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Christmas Traditions – What Were Yours Growing Up?

Traditions as a child were my mother making mince pies on christmas eve whilst my brother and I decorated the tree with Pifco cinderella lights and tinsel. The tree which was an artificial one resembled several threadbare branches on a wooden pole! [I think it came from Woolworths in about 1946]. Father christmas always made his way to us and a few presents left in pillowcases at foot of bed - there would always be a walnut and a new shiny penny. On chrismas morning we would find the fire alight and more presents at the foot of the tree and a wonderful smells from the kitchen. Enormous lunch followed by the then King;s speech on radio and games. The worse tradition in my family christmas was breakfast which was - pork pie - why?!
 
Lorna Quorn said:
Traditions as a child were my mother making mince pies on christmas eve whilst my brother and I decorated the tree with Pifco cinderella lights and tinsel. The tree which was an artificial one resembled several threadbare branches on a wooden pole! [I think it came from Woolworths in about 1946]. Father christmas always made his way to us and a few presents left in pillowcases at foot of bed - there would always be a walnut and a new shiny penny. On chrismas morning we would find the fire alight and more presents at the foot of the tree and a wonderful smells from the kitchen. Enormous lunch followed by the then King;s speech on radio and games. The worse tradition in my family christmas was breakfast which was - pork pie - why?!
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lovely memories...much like many of us on the forum...no idea why pork pie for breakfast although i must say i can eat it any time of day :)

lyn
 
Pork pie for Christmas breakfast was a treat and doesn't require any cooking on a morning when lots of cooking would be done? On ordinary days Mom would have weetabix with jam and hot milk, I gather Dad ate grape nuts. I much preferred pork pie to these horrors! We have pork pie still at Christmas, though we eat it with cold cuts on Boxing Day.
 
The history of pork pies at Christmas, particularly in the East Midlands of England, has two main strands: a long medieval tradition of pies as a celebration food for the poor, and a later Victorian tradition of eating them for breakfast on Christmas morning. The medieval origin stems from the idea that while lords ate extravagant meats like swan, laborers celebrated with a pie made from the pig they had raised all year, making it a special, celebratory food. This evolved into the Victorian-era tradition in regions like Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, where pork pies became a common, though not exclusive, Christmas breakfast item, often enjoyed after church service
 
mw0njm. said:
2 films to watch tonight while the weather is so bad
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I remember when the Snowman first on tv Channel 4 introduced by David Bowie then Father Christmas with Mel Smith as Father Christmas both sadly no longer with us. I recorded them both and still have them . Loved Mel Smiths Father Christmas and the song Another Blooming Christmas. Jack frost was also good watched Polar Express last week hope you can all still here Santa's bell.
 
In the 50s and 60s we always had a real tree in the front room. It lasted a long time as we only heated the room for special occasions. Spiral paper chains and balloons in both rooms, the chains being rolled up and used again each year. Christmas night was party night as relatives and neighbours converged on us. Boxing Day night was for grown ups playing card games like 'chase the ace'. It was the chance for us kids to play with gifts, eat selection boxes and read our comic annuals. Mine usually Beano or Rupert.
 
I grew up in the 60s and 70s. My dad would always go to Bastianelis which I think was at the top of digbeth near St Martins. So we always had grapes, lemons, olives and Panforte Di Sienna. plus bottles of Asti Spumante and a bottle of Chianti in its lovely basket. ...I try to keep this tradition. Unfortunately I have been unable to source Panforte locally since around 2020,
 
Adrienne said:
I grew up in the 60s and 70s. My dad would always go to Bastianelis which I think was at the top of digbeth near St Martins. So we always had grapes, lemons, olives and Panforte Di Sienna. plus bottles of Asti Spumante and a bottle of Chianti in its lovely basket. ...I try to keep this tradition. Unfortunately I have been unable to source Panforte locally since around 2020,
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Are you near Cody's Italian shop in Bearwood? They close Mondays, but authentic produce.
 
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