Thanksgiving is over, and I am already singing "Jingle Bells." I adore this time of year, and one of my favorite parts is hearing all Christmas memories, traditions and experiences as my friends and family reminisce about the past. As Christmas approaches, I will be writing a series titled "Holidays Through the Decades" to give voice to Christmas memories not only of my own generation but stretching all the way back to Christmas in the 40's.
What was Christmas like in the 40's? I interviewed a husband and wife (my grandparents!), Lewis and Gloria North, to find out.
What gifts do you remember receiving?
Gloria: I remember my uncle gave me a doll named Sparkle Plenty. There was a Dick Tracy comic strip. It had a couple that was very plain. Their last name was Plenty, and they had a baby that was beautiful so they named her Sparkle, Sparkle Plenty. All my brother ever wanted was fireworks. When they were all gone he had nothing left. I can still remember the smell of those fireworks. We also got oranges. We only got them when we were sick or when it was Christmas.
Lewis: I asked Sandy Claus for a pair of black rubber boots just like his, and I got them! We usually got about four gifts and fruit and nuts and candy.
What did you call the man in the red suit who brought gifts, and did you believe in him?
Gloria: We called him Sandy Claus. We didn't know we were saying it wrong because there was a song that said it that way. Oh yes! We believed in him. My brother always wanted to show me where the presents were hidden, but I wouldn't look because I didn't want to hear it. You'd think I would have known better because we had a huge fire under the chimney!
Lewis: We also called him Sandy Claus.
What did a Christmas breakfast consist of?
Lewis: Mother would make biscuits and fried bacon. We would get up at about 3 AM to see what Sandy Claus brought, so it was still dark out while we ate.
Gloria: I remember running back and forth between the kitchen and the living room telling my mother to come see what Sandy brought me. I thought they hadn't seen it because we believed in Sandy.
What did you wear?
Gloria: The girls at school would wear jingle bells tied onto our black and white shoes--just as many as we could fit. Christmas was the only time we were allowed to wear them to school. That would be fun. We'd be jingling all over the place.
Lewis: I remember that. The boys didn't wear bells.
What traditions did you have?
Gloria: The greeting back then was "Christmas gift." (I asked for clarification and she explained that it was the equivalent of someone today saying "Merry Christmas." Check out the Dictionary of American Regional English for details on the etymology). We also had bubble lights on the tree. All the lights were colored back then. We would run outside to look at the tree after decorating.
Lewis: We made string popcorn for the tree.
What role did religion play in your Christmas memories from the 40's?
Gloria: We would always join with the Methodist church and put on a nativity play. Sandy Claus came after the play.
Do your remember Christmas in the 1940's? If so, please comment with your favorite memories!
