Christmas Memories Warm Our Hearts

Posted by Richard on December 17, 2024

It can be fun to reminisce about Christmas past and those memories can transport you to treasured times past.

So, hey — do you remember this stuff?

In the days of the 1950s, the world was on the brink of change, but in little communities everywhere things seemed the same as ever, yet somehow new at the same time. The first business computer was just invented (Univac), the Russians had launched Sputnik, television was booming. And at Christmas, there was a feeling of the space age.

Remember when people started getting those aluminum Christmas trees? They seemed so modern. But of course, a lot of families stuck by freshly cut spruce trees, lavishly adorned with tinsel, bulbs, and maybe some homemade paper or popcorn garlands. Church was important. Some families started the holidays by going to midnight Mass, others to caroling services, but everyone came home to feast later — usually with a lot of family and a big turkey or ham. We dressed for the occasion, because it was a special event.

By the 1960s, we prepared for Christmas with big downtown shopping excursions. Lights sparkled on city streets and Santa visited every store. In the northern regions, we trudged through slush and snow to secure that tie for Dad and perfume for mom. The radio was filled with Christmas songs. Everyone waited for the big Christmas TV specials with Bing Crosby and Dean Martin. All our neighbors and friends watched, too, in this era of shared experiences.

We baked cookies and gave them away to friends and family. We sent Christmas cards and decorated the house. At home, presents appeared under the tree, sometimes long before the big day, and we shook them and endlessly speculated about their contents.

Christmas was magical because we made it so!