Christmas in the 1950s - Life in America

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[@donsumner9268]

Christmas stockings today are very expensive to fill, but in the 50s my parents filled ours with an apple, an orange, unshelled walnuts&pecans, a candy cane, and hard ribbon candy!! These are still some of the wonderful memories from my childhood!

[@kittye8340]

My Dad puts an orange, some candy, and maybe a bottle of soda in mine. Italian Americans.

[@kittye8340]

He himself had only an orange and limon?¿?¿ hard candies or something he told me

[@goldiethompson6569]

My parents gave my sisters and I apples 🍎 and oranges 🍊 in the Christmas stockings , awesome memories 😀 🎄

[@kitkatkatorrie1982]

Yup got an orange an toys in mine…..God where did that time go🎄

[@goldiethompson6569]

@@kitkatkatorrie1982 I know. Fun Christmas memories 🎅 🎄

[@Halo17]

This was in the 60's, but I remember my grandmother used to have a bowl of "ribbon candy". Anybody remember that?🎄⛄

[@samanthab1923]

Hated it! My Great Aunt Tish always sent us some. Russel Stover I think

[@Hope4U61]

We had a big silver bowl with mixed nuts and oranges and xmas candies. What a great memory.

[@lucindajones2892]

I do remember the “ ribbon candy”!

[@lisamariesmith3610]

You bet it was such a treat

[@barbarabergeron382]

Every Christmas at my grandmother's. We also had a bowl of mixed nuts among our other food traditions. We also had our stockings filled with a tangerine, nuts, candy cane and some other little things I can't remember.

[@theodorepetine7562]

You hit the nail right on the head especially the part where families all lived within a few miles of each other.Those days are long gone sad.

[@jc1979af]

Yep. A trip to the local cemetery where your folks would point out the graves of your deceased extended family members.

[@theodorepetine7562]

@@jc1979af When I lived back in New Jersey I would go to the cemetery at least once a month and clean up my grandparents my parents aunts and uncle‘s graves I missed that now that I live in Florida

[@mikebeesley5458]

All depends on what state you live in.

[@tourcreole854]

The world was a smaller place then. For a small child, the world was only as big as the distance between home and Grandma's house. It make Santa's trip around the world in one night very easy to believe.

[@theodorepetine7562]

Amen to that

[@smorgasbroad1132]

This makes me mourn for those wonderful days. I was so lucky to be a kid then. Unless you were there, you cannot understand it's magic.

[@roslyngeer7698]

Yes I do.

[@maybethgaikens7143]

Well said😊

[@glorialetrichdunn8600]

I agree.

[@nodanceswithwolves8425]

Totally. It was the only time of joy in my childhood. Occasionally birthdays...but usually only Christmas.

[@marycook1644]

🌲🦌 It was MAGICAL !! And seeing your name reminds me of my Swedish roots and relatives.

[@fob1xxl]

In 1950 I was 5. Skates, scooter, cowboy guns, tricycle, board games, Mr Potato Head, Slinky, electric train set. I still have my original "JACK IN THE BOX" from Mattel that my folks gave me for my first Christmas in 1945 ! Life was so simple and uncomplicated. I miss it ! "Merry Christmas Everyone" ! PS....I forgot that once in the early 50's around 5:15 or 5:30 every evening on TV there would be "Santa's Workshop" from the North Pole. He would even go through some of the list of names of kids that were good. One evening he mentioned MY NAME and what I wanted for Christmas. I was beside myself, telling my Mom, "HE mentioned my name ! He mentioned my name" ! Little did I know my Mom wrote in to the TV Station and gave Santa the information ! I loved my Mom so much when I found out years later what she had done. Yep ! That was how lucky I was as a child growing up. I miss them all.....

[@gregoryclemen1870]

do not laugh, but I still have my "HANDY ANDY TOOL BOX" that was a christmas gift years ago, when I was in single digits. gosh I can remember mom and dad putting us in bed chrismass eve, I could not sleep for nothing, waiting for "SANTA" to come!!!! just like "ALL IN THE FAMILY THOSE WERE THE DAYS"!!!!. chrismas was a huge event in our family, with all of the relations, how we got them to fit in our house was a real miracle, and as the years passed they started fading away, yup, from dust to dust they all returned!!!!

[@incog99skd11]

I don't have it anymore but in 1955 I got a tool kit with a saw. By the time Mom and Dad had gotten up, I had the leg of the French Provincial sofa half sawed off!!

[@robertjaent6087]

@@incog99skd11 that is really funny! Can you imagine being able to buy a child a toy today that would actually cut anything???

[@fob1xxl]

@@incog99skd11 Pretty funny ! Great memories though. We were so lucky.

[@fob1xxl]

@@gregoryclemen1870 I'm glad to hear your memories of Christmas. Sounds like you were as fortunate as I was. They're the most comforting memories I have of my youth.

[@lie-berry]

My mama used to read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens to us. She'd begin the story a week before Christmas and read a bit to us each night before bedtime. She'd finish it up on Christmas Eve night. Gosh, I hadn't thought of that in years. Almost made me cry.

[@kallen868]

That's awesome! My mom read me and my brothers Little House on the Prairie.✌

[@nancyayers5067]

On Christmas Eve, my family (me, aunt, & great-grandfather) would light up the fireplace 1st, then my aunt would talk about Santa Claus while grandmother would make Christmas cookies from scratch!! Then b4 long they would say, "Santa Claus will b here soon, so it's bedtime bc Santa won't leave you any toys if you're still awake!" So off 2 bed I would go. My aunt had hung little bells from the front door & she promised me that when Santa came down the chimney, he would ring the bells & no one could go into the living room until the next morning (don't disturb Santa!) Then the next morning, we would marvel at all the beautiful gifts stacked up under the tree!! Oh, yes, & we would be sure 2 leave some cookies out for Santa the night b4! Only crumbs would be left Christmas morning - with a short note of thanks from Santa!!! 🎁🎄💖💖

[@JohnDoe-rx8xi]

Thank you for sharing.

[@fyt00000]

@@kallen868 I love it!

[@funkibloo3811]

❤️

[@eddie577]

I still remember getting the Sears Christmas Catalog. I skimmed it over every day. Thanks for the memories.

[@ontariobuds]

Mine was The Canadian Tire catalogue. Oh the memories............ 🎅 🦌 🌲 🎁🛷 ❄️ ⛄️

[@rhiannon-bv9rk]

I loved looking through the catalog for Christmas toys!!!

[@henryottis295]

Eddie, my parents were big on Sears...... I spent many happy hours looking at the catalogues, especially the Wish book.

[@susandhifaoui]

that poor catalogue would be dog-eared by the time we were done with it...all 5 of us. lol It was so fun to go through, make a list, wish and dream. I thought about this a few years ago that even though we wouldn't get pretty much none of what we asked for, we were still so happy and never disappointed. Was fun just to dream and look over those pages.

[@jacquelinemckinney4147]

My parents had a Montgomery Ward Catalog Store where people would come in and pick up their merchandise. I was too young to help e en though I thought I was. Lol. Sear and Roebuck were our competitors so we never shopped there. My mom let me mark pages in the gigantic Montgomery Ward Christmas Catalog each year for Santa. I did receive some of the items, mostly pretty clothes to wear to church and school and a few toys. What grand memories.

[@kathryneconomou791]

My favorite memory is after my parents went to bed, my brother would wake me up and we would sit at the top of the stairs and just be mesmerized by the presents glowing under the tree and all the snow outside the huge window. It was truly magical.

[@daisydukes8252]

I always say those times were magical, the days were magical. It was so different.

[@lindaj71]

An illusory magic at best! Children indoctrinated by consumerism…how not?

[@deee5520]

This was my era. I’m 84. I got very teary eyed thinking about it. There was just my dad, mom and me. One year when we were in a small town I got an orange. Doesn’t sound like much but in the cold winter it was a big deal. That was the same year the Santa in the parade was drunk. We never celebrated Santa or Christ’s birthday. Just gift giving and food. I didn’t learn about Christ till I was a grown woman. 😢. Those were the good ol days and bad ol days. Nothing is ever perfect. Blessings at Christmas time.

