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Original poster

Anyone just really fancy a Christmas from their childhood/teenhood

57 replies

ClassicStripe · 12/11/2023 08:35

Just really craving going late night shopping when there was actual shops to go into and not everything being online. Having £20 (an actual note!) to buy my sister a present from woolworths! Walking round New Look and buying toe socks for school friends while Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses was playing in the background!
We used to have market chips and I would have brown sauce. Never a drink as that seemed like a waste of money!

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 12/11/2023 08:37

I’d love to go back for one more Christmas with my mum. It’s never been the same since.
I remember feeling like everyone actually had 2 weeks off, and Christmas lasted longer, probably because the sales didn’t start until New Year’s Day.

Ethelswith · 12/11/2023 08:41

Yes, I'd like to be back in my childhood home, exactly as it was. And for my DDad to still be alive

For the smell of the tree and roasting chestnuts at an open fire - yes really did that (also toasting bread and pikelets) and we used to play chicken about who could bear to peel a hot one first. Drinking martini and lemonade and thinking it the height of sophistication (I tried it again the other year, and it's just not the same out of context)

MyCircumference · 12/11/2023 08:44

oh yes the desperate Christmas shopping, lots of unusual books, jam sets

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Events & celebrations
MidnightOnceMore · 12/11/2023 08:46

Oh no, my Christmasses now are much better in almost every way - although I will grant you that late night shopping used to be way better back then.

CatrinVennastin · 12/11/2023 08:56

I was talking about this with my Aunt a few days ago. We would both like one more Xmas day with my Gran.

she would have turned 100 this year and we still miss her.

feralunderclass · 12/11/2023 08:57

As a child, we were very comfortable and got lots of presents. Our nanny was young, and from a very large family, overcrowded into a very small house with the bathroom being an outdoor annexe. They had no money and only bought presents for the youngest child, and everyone had to chip in.
Christmas in their house was magical. The tiny living room ceiling was covered in the most garish, tackiest decorations and those coloured flashing lights were everywhere. A few days before Christmas, the father would dress up as Santa and we'd go to line up to meet him, with all the other children in the area, and a bus load of adults with learning disabilities from the locality. Cheesy music would be blaring.
I think we only got a packet of crisps, but there was so much joy and anticipation there. Looking back, that was what Christmas really was about. We'd talk to 'santa', knowing full well who it was, but it all felt so magical. I'd do anything to go back in time and feel that again 🥺

PastorCarrBonarra · 12/11/2023 09:07

I loved the run-up in primary school. Making decorations, rehearsing for the concert, listening to carols, little party on the last afternoon where everyone got a selection box and a book.

reluctantbrit · 12/11/2023 09:08

We do Christmas very similar to how DH and I grew up but I miss the weeks before.
Going out to shop instead of online shopping. I still try to buy in shops but even our fairly large center has less and less shops outside clothes ones.

ssd · 12/11/2023 09:12

@feralunderclass , that sounds lovely, did your nanny and her family live near you then?

Mummyratbag · 12/11/2023 09:14

I was discussing Christmas dinner with my Mum and my teenage son told me it was still November and too early for the C word. I told him when he buys and cooks Christmas dinner he can decide when is too early to talk about it. Would I like to be a child and have Christmas arrive tied up in a big bow? Oh yes!

I'd actually love to have a Christmas from my childhood again. My grandparents alive, silver tree with coloured lights, big tin of Roses/Quality Street, the TV/Radio Times...lots of films that only appeared in December as no streaming or even videos), snow (we lived in a colder part of the country), still believing in FC.

WinteryWonderland · 12/11/2023 09:15

It's not the same anymore.
I used to loooove Christmas. Now I just want to go away and come back after New Year when it's all over! Must be an age thing when the magic has gone.

AgnesX · 12/11/2023 09:17

I'd love to have another Christmas in the family home with my mum and dad when we would all be fit and healthy.

The older I get the more I feel it's about the people rather than gifts.

YouWontHearTheLastOfIt · 12/11/2023 09:24

My childhood Christmasses - I'm 64 and grew up in a poor household -
The frost would be on the inside of the windows. No heating anywhere. Mum would make up the coal fire downstairs. I'd open the things in my stocking (one of Dad's socks) which would be chocolate coins wrapped in silver or cold paper. A couple of tangerines, some nuts, an apple, some new handkerchiefs in a packet. Then, downstairs, the main presents would be in a pillowcase. A doll, some knitted clothes for it, an annual, some sweets, a compendium of board games, a jigsaw, a new jumper, things like that. One year I had a doll's pram. Lovely memories.

stargirl1701 · 12/11/2023 09:29

No. Christmas with my own DC is far more magical than being a DC.

