It’s Christmas Eve in the last 80’s, tell me about your day..

[TheChristmasElf]

I wanted to do this on Christmas Eve but don’t think I’ll be doing much Mumsnetting so thought I’d bring it forward.

I, like a lot of other think about the Christmas’s of our childhood, the ones without the Elf and Christmas Eve boxes, where decorations weren’t carefully curated and while everything was so much simpler still felt like pure magic.

Tell me about your childhood Christmas Eve, your traditions, the food, & of course the memories, I’ll start.

Its 1989 I’m 10, I’m the eldest of 3 siblings and still a believer but on the cusp, I feel a little sad as know there is something about getting older that the magic of Santa fading.

i wake on Christmas Eve and decide to go on special road trip with my Dad we get the the bus to Waverley station to pick up the box of presents from the RM train, the box seems enormous and the wait back home long.

We are allowed to take the presents out of the box and put hems round the tree and of course one feel of each. Harry Secombe Christmas vinyl is playing, there is the smell of fresh coffee and orange and cinnamon potpourri that my mum makes every year.
There is a bowl of nuts on the table wire the silver nut cracker sitting on the top…I love the tradition of the bowl coming out but much prefer the quality street tin.

I am restless, and no the night won’t bring any sleep so Christmas morning seems years away, I watch the BBC film, the smell of Christmas prep coming from the kitchen.

Im excited for the evening my Aunty, Uncle and cousins come and we get a Chinese, we have one once a year and it’s part of of our Christmas…

My mum is out the bath a covering herself in opium talk, getting ready for our guests, the night is coming alive, candles are lit, beer opened, there are Carols on and the Chinese menu is getting passed around, an orange and black toastie machine is put on the table, it keeps ehe the dishes warm, like a big hot plate, everyone is merry.

We hang out stockings (my dads kilt socks) and pick a pillow case, mine is the Victoria Plum one, we write Santa a letter and lay out the usual whisky, carrot and mince meat pies and then it’s up to bed.

I can’t sleep but hide under the covers as not ready to question what the noises are, very happy being on the cusp and I read Alison Uttley’s Christmas short stories to the small hours.

Tell me yours

Christmas Eve 1988, I was 19.
I had to be up at 5am to get ready for starting work at 6. People want their hair styling early on Christmas Eve but because it’s such a busy day there were no time consuming colours or perms, just cuts and/or blow dries. Mid-morning the salon owner’s husband brought bacon rolls for us all.

We finally finished and tidied up at 4pm, and shared out the tips. People were very generous at Christmas so we each had around £20 each (which was a lot then!).

I rushed home to get changed and rushed out again because I’d got tickets to see Duran Duran at the NEC and it starting at 6pm. Loved every single second. From there we went to a party at my boyfriend’s sister’s in law’s house.

Been to work. But only have to work half day. Always hectic on Christmas Eve. And all pull together to leave as soon as can. We get to leave once all the work has been done and not a minute before.

After that, I cant remember much!
Bit of last minute shopping. Go home. Ah yes. Now I remember. Family business much in evidence. Not saying too much, but have to keep house cool even if a cold day. People come and go. Mum tired. Dad nearly. Lay out things ready for Christmas Day.

Hope this is not too outing. Dont think so hopefully.

DF would go to work
Me, DB and DM would tidy and clean the house and go over to pick DGM up to come to stay for the night.

DF would come back early from work mid afternoon.

We would have a roast dinner for tea (god knows why when we had Christmas dinner the next day)

We would walk down to the village square where we all sang carols and all our friends would be there. After the carols you could queue to see Santa but we were never allowed as the queue was always too long. I think only seeing a glimpse of Santa from distance kept the magic alive more because up close he was blatantly the school care taker
.
Then home for bed, me and DB would share a room so DGM could have the othe one and we would get told to go to sleep and stop talking multiple times until we eventually fell asleep.