[@kallen868]

Merry Christmas...Dee!🌟⛄🎅 A Christmas stocking with a toe filled with hard nuts and an orange was a tradition for me growing up.

[@christinef7739]

Somehow you made it to adulthood without God. I'm not sure why you're sad about that. I'm 72 and a lot of these pictures really bring back memories!

[@deee5520]

@@christinef7739. By the skin of my teeth. But God loved me enough He kept me safe. And the reason I’m sad is because my life could have been so much better with Him in it.

[@michaelhewitt258]

A very Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@deee5520]

@@michaelhewitt258 and to you and yours.

[@mariaelenasantora8796]

My mom had the house smelling so good making pies cakes n cookies we would go downtown n look in the windows at all the great christmas stuff they had i loved it wish i could go back in time---then we had a great dinner i'm italian n we always had a houseful of everything--ham potaoes string beans baked ziti meatballs n sausage---omg i want to go back to that time right now!

[@b.savage8953]

Me too 😟 just to hug my parents again.

[@Hogger280]

You are making me hungry and it's bed time. I am German but my favorite food is Italian!

[@kat35lulu88]

Take me with ya!

[@e.conboy4286]

Maria Elena: (That’s such a beautiful name!) It’s true, there’s NO place like HOME, is there? Sounds delicious! I bet your friends loved playing with you close to meal time, hoping for a seat at the table! Our kind neighbor across the hall was Greek (owned a popular restaurant in town) and made the most wonderful soup, often sharing with Mother, Daddy and me tho I didn’t care much for soup as a child (how dumb is that?).Daddy did tho, until the moment he left the table in a hurry! There in his bowl, was an eye peering up at him! Well not any more but seemed to be, through the soup! Sure enough, the authentic Greek Fish Head Soup, which he had enjoyed for years…. has instantly lost its appeal! Scraps? Maybe to some but are the basis of nutrition and flavor as most chefs and good cooks know. Good soup, too.

[@loriwest4777]

❤❄❤❄❤❄

[@wideawake8190]

This is when Christmas was fun for the whole family. Not the commercial grabbing of today. People bought within their budget. I grew up in a poor family. One year, my grandfather who owned an orchard sent us a large box of apples and nuts. Wow! We were so happy and allowed to eat as much as we wanted. That was our Christmas. I can't remember any other gifts but my parents put up a tree and decorated it. When we woke in the morning there was that glorious box with it's delicious goodies. All 3 of us were in awe and afraid to open it just in case it contained coal! Merry Christmas everyone.

[@daisydukes8252]

So many people on here talk about how you can’t afford to support a family with one job anymore. People back then knew how to live within a budget, they didn’t have cars lining the driveways and fancy vacations, eating out in expensive restaurants, etc. I know people who support a family on one job right now and they do a good job. If one job doesn’t do it then you get two, I’ve seen that also. Finding happiness in the simpler things brings great joy.

[@michael9052]

I still put some tinsel on my tree every year. Up until I was 19 we visited my maternal grandparents each Christmas night. There would be 50+ people in that little Cape Cod. One year my Aunt counted 72. I feel sad for today's grade schoolers. We always had a Christmas party with refreshments provided by the PTA moms, music and games. There was never the thought that someone would be offended and if someone was they'd have been told "tough."

[@Diane18]

It was so exciting to be in grade school at Christmas back then. I remember I got a Frosty the Snowman Book. My grandparen's home was a 950 sq foot cape. Everyone was there. I could not wait to see all my cousins. I miss them so much. No one cared about your furniture, your decor or what car your family had. Wish I could go back. God Bless all those people.

[@samanthab1923]

I love the sound of that 🎄 back in the 70’s our town started to do the luminara candles lining our streets. Really pretty. It only took a few Scrooges to ruin it.

[@diannt9583]

We stopped doing tinsel when we got pets. Thinking about what they could do to guts and all. I do recall Mom telling me about when she and her husband first decorated a tree together. Turns out that in Dad's family, the kids just threw the tinsel on the tree. Mom was having NONE of that, and never let him touch the tinsel again.

[@shananalexander9789]

I was born in 1959. My Christmas tree was aluminum and it had the 4 lights that rotated: Red, blue, yellow and green to change the color of the tree. I loved to see the real trees in other people’s homes. They smelled so good. Merry Christmas to everyone who watches this. May God’s love live in your home. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🙏🙏🙏

[@audreyh3357]

Thank you! To you, too.😊🙏😊

[@janicefrantz1831]

I was born in 1960 and I wouldn't trade my Christmas memories for anything. One memory that always makes me smile is thinking about all the Christmas cards pinned to the livingroom curtains! There were literally hundreds of them - covering the curtains, taped to walls around doorways, blanketing every flat surface... So beautiful and colorful. The entire mid-century Christmas season was pure magic.

[@lovelight9164]

I was also a 1960 baby and Christmas time was magical from the lights to the tensil blowing as the furnace kicked on. I loved waking up around 4 am and sitting with my sisters and brother with our feet up against the heater vents looking at the presents under the tree which Santa also brought. Beautiful memories.

[@barbaratheard5992]

Yeah, we taped our Christmas cards to one particular wall. Loved looking at them.

[@anitahanchey7714]

Wouldn't change any of my memories for Anything. It's not magical anymore....its about money.

[@suskelleykelley7241]

There were 6 of us kids in my family and oldest to the youngest we all stood in a line waiting for our parents to give the ok to go to our in closed porch where the tree and gifts were!! Daddy would tease us saying " ohh no kids go back to bed because Santa didn't come!!" We'd all giggle with excitement saying " Come on Dad we can't wait; we know your kidding!!" Lol. All 6 of us kids had our own pile of gifts and it was such good memories

[@yodservant]

Yes we used to tape them to the dividers between the window panes and also the French doors between the dining room and foyer.... beautiful ❄️❄️❄️!!

[@JP-yw4wx]

One thing I'll always remember is my mom stringing up all the Christmas cards we've received. Our home was filled with relatives , because they all lived nearby. So much time has past. Wish I could go back , even for just one more gathering. Thank you again 🎄

[@lindahaggard6416]

JP 60 The Christmas cards! I knew Christmas Season was on its way when my mother set up the "card table" (usually used for bridge) in the living room and addressed tons of cards from lists that increased each year! Every day our mailbox was full of cards! Like you I miss the good old days!

[@williamstroud1649]

that would be wonderful- i wish the same thing.

[@daisydukes8252]

Me too.

[@waltervega8730]

So awesome! Christmas cards! Who does that nowadays! The was a chore on its own. We sit around and write Christmas cards to family, friends, neighbors, and teachers. My mom would buy a small stack for us write and give to our classmates. While drinking hot coco. My grandma would actually put every card on the Christmas tree. Which I thought was odd. However, that was her taste and what she loved. I have never seen anyone do that again, but her. Now I wish I could go back and see her Christmas tree. It was pretty special!

[@ravenbaa7989]

Same here

[@marilynackerman9185]

Makes me cry to think of what most people are missing now.

[@betsyj59]

Me too.

[@awesome13jeff]

people nowadays have better medicine, civil rights, longer life spans etc vs the 1950s

[@arthurmorgan8991]

​@@awesome13jeff What good is any of that when your society is chaotic, evil, and no sense of unity? Western Civilization is collapsing and yet we have it better now?

[@seaweed2007]

It was the same for us in the 60’s. There were always tons of wrapped presents around our tinsel-adorned tree but after Santa came, wow! My toy grand piano with bench was the best present ever! A trip to see the life-size nativity in Balboa Park was a highlight. Driving down Candy Cane Lane in Chula Vista to see all the houses decked out in their Christmas glory was a must. Spending Christmas Day with neighborhood friends to ride our new bikes, scooters and skates was so much fun. There was a completely different feel to those years. Everyone answered the phone and the front door without question. I miss the days of everyone spending time with each other instead of staring at phones.

