World War 2 Xmas tradtions - The little Christmas House

[ForeverOptimistic]

When I was growing up my mum always made a little christmas house which housed small christmas presents for all of us. I always thought that it was just our family who did this until I found out via a thread on mumsnet a few years ago that it was a tradition that started during world war II as xmas trees were banned and people bought smaller pressies for each other due to rationing.

I have searched on the internet but can't find anything about this tradition at all. I want to make one for us this year but can't really remember what they were like. Did anyone else do this?

Bump.

My mum had a, now i am thinking about it....quite a horrific, tall, penguin, which was empty and she put little presents in that for the run up to Christmas. Not quite as nice and classy as your little Christmas house though lol!

Not sure my creative skills are up to makin a penguin!

Anyone else?

Never heard of that tradition, sorry

Will keep an eye on the thread though out of interest

DHs family do this. thought it was a weirdy family thing. perhaps not. will ask him the origins.

Its not something that I have ever done but my Mum done this when she was little, she was born just after the war.

just asked 81 year old mil about this, she has no idea what i'm talking about and didn't apparently have anything at christmas during the war

not heard of the tradition but www.johnlewis.com/Search/Search.aspx?SearchTerm=charity+mug&Offset=1&refined=0 the tins that come with these mugs are big enough to hold a few little pressies]]

www.johnlewis.com/Search/Search.aspx?SearchTerm=charity+mug&Offset=1&refined=0

Thanks all.

I spoke to my mum this afternoon she said it was something that she remembered everyone doing, she hadn't realised that it was because xmas trees were not allowed, she lived in the country so apparently they would just go and choose their own and chop it down.

I'm going to have a go at making one with ds this week. My mum said when she was a child they used an old tea crate and made Father Christmas and Snowmen out of pipe cleaners. When we were kids she updated this slightly and started using a cardboard box which we pained and decorated with glitter etc and used father christmas and sleigh cake decorations.

I think that sounds lovely Mine are abit too old for helping with that now lol!! Wish i had heard about it a few years ago.

Hi,

New member who also follows the Christmas box tradition. We have a small wicker linen basket with a knitted Father Christmas on the top.

He is filled with a small present for each person who eats with us and the children distribute the presents after Christmas Lunch. As we have a very extended family, we usually repeat it on Boxing Day too!