember going to mass on Christmas eve and using my allowance and my part-time job pay working at the hospital cafeteria to buy presents. The stores were always crowded, which I hated, but it also added to the Christmas character. I have no vivid memories of it all, just general remembrances.
 

Aunt Bea said:
When I was a kid the ladies from our church used to knit/crochet mittens from leftover yarn and then just before Christmas they would put them on a mitten tree near the altar in the front of the church and every kid rich or poor would go up during the service and get a pair.

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I'll take the red ones in the upper right corner. Thanks!
 

RadishRose said:
How adorable these are. You were well-loved, Deb.

That stroller in the first pic...it was blue. I remember a blue one.

Thanks for sharing.
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I still have the tie my dad wore in the photos - probably a gag gift and quite risque for the 50's but wouldn't raise an eyebrow nowadays. He always threatened to wear it to church sometime, but had the taste not to.

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CrackerJack said:
What awesome dept stores and buildings you have in America and Canada. We have Selfridges and John Lewis House of Fraser Harrods to name but a few. Wonderful buildings and architrcture lovingly and maintained. I am so pleased and happy these old massive stores are still trading and these lean days in the world of retail it's good to know but wonder if some will shut their famous doors😕
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Selfridge's will always be familiar having watched the mini-series, "Mr. Selfridge" with Jeremy Pivan is the lead role. The real Mr. Selfridge came to such a pathetic ending after having attained such great heights in the retail trade.
 
DaveA said:
Selfridge's will always be familiar having watched the mini-series, "Mr. Selfridge" with Jeremy Pivan is the lead role. The real Mr. Selfridge came to such a pathetic ending after having attained such great heights in the retail trade.
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Yes we had the tv series Mr Selfridge here and it was excellent and riveting imo. Yes, a tragic end for this retail entrepreneur. Not a very nice individual but so successfull in business.

I loved the popular series and wish they would do a re-run on our telly
 
Because of the boonies environment in which I grew up, Wish Books were important to my late 40s early 50s Christmases. I do remember one year going to Seattle and visiting Frederick and Nelson. I think I spent that entire shopping trip with my mouth hanging open in amazement.

Normally we shopped at the logging camp general store. They really tried to bring in some gift items but most of what they carried was pretty utilitarian. One lady in the camp made wonderful fruit cakes and others made warm socks, sweaters and quilts.

The county seat was 50 miles away and there was a Sears and several small department stores and of course there were several dime stores where a kid could by "wonderful" things for his mother....you know, Evening in Paris, Japanese vases and the like.dt int 1.jpg
 
Ah, Evening in Paris. It was my Mom's favorite. I can remember the first time I bought a Christmas gift for her. My Aunt took me to a Savon drugstore and helped me pick out a crank type wall mount can opener. I guess she needed one. Anyway, when we checked out, they added tax to the price, and I was shocked. What's this? You can post one price then charge more? Welcome to the real world, kid.

Don
 
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I just remembered the custom of pinning small jingle bells to our crinolines at Christmas, so that we jingled when we walked.

When I was in the 8th grade, that was banned from school because of the noise. Imagine a couple hundred girls swishing around in crinolines jingling away merrily? My mother always made me take them off for church, too. Stand up....jingle, jingle...sit down....jingle, jingle....cross your legs.....jingle, jingle.....
 
Meanderer, I grew up in Pittsburgh. I remember Kaufmann's very well. And that clock on Smithfield street was a meeting point. "See you under the clock." My bus stop was just around the corner. The windows at Christmas time were always great. I remember going downtown just to see the windows. Thanks for the memories.
 
CarolfromTX said:
Meanderer, I grew up in Pittsburgh. I remember Kaufmann's very well. And that clock on Smithfield street was a meeting point. "See you under the clock." My bus stop was just around the corner. The windows at Christmas time were always great. I remember going downtown just to see the windows. Thanks for the memories.
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Yeah, a real landmark!
Linda+Barnicott+Waiting+For+You+Under+Kaufmanns+Clock.jpg
 

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