[@DS-uh6ss]

Is Candy Cane Lane still there? Do they still do Christmas on the Prado? The year we went to see the decorations at the Hotel del Coronado remains one of my best holiday memories ever!

[@dragonsbreath1984]

For me it was the city Christmas lights they used to hang in downtown Rochester, MI back in the 70s and early 80s. They were so huge and bright, you couldn’t tell what color the traffic lights were! And the huge snows we used to get with everyone actually knowing how to drive in the snow with rear wheel drive and open differentials.

[@SevenHunnid]

People say I’m dumb because i quit my job to smoke weed on my KZbin channel full time & do what makes me happy !

[@AllieinCali]

I had a "baby grand" as well! It was coral color with a round stool. I learned how to play "Way Down upon the Swanee River" and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". Great memories.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

The upscale Interlochen subdivision in Arlington, Texas has impressive Christmas lawn and lights displays each year, without the guady look of the Griswalds! 😊

[@Mszahnclass95]

I love this channel ,it is nice to capture all the simple life that we will never have again

[@saminaneen]

@@yaenamika2050 Ain't nobody, got time, for your FAKE COMMENT,,,It is like you said, Any comments that advocate douchebaggery like Thereal, burnoutism, nazism, fascism or anti-semitism will NOT be tolerated by us and will be deleted!,,you are such a snowflake, babyboy.

[@tomjones2121]

or , if you were black , brown or native ..... simply never enjoyed ,

[@Romans1.24-27]

AMEN

[@saminaneen]

@@tomjones2121 Your comments are irrelevant, facts not in evidence, you are guilty of "improper thinking', your comments will be stricken from the record, thanks for playing

[@saminaneen]

@@yaenamika2050 Your comments are irrelevant, facts not in evidence, you are guilty of "improper thinking', your comments will be stricken from the record, thanks for playing

[@laurie5098]

I remember helping my dad put tinsel on the tree AND after Christmas taking it off and carefully laying it straight on to tissue paper which he would carefully fold up and put back in their boxes. I sure wish I had that tinsel today!

[@kesmarn]

Yes, same here, except my Mom was in charge of the "icicles" as we used to call them. And they were saved from year to year, carefully straightened out. They were made of lead back in the day, and since it took about three days of hanging them to get that tree looking just right, we probably got exposed to a fair amount of lead through holding them in our hands or extended periods! Between that and x-ray machines in shoe stores, playing with mercury, no seat belts in cars and the use of DDT on crops it's a miracle we made it to adulthood.

[@shannondore]

I love tinsel! I put so much on my mom's tree one year it looked like a aluminum tree. (Which was what I was going for) I also loved making curls out of them. Pulling the tinsel between your nail and finger it would curl then I'd try to straighten it out again. The weird stuff kids do to entertain themselves.😆

[@willytompkins8115]

I remember they were about .10 cents a package. !!!

[@slactweak]

@@kesmarn Icicles, Aye. Glad to see I'm not the only one who remembers them.

[@Sunny25611]

@@kesmarn Aluminum

[@shannon_w.]

I myself was a 70’s baby, born in 1974. My fondest memories are one that I have been thinking about so much for the last year and had been making me so sad that they are gone but so happy I have them. Every holiday was spent at my Great Grandmom’s house. The whole family would fill up her little home. Granny was from Norway and every Christmas each family would receive a loaf of her AMAZING homemade bread, lefse (which to this day I have NEVER had it like Granny made it!), and a plastic bag (usually a recycled empty bread bag) full of all different kinds of Scandinavian cookies!! We would all bring a dish and everything was served buffet style. After everyone ate all the men would go in the living room and watch football and all the women would clean up the kitchen and just laugh and laugh! Granny (who was born in 1901 and passed a few months before her 101st birthday) would just sit there and usually she would be holding someone’s baby, rocking the baby so gently and humming so softly with a smile on her face the whole time. Granny once told my Mom that’s she feared that once she was gone that the family unity we had would be gone and she was unfortunately right. We all went our separate ways and barely ever got together anymore since then. It is so sad because my kids were so little when they were able to enjoy the few holidays that were left at Granny’s that they don’t remember it. My son and his girlfriend who are 22 and 21 years old are buying their first home together and moving in at the end of this month. My son has always been the sentimental type and always, since he was little LOVED when we went to or had any family gatherings, told me that once they are moved in that he wants to start the traditions back up that Granny had. He also said that any grudges that anyone that comes has against eachother need to get over it! Lol 😆! Granny would be so proud of my son for bringing back the family get togethers. Merry Christmas to anyone who read my long drawn out “book” and to those who may just glance at this last paragraph! We ALL need family MORE now then ever!!!

[@noble604]

I read it and I read it all! Great memories! Thank you for sharing them and Merry Christmas to you!

[@lightningblue648]

Merry Christmas!

[@hearttoheart4me]

I am so sorry that happened in the family. Unfortunately seems to be the standard. Celebrating family, loved ones and the gifts of life, love and joys are gone. It is something we need to fight to get back. Merry Christmas 2022.

[@suskelleykelley7241]

I enjoyed your sweet story

[@shannon_w.]

@@suskelleykelley7241 thank you 😊

[@QuintTheSharker]

Better times. Plain and simple.

[@lacy.knickers146]

Absolutely!! I was born in 1955 and miss the late 50’s and very early 60’s oh, and Christmas trees smelled nice. Now, no.oh in 1962 my first Barbie!

[@QuintTheSharker]

@@lacy.knickers146 from what I hear the late 50’s early 60’s were the very best!

[@tomjoad6270]

Amen to that !!! 💯🇺🇸🦅🗽⚔️🏔️🏔️

[@ursulasmith6402]

Not for females, no medical advances. Early deaths, hard work, for what? Less opportunities.

[@nancypaquet2403]

They sure were! Married Moms and Dads, stable home life, supper around the dinner table for everyone, lots of rules (tough love)… lots of LOVE.

[@teresap7546]

My mom and dad continued their 1950s experiences with my siblings and me in the late 60s/early 70s. This video brought back so many fond memories. To this day my 85 year old mother sits with the youngest great grandchildren and reads 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' on Christmas Eve

[@CrossOfBayonne]

My uncle did too when he was young

[@theshepherdsinn]

I grew up in the 50's and life was wlnderful. We were very poor but I never knew it. So were all my friends in my little class of 20 students. Lifse was wonderful. We emjoyed each other and made up our games. All our toys forus 6 kids fit in an orange box in the kitchen. Never had a barbie but did have a hoola hoop.

[@DanOKC]

Amen

[@johnready630]

I think about my parents and how it was around Christmas and life in general back in the day , I sure miss those simple, special times.

[@diannt9583]

We were kids. Of course it seemed like simple times!

[@williammorris4757]

for sure, i think we all do!

[@luannputman9102]

Such an innocent time, Christmas actually meant something, thank you for sharing.

[@kazilziya830]

I was a kid in the 50s and remember it well , especially Christmas. That was a time when we actually had a growing middle class and strong unions. I'm thankful I grew up when I did.

[@sandradonnelly500]

Amen to all you said...

[@1946luke]

Yes, me too. Born in the 40's. I'm not so sure I like what the fanatical left wing liberal dumbocrats have done to our country. The "greatest generation" would flip over in their graves, if they could see it now.

[@betsyj59]

Days when you could get a decent (union) factory job that could support a whole family and that included benefits... all with a high school degree.

[@sharrontaylor4744]

Here here , Amen to that !!