Gowlett · 12/11/2023 09:29

I’d love a box of Weekend chocolate, instead of the stacks of el cheapo tubs in the supermarkets now. Or a proper Selection Box with tasty chocolate (and decent sized bars).

Was in the city centre during the week, and honestly you’d think it was actually Christmas week. Way too early this year…

WellJuhnelle · 12/11/2023 09:34

I would love to feel that anticipation & magic again. We always spent Christmas Day with my mum’s side of the family so on Christmas Eve my paternal grandparents would have us to their house for tea with the rest of my dad’s side of the family.

That was the start of Christmas for me and driving home in the dark with the Christmas songs on the radio knowing that HE would be coming soon was so exciting.

I’m not sure I’ve managed to create the same magic for my children and that makes me a bit sad

sipsqueak · 12/11/2023 09:35

I had lovely Christmases with my family as a kid, but I probably enjoy it more with my DH and DC because I get to choose all the food, activities and & pressies myself Smile and it's so heartwarming seeing it all through my DC's eyes.

But I know what you mean about feeling nostalgic for one's childhood in general OP. I do get that feeling a lot.

twobluechickens · 12/11/2023 09:42

I miss the big noisy 80s family christmases with my grandparents and cousins. I should think it was exhausting for my grandma who did all the cooking but it was cosy and fun. Conversely I’m having Christmas alone this year (rather than with immediate family, who leave it to me to organise, which I can’t be arsed to do this year), and rather looking forward to it! Boxing day sea swim, out for a walk on the day itself - lovely.

feralunderclass · 12/11/2023 09:44

ssd · 12/11/2023 09:12

@feralunderclass , that sounds lovely, did your nanny and her family live near you then?

Same town, but on other side. They were and are such a great family.

mondaytosunday · 12/11/2023 09:46

Yes because my parents (mother) did all the work! I loved going round the shops looking at all the displays. All I had to do was decorate the tree and wrap presents (I did it for the whole family). My mum organised the food, cooked it and my older sister did the washing up. It was fun! It's still fun now but having the burden of the food shop, cooking, making sure the presents are bought and wrapped, just the pressure of making sure everyone enjoys themselves rather takes some of the shine off of it.

PokeyLaFarge · 12/11/2023 09:46

PastorCarrBonarra · 12/11/2023 09:07

I loved the run-up in primary school. Making decorations, rehearsing for the concert, listening to carols, little party on the last afternoon where everyone got a selection box and a book.

This ^
Walking home from school in the snow
Looking forward to watching The box of delights on the TV...
Sigh
It's the people I miss, though.
My dad, aunties, Uncles...

feralunderclass · 12/11/2023 09:47

WellJuhnelle · 12/11/2023 09:34

I would love to feel that anticipation & magic again. We always spent Christmas Day with my mum’s side of the family so on Christmas Eve my paternal grandparents would have us to their house for tea with the rest of my dad’s side of the family.

That was the start of Christmas for me and driving home in the dark with the Christmas songs on the radio knowing that HE would be coming soon was so exciting.

I’m not sure I’ve managed to create the same magic for my children and that makes me a bit sad

I feel the mass consumerism now means the magic is hard to recreate. My dd was saying just yesterday that it must be so lovely to be excited to get things, nothing is exciting now as everyone has everything. Even food, nothing is a treat now.

glittereyelash · 12/11/2023 09:48

Yep having my mams fry up and Christmas dinner. All the shops closed, proper tin of roses and selection boxes, waiting until after dinner to open the presents under the tree( the ones from santa were never wrapped), a big nap in the afternoon, eating dessert as we were too stuffed after dinner, visiting family in the evening and playing board games , staying up late watching classic films and having a huge sandwich with the leftovers. Bliss ❤️

EmiliaRuusuvuori · 12/11/2023 09:49

@Gowlett
I'd forgotten about Weekend chocolates, my Nanny used to buy them for me, they were lovely.

Crunchymum · 12/11/2023 09:51

My mum was the biggest Christmas fan and I always miss her so much at this time of year (we'll be doing our 4th Christmas without her, lost her in September 2020). I'd give anything to go back for one last Christmas with her.

Obviously I can't time travel so the next best thing is to try and pass on the traditions, happiness and joy my mum created for us all each and every Christmas (sadly after having my own DC we alternated but I had every Christmas at home with mum - barring one year I was travelling - until I was 33!!)

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