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Christmas Traditions – What Were Yours Growing Up?

We had a greengrocery shop that sold Turkeys, Christmas Trees and Christmas Wreaths, so Christmas was a very busy time of year. My Dad was always worried that we would be left with a number of these being left unsold, but he knew what he was doing, when it came to how many of each we would sell. I remember him coming back from the wholesale market with a van full of turkeys and trees each year. I also remember that the last Sunday before Christmas was the day that we set aside for dressing the turkeys, ready for collection. My mother would pluck the feathers, Dad would draw the bird and I would be left to tidy that all up.

My Dad would tell me to pick a tree out for us, a week or two before Christmas, from those that were left and we would put the same decorations on every year. I buy one a little earlier now (needleless - although, they still go everywhere when moved), but leave it outside in a bucket of water until the first/second week of December to keep it fresh. Christmas Day has always started with opening presents followed by a visit to the cemetery with our wreaths, watching the Christmas Message and then, when it was still a thing, watching the Christmas TOTP. I have always thought that Christmas is the best time of the year and still do, even after seeing sixty odd of them. :)
 
John L said:
We had a greengrocery shop that sold Turkeys, Christmas Trees and Christmas Wreaths, so Christmas was a very busy time of year. My Dad was always worried that we would be left with a number of these being left unsold, but he knew what he was doing, when it came to how many of each we would sell. I remember him coming back from the wholesale market with a van full of turkeys and trees each year. I also remember that the last Sunday before Christmas was the day that we set aside for dressing the turkeys, ready for collection. My mother would pluck the feathers, Dad would draw the bird and I would be left to tidy that all up.

My Dad would tell me to pick a tree out for us, a week or two before Christmas, from those that were left and we would put the same decorations on every year. I buy one a little earlier now (needleless - although, they still go everywhere when moved), but leave it outside in a bucket of water until the first/second week of December to keep it fresh. Christmas Day has always started with opening presents followed by a visit to the cemetery with our wreaths, watching the Christmas Message and then, when it was still a thing, watching the Christmas TOTP. I have always thought that Christmas is the best time of the year and still do, even after seeing sixty odd of them. :)
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That's a lovely memory, I can imagine the excitement with all the turkeys and trees... but not so exciting clearing all the turkey mess lol...
Christmas definitely is the best time of year...
 
Astoness said:
hi suzanne..i am the eldest of 6 children and christmas was always so special...mom and dad made sure of that even though we were not mega rich...our tree went up on christmas eve..we usually made our own hanging decorations which was all part of the fun..this video was taken in 1963 when i was 10 and i can relate to it so much after we were all set up dad would pop over the road for a few pints with his mates and mom would put her feet up with a small glass of apricot wine and dad would always be back in time to play santa..must have been hard work dragging 6 christmas sacks up the 2 flights of stairs we had as some of us slept in the attic lol and of course our christmas stockings would be hanging empty at the bottom of our beds waiting to be filled up with small gift..an apple and orange..a few nuts and if we were lucky a few pennies at the bottom of the stocking..it will give you an idea of what christmas day was like back then and i would not swap it for all the world..ps the video does have sound

lyn


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Lots of Christmas magic there!
 
Suzanneiom said:
Arrrr that’s lovely your grandchildren live next door……
I put my tree up far too early
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Never too early! Our tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving! We go to a farm, usually with Grandchildren and pick a tree to be taken home. The also prep the tree stump for our stand. The needles stay on the tree through the Christmas season. On Christmas Eve we celebrate the feast of the 7 fishes which is an Italian Tradfrom my wife’s family followed by mid night mass. Not sure we will do MNM this year more likely the 9.00am on Christmas Day!
 
Richard Dye said:
Never too early! Our tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving! We go to a farm, usually with Grandchildren and pick a tree to be taken home. The also prep the tree stump for our stand. The needles stay on the tree through the Christmas season. On Christmas Eve we celebrate the feast of the 7 fishes which is an Italian Tradfrom my wife’s family followed by mid night mass. Not sure we will do MNM this year more likely the 9.00am on Christmas Day!
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The last few years ive gone from the 1st December to the 15th November to put my tree up. its very early but its my favourite thing ever to decorate it, and I enjoy having it on in the evenings, it feels cosy.
I think for the first time in years I will go to mass on Christmas Eve too.
what is the feast of the 7 fishes then?

also I haven't been able to get into my ancestry for hours it seems to be down, is anyone else having trouble?
 
Suzanneiom said:
The last few years ive gone from the 1st December to the 15th November to put my tree up. its very early but its my favourite thing ever to decorate it, and I enjoy having it on in the evenings, it feels cosy.
I think for the first time in years I will go to mass on Christmas Eve too.
what is the feast of the 7 fishes then?

also I haven't been able to get into my ancestry for hours it seems to be down, is anyone else having trouble?
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I belive theres been a Outage today
 
Suzanneiom said:
The last few years ive gone from the 1st December to the 15th November to put my tree up. its very early but its my favourite thing ever to decorate it, and I enjoy having it on in the evenings, it feels cosy.
I think for the first time in years I will go to mass on Christmas Eve too.
what is the feast of the 7 fishes then?

also I haven't been able to get into my ancestry for hours it seems to be down, is anyone else having trouble?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Seven_Fishes hope this helps...........

BTW, there are a number of systems being impacted today particularly Amazon. Our grandson works for them and has done little all day and everyone in his group has gone home!
 
pjmburns said:
Christmas Eve morning decorating the tree. I still have some original glass ornaments including one which my Mom told me was bought when her eldest sister was a baby - and she was born in 1912. I will try to get them out a photograaph some.
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My mother in law had some like that, very delicate. They evaporated when she moved in with her youngest daughter, sadly.
 
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