[@samanthab1923]

It was a different time. We always looked forward to seeing all our relatives at Christmas. Great aunts & uncles, grandparents, cousins. Now we’re lucky to get our immediate family together. No one lives in the same state any longer

[@MsGrowltiger]

At Grandma's house. No central heating. Waking up in the wee hours of Christmas Day. Creeping down the streps to peer through the French doors at the tree in the inheated parlor. Streetlamp outside glistening on the tinsel. Going in and looking at the toys Santa had left. Not touching anything, just caught up in the magic of it all. Teeth chattering, shivering, going back to bed, trying to get warm. Falling back to sleep to be waked a few hours later by my brother. Going downstairs to open presents. By then Grandma had opened the French doors into the family room where the oil stove was so it was warm enough to play with our toys. Bubble lights bubbling away. Later aunts and uncles and cousins would arrive and more gifts. Turkey and dressing and rice pudding with raisins. Going outside in my snow suit, though we rarely had snow. Simpler times.

[@lisamariesmith3610]

Beautiful memory thanks for sharing.

[@marycook1644]

🎄🦌 My grandma Winnie made such delicious rice pudding !! Thanks for sharing !! Blessings from California. 🤖🚀

[@gmpny3945]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful video of a bygone era. When I was a child in the 1960s we didn't even think about Christmas until the Friday after Thanksgiving. Nowadays the retailers start the Christmas rush in July. Back then families enjoyed each other's company during Christmas gatherings. Nowadays everyone has there nose looking down into their cellphones. Too bad the true meaning and traditions of Christmas went the way of the Edsel.

[@fyt00000]

No-the true meaning of Christmas lives on for those who live it.

[@betsyj59]

I'm in the same age group as you. Agree with what you say here.

[@waltervega8730]

You are so right! Different times! We had art paper, crayons, water colors, drawing pencils, which I received for Christmas every year. The smell of a crayon brings back memories! Nowadays kids grow up with tablets, and electronics. I'm so happy my childhood was in the 70's. We had to wait to see the Christmas cartoons on TV, with only 5 channels lol. Nowadays all the holidays are rushed. So sad!

[@darrenlivingston2550]

A well done video as always. The 1950s really seems like a simpler more wholesome time spent remembering the true meaning of the season which is the birth of Jesus Christ and spending it with the ones we love.

[@retrobear2]

And the birth of commercialism, McCarthyism. And lets not forget racism. We have plenty of that back then too! I think it’s very interesting to look back at the 50s in the 60s and 70s .. But waxing poetic about how wonderful those times where is an insult to the people who lived in those times. Every decade has its strife and it wasn’t all rosy cheeked little white children under Christmas trees in the 50s either. Speaking of weight did anyone notice how white these pictures are? And don’t get me wrong I’m a white guy who is raised by a racist mother who herself was a teenager from a poor family in the 50s who didn’t get anything for Christmas unless she worked and bought it for herself.

[@saminaneen]

@@yaenamika2050 Ain't nobody, got time, for your FAKE COMMENT,,,It is like you said, Any comments that advocate douchebaggery like Thereal, burnoutism, nazism, fascism or anti-semitism will NOT be tolerated by us and will be deleted!,,you are such a snowflake, babyboy.

[@saminaneen]

@@charlesbaldo Ain't nobody, got time, for your FAKE COMMENT,,,It is like you said, Any comments that advocate douchebaggery like Thereal, burnoutism, nazism, fascism or anti-semitism will NOT be tolerated by us and will be deleted!,,you are such a snowflake, babyboy.

[@saminaneen]

@@charlesbaldo Just living, completely RENT FREE, in your empty skull, trollbot.

[@saminaneen]

@@charlesbaldo Your account has been reported, for violation of community standards, 2 more strikes and your account will be permanently deleted and banned

[@bedtimebiblechat7152]

I didn't have a Christmas until I was 9. The 50s were my time and my favorite era because it was a simpler life without any of the garbage going on now.

[@kathybriscoe1474]

A visit with the “real Santa” at Hudsons Department Store was a must. Christmas concerts at church with children’s choirs and others re-enacting the Christmas story was memorable.

[@samanthab1923]

I remember being taken to a Live Nativity! Camels and all

[@johnandconnieleland6192]

Here it was The Harris Store Downtown San Bernardino Calif. We did all are shopping for Christmas there. No Photos just tell him what you wanted. Choirs and The Christmas Story at church was a must every yea

[@questfortruth665]

Putting the tinsel on the tree one strand at a time! It took forever, but Mom wouldn't have it any other way! You never heard about Christmas until Thanksgiving was over with, THEN the barrage of Christmas adds unfolded! Waking up to a slew of presents under the tree was a blessing that my parents did for my sister and me! It made it all real!

[@erin19030]

My dad was a coal miner, we went put on the mountain he worked and cut down a free tree. Getting coal in my sticking was not a punishment, rather it was symbolic that we would have heat during the cold winter. Most miners heated the house with wood burning pot bellied stoves. Coal was for the rich city people. Family gatherings at each others houses was the mainstay of celebration. We didn’t own cars and celebrating at each others house, traveling on foot and caroling along the way was how we warmed our hearts. Gramps often made hand crafted wooden toys fir the youngest kids. Winters back then were long, cold and dark. Playing outside was the norm while bundled up like Charlie Brown.

[@CGH250]

I grew up in the 50s and 60’s. I really miss those days! ❤️

[@model-man7802]

It was so long ago ot seems like a Dream.I miss it so much!!

[@betsyj59]

Looked at from another perspective, in a big picture of history sort of way, it wasn't that long ago! I'm constantly shocked at how society has devolved so quickly!

[@martinpennock9430]

Fantastic video as always! I was born in 1955, so I barely remember Christmas in the 50's, but it seems the same in the early 60's. The best were the store displays downtown. Never forget standing in front of them and wishing for all the gifts behind the window.

[@pegs1659]

I was born in 57 and I was just thinking that the early 60's mirrored these photos. Those were the days!

[@matrox]

@@pegs1659 I was born in 57 and remember 2 xmases in the 50s. I even remember some of the toys I got like a Mickey Mouse club guitar and a radio flyer wagon for myself and older bother. I remember he also got a MM guitar.

[@takashitamagawa5881]

I think that the decline of the department stores with their elaborate Christmas displays have taken something away from the mystique of the holiday. Of course the small stores were part of it too but the big store displays could look like fairyland to a small child. Online shopping can't create anything like that.

[@davidsquires154]

I was born in 1957. But, I remember Christmas 🎄in the 1960's.

[@Dave-hc6pp]

My dad died young so we moved back with my grandfather. He had a tree farm and part of it was in nursery trees and pines. We would go to the nursery and dig our tree on Christmas Eve. The day after New Years we would take it out and plant each year’s Christmas tree somewhere near the house.

[@dougs184]

First let me say that I am very sorry to hear of your Dads early death, I was 19 when my father died, I am in my 60's now and I still miss him. But your Grandfathers tradition of replanting your Christmas trees was wonderful ! I do so hope that somebody in your family owns the house now. Merry Christmas

[@jankirschke7425]

That’s a lovely memory

[@betsyj59]

I remember that my family also put up the Christmas tree and decorated it on Christmas Eve up through most of my 20s (into the 80s). When I was under 10, in the 60s, my parents actually put up the tree and decorated it after we went to bed! That was probably because they had too much to do but what magical Christmas mornings to come downstairs and see the living room so transformed.

[@henryottis295]

What a wonderful tradition! Are the trees still standing? How big were they ?

[@Dave-hc6pp]

@@henryottis295 many still are and I’m 66 years old if that tells you anything. The nursery he would dig them from is also still standing, or it was the last time I went home.

[@kittykite8843]

Born in 1948 I definitely remember Christmases in the 1950s. Going to my big mama's House that was what we called my grandmother. She had a lit up face of Santa on the outside of the house at the front door. Also, that was the first time I saw bubble lights which fascinated me. My favorite doll was Betsy wetsy. I have some Noma candelier lights that I still use. And I also have the angel tree topper that we had on our tree in the 1950s. After I get through writing this I am going to put the tinsel on the tree. And I don't think anyting is tacky if it brings back good memories! We always made a birthday cake for Jesus.

[@katperson7332]

I was also born in 1948 and vividly remember the Christmases of the 50s. We were poor as church mice but the 5 of us always got decent presents due to relatives even if my parents couldn’t buy us much. We got up around 7 on Christmas morning and rushed downstairs to open our gifts but couldn’t have any breakfast as we had still to go to morning Mass, and if you were receiving Communion you had to fast from midnight beforehand. Sounds a bit harsh but it was understood by us. Once home from church we had a great day playing with our new dolls, games etc and eating our sweets after breakfast. Then dinner in the afternoon followed by playing for hours together. Happy times indeed.

[@marycook1644]

I still have my Betsy Wetsy doll. And my Shirley Temple doll with her six outfits from her films !! I am so happy my mom didn’t make me get rid of them. She also saved all the classic Christmas cards 🦌🎄 From both sets of grandparents and my aunts and uncles and cousins. I display them with my decorations. Blessings for a wonderful Christmas to you and your loved ones. 🎅🏼🎶🎸

[@jankirschke7425]

I remember store windows from the early 1960’s. I especially like the animated displays of the North Pole where Santa lived. The cute little elves and a happy Mrs. Claus baking cookies. I couldn’t imagine a more magical place to live. Dad used to take off one afternoon each December from his job at John Hancock in Boston in order to take us downtown to visit Santa and see the store windows. I absolutely loved it! One year we got a late start, however, because my 7 year old brother, the oldest of us kids, was being detained in school for spinning his empty milk carton at lunch. Oh, the shame it brought on our family!

[@btcbob11392]

In the late 50's Jordan Marsh in downtown Boston would have a " Santa's Village" up on the fifth floor that everyone went to see. AND you got to ride the escalator for five floors up and down !!!

[@jankirschke7425]

@@btcbob11392 I bet that’s where we went. As my parents would say, “Jaw-din Mahsh”

[@robertromero8692]

I have fond memories of the animated figures in the windows of the May D&F building in downtown Denver.

[@WilAdams]

In our family, Christmas was and still is, the most wonderful time of the year. We are a large family and all my brothers and sisters and I would spend hours looking at the presents under the tree--presents from aunts and uncles, mom and dad, and even close friends to the family--and we would imagine what the beautifully wrapped packages contained. In the air Christmas songs rose from the little AM/FM radio, or, on special days, my mom would put on a Christmas album of Country Music stars performing Christmas carols. AS the special day neared the kitchen of our home would be fiied led with the lovely and enticing aroma of various baked goods that my mom and her sister, and my dad's sisters would all come together to prepare for the Big Day. The fridge was overstuffed with various side dishes that needed time to set in order to provide their most flavorful version. The men would go out hunting, deer and turkey, and an occasional rabbit and squirrel. It was the time when we were all crammed into one bedroom so that others would have my sister's bedroom and the floors throughout the house would be littered with pallets composed of quilts my grandmothers would make us. Then the night before Christmas, everyone gathered around the tree--the soft glow of the little multicolored twinkling lights falling upon our eager faces--and we would all get to open one present. It was just a sample--a taste of what the morrow held in store. Excited and eager with anticipation we would all go to bed while the adults sat up with pie and coffee. FINALLY, Christmas Day dawned, and in the early hours there was the sound of a herd of feet pounding throughout the house as all the kids hurried to the tree, and of course the presents that Santa had left us.

[@birdlynn417]

I enjoyed reading your experience very much. Makes me smile and yearn for the past evermore. You are very lucky to have grown up with such a large family and gathering mattered. Thank you, for the fond memories.

[@WilAdams]

@@birdlynn417 It's perhaps not too late for you to start this same type of tradition, only you have to be the mother to a herd of kids so that when the time comes you will have a slew of grandkids who will have the same experience I had as a kid, and still enjoy to this day. Truly, nobody wants to be alone.

[@ronalddevine9587]

I was a kid in the 50s and for my brother and me it was toy trains. I can remember the living room floor covered with American Flyer and Lionel boxes. It would be great to see you do a video on this.

[@ronalddevine9587]

@@jetstream6389 do you still have it?

[@ronalddevine9587]

@@jetstream6389 oh, indeed they are. If you're interested in replacing it, check out some local train shows, or join the TCA, and come to York, Pennsylvania and eventually you'll find a similar set. Happy hunting!!!

[@redmach12003]

I still have my American Flyer train sets. My first one was from 1952 when I was 2 years old. My Mom told me she had to scold my Dad and Uncle for playing with it more than they let me!

[@barbhawkinson659]

My childhood Christmas memories are from the 60s. I wish we could turn back time. I'm so grateful I was able to experience life back in those golden yrs.

[@paradisehotel5005]

This is about the 50's not the 60's.

[@hothemeep1219]

​@@paradisehotel5005they're basically the same

[@marlanebraun5635]

what i remember most is the Christmas tree. my mom was fussy about the tinsel and it would be put on 2 or 3 strands at a time. for 70 yrs. its the way i do it. of course its cheap stuff now...we could save ours for 2 or 3 yrs.. unfortunately, it had lead in it, but i never ate any. it was sooo much better!!!! then i remember dad driving us to downtown Buffalo to look at the animated store windows. what happened to that childhood enchantment? i have so many fond memories of the fifties.

[@monakayk]

We had bubble lights on our Christmas tree when I was a kid. In the 90s they came back in style and I bought them for our Christmas tree....and the kids loved how they bubbled. All good memories!🎄🎄🎄

[@jtq69]

Ripping into presents in our pajamas under a tinsel covered tree and then falling asleep in the wrapping paper because we hardly slept Christmas Eve. Great memories

[@samanthab1923]

Matching PJs!

[@fob1xxl]

I was born in 1945 so this IS how it was in the 50's. It was such a great time to be a kid. I was always excited when Christmas rolled around. It's been my favorite time of the year my whole life. Now at 77 and having lost the love of my life after 40 years, all I have now are the memories. Thank God for the memories !

[@denisemcdonald2729]

Thank you for sharing. May the Lord bless you and keep during this Holy season and may your memories of Christmas's in the past bring you comfort and joy and a peace that passes all understanding! God bless you fob 1 xxl!!!

[@hymlog]

.... July 1945 I arrived ....Those Were The Best Times Ever... I'm Going Back Sum Day.

[@TheKyPerson]

This was my time. I was born in 1951. We always went to a friend's farm to cut our tree and it was a red cedar. My father took forever to make sure the icicles all hung just right. We had Christmas parades, and my mother would make treats we didn't have at any other time like divinity candy. We used to get piles and piles of Christmas cards. It was a wonderful time. I wish I could go back.

[@samanthab1923]

My mom would get our cards embossed at the printers.

[@Bigskyguy56]

Thank you for rekindling memories from a time , that I was fortunate to have grown up in. The world just seemed right back then. Even today as I look back, things were so simple & it didn't matter if you got a lot for Christmas. It was just that time of year when we all got together & enjoyed family. Thanks again for putting this video together. For us oldies out there. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[@lovelight9164]

And Merry Christmas to you as well🎄🎄☃️❄️❄️❄️❄️🎁🎁🎁

[@marycook1644]

🎠 Christmas of 2022 blessings to you from California ! 🧸🥁🎄

[@Barbarra63297]

Window shopping, all the decorations downtown, the parade all very fond memories. We always made sure to have milk and cookies out for Santa!

[@Gary-fc5tk]

Born in 1951 and boy was I happy on the holidays, I still have all the pictures and movies, no sound of course, love the 50s

[@navycorpsmanveteran61]

Love your videos. Brings back a lot of memories. A time when kids could be kids and things were a lot more simple. Those were the good old days.

[@roseschrader6170]

I feel sorry for children now.when I tell my grownup children about how great it was in the 50s...they can't imagion it better than now. No,the world has changed And those times will never be the same. Bubble lights are a big memory to me. And my mama.i miss her so...

[@bluetickfreddy101]

Born in late 58. As youngster i have memories of visiting neighbors homes to sing Christmas carols.

[@desertrat1111]

Andy Bernard from ‘The Office’ said it best, “I wish there was a way to know you are in the good old days before you leave them”.

[@melissaduncan9476]

Fellow office fan here ❤

[@bobmeyer7009]

I remember my older sister spending several days putting tinsel on the tree. Such patience! Those days were very special, especially compared to today's world.

[@jankirschke7425]

My father made us put the tinsel on one strand at a time. After Christmas we had to remove it one strand at a time, and save it for the next Christmas. Those few 19 cent boxes of tinsel lasted for about fifteen years. My parents are in their 90’s now and dad still puts up a tree, only now they use garland. Their home was always the gathering spot for Christmas, until of course 2020. This year, once again, they prefer not to have visitors. He wants to keep mom safe from the virus.

[@stanleycostello9610]

It was lead tinsel, not plastic tinsel which blows around every time you walked by. I saved the lead tinsel for many years...

[@jankirschke7425]

@@stanleycostello9610 That’s right!

[@susanrussell1555]

Tinsel was my Dad's job.

[@rickymcginnis7300]

@@jankirschke7425 My mother would use the same wrapping paper year after year! That's why we were never allowed to just rip packages open but had to do it neatly...

[@matrox]

I remember in the early to mid 60s on Xmas night I was sitting in the basement where we had our tree, all the lights were out except for the colorful flashing lights on the tree. It was beautiful. I was just staring at it because it was so peaceful.

[@hothemeep1219]

What about the late 60's ?

[@violetmullikin1725]

This is a story from the 1960s, but we would go to my grandma's house on Christmas Eve and open presents there and have dinner. and then we would go home and Santa will have come while we were at Grandma's house. My parents took us to the car and then put the presents out before we left to my grandma's house so we always had presents from Santa when we got home. I loved being a little kid with my parents there both of them! My mama always got me a big dolly that I could carry around those babies had a soft body and plastic legs I carry them around for years. My favorite gift from Santa!

[@SandraGarcia-ho4lb]

In the 50's, I was still young. Saw a beautiful 2 ' doll oh how I wanted it Birthday in October came - no doll. I cried so. Christmas morning, there was my doll. At 71 now, I still have ornaments we made in the 50's.My tree topper - Santa Claus from 1953. Amazing it has held up well all these years.

[@WorgenGrrl]

I'm a 70's kid. I remember waking my brother up really early and we would sneak out into the living room to see what Santa brought. Trying to be as quiet as we could at our Grandmother's house in Florida with creaky wooden floors was a major challenge. If someone walked normally in the house (one story) everyone in the house knew it. I remember dad always playing Christmas music by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Jim Neighbors, etc.

[@charlesgall7829]

Thank you for stirring up wonderful memories of those Christmases. So different from these days when you are almost afraid to say Merry Christmas ,so as not to offend someone,Back then, it didn't matter. People had more common sense. Sad .

[@jodyjackson5475]

I still say merry Christmas to any and everyone. Just cuz someone’s offended it’s their choice and that ain’t my problem.

[@michaeldowdell2005]

Simple, beautiful times.

[@colleent.8500]

Yes they were Family meant everything.

[@incog99skd11]

I remember our first Christmas in Los Angeles in 1961. We were transplanted due to a job relocation and came from Chicago. It was 91 degrees on Christmas day. The Christmas tree was wilting badly, and it was a scrawny thing which was all we could find in the desert that is LA. We went swimming in the pool. Deep down we were all longing for a little Chicago snow. Everything had changed, the weather, our friends and even our home. Seeing this tonight warmed my heart.

[@donnarouse5366]

Daddy was a navy man so when we had to move we were far away from family in wisconsin, we were always used to seeing snow! One year we celebrated Christmas in Gulfport Mississippi daddy was over in Vietnam! Not his choice but there he was. He was building roads . Not near the action. My momma decided to drive back to Wisconsin so we could have Christmas with her family. Can you imagine a young woman with 3 kids under the age of ten driving all that way. There were many snow blanketed Christmases. But the one I remember the most was our first one in Port Hueneme california. There was no snow so it didn't feel like Christmas. Happy Holidays everyone.

[@terrybane6206]

I miss this dearly. Thank you.

[@pamelamays4186]

I was born in June 1959, so, I was barely six months old on my first Christmas. My parents, however, were teens, then young parents during the 1950's. They spent the Christmas holidays with their families after me and my older brothers were born. My grandmas would bake goodies and my grandpa on my mom's side of the family would make his special holiday punch, which brought the neighbors wanting a sip or two.

[@samanthab1923]

Sounds like my first Christmas. I’m Sept. 1959. I was my parents gift the previous Dec. 😂 they were also young & in college.

[@eileenlester4342]

More simple and happier times. TFS

[@miriambucholtz9315]

I love those bubble lights. They fascinated me as a child and I could sit forever and watch them. I also loved the colors of the lights on the trees and of the ornaments. After 1953 when we moved from NJ to CT, the holidays meant an interesting ride to see relatives, but for me, the ride was the best part. Nobody was really my age and I was left on my own a lot. Another memory I have is that of my father getting disgusted while putting lights on the tree; one malfunctioning bulb would kill the entire string of lights and have to be found and changed out. I'll bet there are a lot of people my age who can remember similar things.

[@BradThePitts]

Modern bubble lights available from Amazon are a lot Like the original ones and I would highly recommend them. There is also a simple device you can buy to tell which light on the string is burnt out.

[@L70s]

I believe that was my grandparents reasoning for the aluminum tree, no more light strings, just a rotating disc. Grandma did all the cooking and baking, so that made up for the modernity.

[@brendamerideth2760]

Oh yes the bubble lights where the best sometimes the lights would stop bubbling and you would have thumb it and shake it and they would bubble again

[@samanthab1923]

We moved to NJ from NY so the ride up to see all our relatives on Christmas was a tradition. Going home was something. All the different houses & apts. lit up 🎄❄️☃️🚂

[@williammorris4757]

yep, sure do

[@thomasbunner5214]

A wonderful time to be a kid. I wish I could remember more of those days. Looking.back with sweet/sad remembrance. In 2021 at age 70. Little.girls in their dresses. Little boys in cowboy hats....

[@meganruchwatercolors7186]

These photos are magical! We have some of these Christmas photos with my older brothers and sisters in the them! I am the youngest of five so I was born in 1962. I love your voice it is so wonderful! Your videos bring nostalgia and a magical feeling! 🙂

[@1corinthians-138]

We had the aluminum tree with the color wheel and a fake fireplace that I used to put my barbies on. I miss not having family around and all the goodies my mom would bake.

[@bluetickfreddy101]

We did too Cheers

[@sharonmatuszak6638]

Does anyone remember "flocked" trees? (Or was that just a Chicago thing?) They came in between traditional trees and the aluminum trees with the color wheel. Real Scotch tines were sprayed with puffy colors. We usually had pink, sometimes blue. Used simple Plane ball ornaments. Used tinsel on traditional trees until I had my own family and pets. It's dangerous for pets. Bubble lights were GREAT! The new ones, not so much. They tend to melt.

[@debbyfronke3227]

OH my gosh...that four color wheel...my dad kept regluing every year,the plastic plate always fell off lol..i would wait for blue to come around and shine on our fake silver tree,today no one would go though all that fuss,plus i wish i would have held on to all those old hand me down ornaments they were beautiful,it made your family tree original,it wasnt christmas until santa slid in on that noelreco shaver,,even our name says "merry christmas!" miss it so much,,sniff,,,

[@1corinthians-138]

@@debbyfronke3227 Yes, we had some beautiful, very fragile glass ornaments. We still have a few teardrop ones left. I've actually seen some retro ones this year at Homegoods that were a lot like the ones we had, even the box.

[@debbyfronke3227]

@@1corinthians-138 thank you i loved the tear drop with the concave center,so pretty,have a feeling mine is in a attic of my ex,never to be found..I will check out Home goods after christmas for possible sales on these ornaments..much thanks..Bless you this christmas! people always return to their classic ways ...

[@wantingoneangel8976]

My Mom grew up from the 40s into the 50s and she would tell my Brother and I how wonderful Christmas was back then❤💚🎄🎀. My Mom's favorite Toy as a Child was always a Doll😃😃💝💝!! My Mom even gave me one of her Dolls from the 50s which is a Bridal Doll and I still have her today❤💚😃😃!! And my Late Grandfather would really give my Mom LOTS OF TOYS!! My Mom also had a Lionel toy train that went around the Christmas Tree💚🎄🎄And a funny story that is also true: When My Mom was 4 years old caught my Late Grandfather putting a letter my Mom wrote to Santa Claus in the furnace and my Late Grandfather told my Mom, "It gets to the North Pole faster this way!!". 😂😂🤣!!! And I so LOVE the huge Teddy Bear in the photos in this video @ 1:47🧸!!! ❤💚!!! And my Mom is ever so grateful for all the generosity that my Late Grandfather not only gave her, but also gave my Brother and I as Kids in the 70s and 80s❤💚!! My favorite presents that I can remember are my Snuggles Doll, my Holly Hobbie Doll, and my Plush Lamb. And I so LOVED the Mother Doll with a Baby Doll that played music too!! My Brother LOVED his racing car set, which we both played with!! And I still have my Snuggles Doll with her Teddy Bear🧸❤💚and my Holly Hobbie Doll!! My Late Grandfather also would volunteer as a retired Elderly Person at his old Steel Company Work Place to give other Children a Merry Christmas and he would bring home lollipops and little gifts for my Brother and I from there as well!! Thank you for sharing this wonderful video that makes me feel grateful that my Late Grandfather gave my Mom so much joy and as my Brother and I called him Pop-Pop was my Brother's and my Santa Claus 🎅❤💚🎄🎀✨✨!!!

[@casageorgia]

I was born in 1952. Christmas in our home was truly magical. The perfect tree that we cut down at tree farm was brought into the house on Christmas Eve. The kids were allowed to put one favorite Christmas decoration on the tree before heading to bed. Mine was a store-bought purple ball with lace on it. I still have it, though the purple has faded and it’s become very fragile. The anticipation of Christmas Day made it really hard to sleep as we listened for Santa’s reindeer on our roof. We could hardly wait to get up in the morning, and coming down the stairs on Christmas morning always exceeded our imaginations as the living room had been transformed into a Christmas wonderland of lights and decorations and presents left by Santa. Looking back, there’s no way my parents got a wink of sleep on Christmas Eve, but the memories they gave us were priceless and treasured to this day.

[@BanthaPooDoo64]

Growing up in the 60's was tough just my mom and 6 of us lost older sister to fire she was just 3 half yrs old in 64 I was barley one mom she had to provide for us 5, winters were cold pipes would freeze the house was hard to keep warm so bad we slept in one room plastic covered the windows and we carrying water to cook w and taking baths was hard, summer's was blessing, Christmas was a miracle that Santa stopped by a toy was a joy to receive w the love and help of family and friends and my mom not giving up we survived 60's and 70's 80's brought new hope to us all ,I will never forget my up bringing and the struggles we went through we were loved

[@noble604]

Wow. What a story you have. Merry Christmas to you! Blessings to you!

[@summerrose4286]

Thank you for sharing your story. My cousins struggled terribly too, and no one was rich but everyone helped them out. Life is tough sometimes, family is so important and we all need to help where we can. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and Happy New Year. God bless!

[@chuckydall9250]

Love this channel!!

[@gailkeefe]

I am a child of the 50's, so this brought back so many memories. Thank you!

[@christinehermann7399]

We started the holiday off with church, and the real meaning of Christmas. It was followed by opening of gifts, one special one, not a tree full. We celebrated with friends and family, lots of cookies and cake. Since our closest family was in Europe, we anticipated opening the gifts sent by them. All gifts were small tokens of love, and all very much appreciated. Not like today, a holiday filled with greed. Oh, the simple times.......family times............

[@TralfazConstruction]

Coffee brewing on Christmas Morning as Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas" and there's snow on the ground. I remember _just_ enough of Christmas 1959 to be certain that I can validate those memories. We spent two more blessed Christmases in that house before moving as the family grew. Bing still sang "White Christmas" on Christmas Morning as my younger brothers grew up. I was lucky because my youngest brother is twelve years my junior so as long as I celebrated Christmas with my family, before I married and moved out, it was still a kid-centered affair which was great.

[@nancybarta8167]

I swear to you to this day I believe i saw Santa and his sleigh fly by from my bedroom window when I was 5!!!!!

[@deborahpellerito6117]

Me too

[@betsyj59]

That's a good one! I don't remember ever thinking I saw Santa in his sleigh but every single Christmas Eve (while lying awake late at night) through my childhood, I swear I heard sleigh bells jingling in the distance.

[@samanthab1923]

My mom & her brother were looking out their window Christmas Eve for Santa & his sleigh when they were supposed to be asleep. My mom burnt herself on the radiator & screamed. In my Nan came & my Uncle Joe was to blame, he was older & should have known better. Guess who got coal in his stocking the next day? 😂🎄❄️

[@Hogger280]

I have such great memories from the late 50's and on. Going to get the tree was exciting; we always bought a fresh tree and decorating it was so exciting; stringing the old incandescent lights, hanging the decorations and last of all hanging the tinsel which we did save in the earlier years. The best present I ever got was a Lionel train set with several cars and signals. My family, parents and sister, lived within 25 miles of my mother's Brother and his wife and 4 kids and we all got together for Thanksgiving and Christmas alternating where we met. To me the food was almost as good as all the presents.

[@dps6198]

I remember Christmas in the 60s. Silver tree, Rudolph the red nose reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, stingray bikes and more.

[@reginacline0]

Thank You for airing this segment,watching it made me warm from the inside out. I was born in the 60's and every year, the family would get together.The 50's christmases were the ones that, were talked about the most. The charm of the radio music /stories,and christmas movies on T.V. Each relative would bring a dish but,most was made in the kitchen.kids were every where,while all the women were in the kitchen cooking together.The ones not old enough to help,if weather permitted were out side. Or in one of the other room or the basement playing,not around the men who usually had the living room. About an hour before dinner,people would start to show up.Most were additional family,but some wer friends.Now the additional family that arrived,everyone knew they would be spending the night maybe longer.Now depending on who was holding the holliday gathering, some of the late arrivals would go to other family members houses. This is the way our family did it,from the late 1940's on. Yes it is still done today,some willingly some not so much.The faces have changed,and the size of the gathering is mostly smaller.But now and then everyone does come,some not to happy because of where their priorities lie.But stories are told and songs are sang,gifts are exchanged and christmas stories are told. The hearth home and family push,was a direct result of the 1921 & 1929-mid 1940 events. Many families were separated during this time,so to be together was a gift. Yes they did a major merchandising campaign,but it was not the reasons families bought . It was because people had more money, and it was a constant supply.No more up or downs and work was plentiful , inflation was down and pay was good.Capitalisum was on a roll, not see sense the last central bank had been run out.Even the poor had more money,than they had seen in a long time. Matter of fact my family had a tradition,though i and many others thought it should pass.It still stands today because of it's 1950 's roots. That rule is for every store bought gift, you must give a home made gift as well. It didn't matter what the gift was,as long as you made it.Matter of fact only hand made gifts,are opened when the families are together. The store bought ones are taken home,and opened there. The only ones excused from this tradition is the military,providing their serving abroad.

[@stillwater62]

I was born December 1952, and this brings back a flood of wonderful memories. It was a time when this Country was truly united, much more Christian, more respectful of others, and a true Christmas Spirit. Looking back on those years seems almost like a fantasy time, it was so wonderful. I wish people today, especially the children, could experience that time, today.

[@DouglasUrantia]

If you missed the 1950s you missed something wonderful....it was prosperity Christmas to the max. Its still a good time now but its not like it was. One year we kids all got new bikes....1954.

[@roseannepryor4068]

In the 60’s, My Brother and I would try staying up to hear the reindeer on our roof. 🤣

[@betsyj59]

In the 60s, I would lie in bed on Christmas Eve, so excited about the coming morning, and would be certain that I could hear sleigh bells jingling faintly in the distance. This happened every year throughout my childhood.

[@carolgranger9916]

As a child couldn't wait for Christmas Morning!! Seeing what Santa brought! So Magical! Leaving Santa milk and cookies on Christmas Eve, he always left a Thank You note. Mother and Daddy cook Christmas Dinner. We dressed up for the meal. We have pictures of these dinners. That the years of 1950, 60's early 70. My Daddy passed away 30 years ago. My Mother is 90 yes old now. I always cook Holiday meals now. Cherish these memories so much.

[@jerrysullivan8424]

Here is A little history on Noma lights, NOMA was formed in 1925 as the National Outfit Manufacturer's Association NOMA was an American company best known for making Christmas lights Most of the Christmas lights were produced in St. Joseph, Missouri In 1965, NOMA Lights Incorporated officially filed for bankruptcy The end of the largest Christmas light manufacturer in the world had come, due in large part to foreign competition Noma was once the largest manufacturer of holiday lighting in the world, but since 1967 it has only existed as a licensed trademark The building was demolished during Urban Renewal Currently a parking lot is occupying this location

[@garymckee448]

Thanks for the history lesson and it's sad that American manufactured products are all going this way.

[@3713msg]

@@garymckee448 Both sides of elected rats sold the American public out.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

my dad gave me the "NOMA" C7 christmas lights years ago( he passed in 2009), and I still have to this day. what was interesting with those light strands is they had fuses in the molded bakelite plugs. I was always "DADS LITTLE HELPER" when it came to putting up the live tree every year, and continued to put up the tree even when dad could no longer do it. he also gave me his "LIONEL TRAIN SET" that he got as christmas gift when he was young. it is all in the original individual boxes, and the shipping box that it all came in!!!

[@peggooo]

Well this just made me sad. 🎄🎄🎄

[@Hogger280]

So sad to see great American made products fall prey to cheap foreign garbage.

[@jesseivy6051]

I was born in 1948 so my memories of 50s Christmas's are priceless

[@svkeeley]

What I remember most was the beautiful lead tinsel. They stopped making it and my mother made sure to collect every strand since it was irreplaceable and the new stuff didn't compare.

[@aussiejubes]

I was a '79 baby so my Xmas traditions are fairly "new". The main one, that was both loved and loathed, was that on Christmas day at my maternal grandmother's for lunch, we weren't allowed to open gifts until after lunch was done and all the dishes were done and the adults had had their cups of tea and coffee. So it would be after 2pm 😣 The idea was that Christmas day wasn't "over" all day, because let's face it, us kids were only interested in pressies. We also had a designated person who would hand gifts out one by one, so only one person opened a present while everyone watched. It was very drawn out but I have fond memories in hindsight, at what my grandparents were trying to do. Each family opened their immediate family's gifts at home, we didn't take those with us. It was just the cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles presents we took to Grandma's. So I got Santa in the morning, family gifts in the afternoon, and I'd get a "surprise" present when we got home at night because I took the end of Christmas day pretty hard as a kid so my parents would cheer me up lol.

[@Mszahnclass95]

I can understand I was born in 1977 an looking back still seems more joyful an meaning to people plus simple .I personally think our era was the last moral , values of traditional family

[@robertromero8692]

OMG not in our house! We dragged my mom out of bed EARLY! We couldn't wait to rip open the presents!

[@aussiejubes]

@@robertromero8692 😂😂 I knew I was NEVER to wake my mum up. I wish I had early presents!! Lol

[@jimanders6666]

day uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum

[@saminaneen]

@@jimanders6666 Ain't nobody, got time, for your FAKE COMMENT,,,It is like you said, Any comments that advocate douchebaggery like Thereal, burnoutism, nazism, fascism or anti-semitism will NOT be tolerated by us and will be deleted!,,you are such a snowflake, babyboy.

[@colleent.8500]

Thank you for the great photos and bringing back such good memories. Merry Christmas!!

[@zzydny]

We never did the same thing twice on any holiday. I longed for the traditional stuff and family gatherings but my mother hated tradition and that feeling was never more evident than at Christmas. I recall one year when she refused to allow us to put up a tree until the last moment on Christmas Eve; by mid-afternoon on Christmas Day she had taken down the tree and all the decorations were stored away. As a kid, I ended up creating my own small "secret" tradition--every year I made sure to watch A Christmas Carol; didn't matter which version of the tale I saw; as long as I had that it was Christmas no matter what else was different that year. I still do that.

[@carrolabrams2659]

Thank You for sharing! I also have my own “private”tradition of watching A Christmas Carol every year.

[@erinlennon6036]

You and I have the same tradition. Merry Christmas friend!

[@zebradun7407]

It was magic, every house was decorated, Every kid was excited to distraction, I walked to school each day and walked home, our house had this window that had nine big panes of glass in the living room. As i got close to the house I could see the Tree in the window, all lit up! Mom would change colors every Christmas red, blue, green and white. The streets all had decorations and there was an actual spirit in the air. It was literally another world.

[@tomjones2121]

must not have grown up on the west side of Birmingham alabama LOL

[@jerryprice5484]

For me Christmas just doesn't mean much anymore. I'm 71 and all my Christmas memories all go back to the mid 50's to early 60's. I can still remember a great many presents I received over the years. Whenever I'm in an antique store and happen to see something I received as a Christmas present back when, unresolved memories come flooding back. I guess Christmas is really for kids, nowadays it's just one day that gets a big build-up and whoof, it's gone. Don't get me wrong, I treasure thoise memories dearly.

[@sgtmomOK]

I’m 70, and know what you mean. My little brother was killed in a car accident the year my father was disabled in a work accident…we’d had magnificent Christmases until then, then -no more. Because a time I grieved and felt outside looking in…as a young adult I joined the military just to have a coat in the winter…and there met the love of my life. We married a few years later and our first child was born on Christmas morning. Christmas because wonderful while our kids were home. Now…it’s kind of become quiet

[@fordtruxdad5155]

Haha! I still have Santa and chorister children candles just like those at 6:58! Amazing that they've lasted this long!

[@Chris-kz3jf]

I was born in 1961 and I remember my mother spending hours putting “rain” tinsel on our tree, she was a girl of the 50s. My Dad would by trees with a root ball, so they could be replanted, some of the best years of my life. 🥰

[@samanthab1923]

After the 60’s we got a big artificial tree. But my dad missed real so he started buying the ball trees for the den. Had a great big basket to put it in. 🎄

[@tomklock568]

Wow we had an aluminum tree when I was a little kid! Such great distant memories now. Thank you!

[@BradThePitts]

Also interesting: for most families, Christmas was the celebration of the birth of Christ!

[@thewkovacs316]

but jesus was born in the spring they were pagans...celebrating saturnalia and yule oh joy

[@terryrollins1973]

Slave

[@karaokeandrandomclips]

@@thewkovacs316 Saturnalia and Yule wasn't celebrated on December 25th

[@fyt00000]

Yes that was the reason for the season. This video chose to leave that out. Thank you for saying it.

[@good1day726]

evangelicals came later, these people were more dignified and didn't wear emotions on their sleeve

[@danmore7587]

Those were the days.

[@MrRMT1986]

I can smell the cigarette smoke through my phone!

[@peterscheldt02]

Great memories for those of us who were white, middle class with an intact family. I feel bad for those who didn't have such pleasant memories.

[@rebekkad.2092]

We all looked the same - our homes looked the same. We had similar (or the same) toys. It was such a simple time. I miss those days greatly.