As a child I loved Christmas. My earliest memory is when I was about five or six and it was Christmas Eve. I was sitting on the sofa in the front room and I could hear my mum in the kitchen preparing for the following day.
If I close my eyes I can hazily see it now. The real Christmas tree in the corner with a scattering of presents underneath. Lights twinkling like little fireflies against our open log fire. The smell of homemade sausage rolls being cooked and Christmas songs being played on an old tape recorder.
Everything I can remember back then was magical.
When it was time for bed my mum and dad help me place a glass of milk, mince pie and a carrot for Santa and his reindeer. I remember making sure they were neatly placed near the fire as I knew Father Christmas had a busy night ahead and he didn’t want to spend too much time hunting for them.
With my stocking pinned to the mantelpiece, bedtime arrived and I was tucked in tightly. I remember being so excited and wanted to fall asleep straightaway so Christmas morning would come double quick.
Then it happened.
I woke up and I could feel a heaviness on my feet. Someone had put something on the end of my bed and I could feel it as I stretched out on that Christmas morning.
Had he been? I was so excited that I jumped up and saw he had. At the end of my bed was my stocking and inside it had presents!!!
With no idea of the time I grabbed the stocking and ran as fast as I could into my parents’ bedroom, jumping up and down like a child possessed!
It really was a magical time.
My parents got up and we headed downstairs where there were more presents and more evidence of Santa being in our house. His reindeer obviously liked the carrots I’d left out.
I can remember being totally engrossed in Christmas Day. Everything from dancing to jingle bells with the music full blast at goodness knows what time in the morning to using all my strength to pull crackers at dinner time.
Christmas back then was magical and I look back with ever so fond memories.
Of course, as a child I was excited about presents and what Santa had bought me. I didn’t expect anything though. My parents and teachers alike told me that only good boys and girls were paid a visit by the man in red and by getting presents on Christmas morning, it obviously meant I had been good.
Expectation wasn’t there either. Not like nowadays.
Back then I was happy with a puzzle, a chocolate selection box and if I was really lucky, a scalextric set or perhaps, if I was very, very good, a new bike.
Now it’s the latest mobile phone, iPad or computer console. Now it seems once the summer holidays are over and done with, Christmas is put into overdrive with special offers everywhere you turn.
There seems so much pressure on us to buy the latest trend and keep up with the Joneses that a lot of that magic I remember all that time ago is lost on BOGOFs and January sales.
When I think back to when I was a child at Christmas time, I don’t really remember the presents I received. No, I remember how I felt and the anticipation of Christmas. I remember having fun and being a family. I remember it being a special time with special people.
And let’s face it. The presents you buy your loved ones this Christmas and the next; however amazing they may be, won’t be what they remember in years to come. What they will remember is what I and you remember. The memories.
I know talking about Christmas now may seem early but there aren’t many weeks left. Time ticks past so quickly and before we know it, it’ll be harvest festival, then Halloween and fireworks night, then the advent calendars will go up. By thinking about Christmas early, planning any silly games, putting a little aside each week, the burden of the Christmas spend won’t feel so bad.
Even if you can’t afford that brand new PlayStation game or those Nike trainers that cost the same as a 4* hotel stay, don’t worry. You may feel pressured into overspending and even borrowing money thinking it’s the done thing but all that will bring you is a miserable new year.
Instead concentrate on the things that count. Special memories that will last a lifetime.
Do you agree that Christmas isn’t the same as it used to be? What special memory can you remember of Christmas?
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Debt Camel says
One memory? I think that would be one I mentioned in my recent post about starting to prepare now for a cheap Christmas (https://debtcamel.co.uk/cheap-xmas/). Before we opened presents we all had hot sausage rolls and a drink sitting in the lounge with the tree lights on and all the presents underneath it.
Lisa says
What a beautiful post Ricky. And Chloe looks so much like your mum! You’re absolutely right. Come and have a drink and a few mince pies with us over the festive period x
LydiaGrace says
My mum always panics about what to get me for Christmas, and I truthfully tell her that I don’t want anything, but she insists that I ‘need something to open’. In all honesty I much prefer giving presents- my eyes light up when I see the perfect gift, and I will never forget my sister crying tears of joy as she unwrapped a book she’d been wanting for months. This year, I want to give to those without a family on Christmas day, and I’ll be looking into donating gifts of food, warmth and friendship to the homeless.
Livesey girl says
I can’t wait for Christmas this year as it will be the first Christmas in 6 years that my husband hasn’t worked in retail. Proper family time! We have 3 kids and all of their birthdays fall in December and January so it really could be an expensive time for us. We set a budget and make it work for us. This year it’s £50 per child. Botj boys want bikes but I have managed to find 2 on FB sites that don’t even look used for £10 each. As you say it’s not just about the “stuff”. Great post.
Jo@simplybeingmum.com says
My Mom used to tell me how magical her Christmas’ were (she was born in the late 30’s) when they had very little in their stockings (actually I think it was a sock) apart from a tangerine and monkey nuts (well it was the war years!). I’ve always loved Christmas, and indeed it was special because of having family round (altogether) and sharing in a national and in some cases international holiday. A sense of coming together. As a parent some of the magic is lost (inevitably) as there are many pressures, and things to do. And I wonder if that has always been the case, regardless of what era we live in? Maybe not. I don’t know. What I try to do is eliminate as much of the stress as possible. There aren’t long lists to Santa, we make as much of the items at home whether they be gifts or edible. But again this needs to be fun, an activity rather than a ‘must do’. When Christmas becomes a chore its time to reconsider what you’re doing. And when spending gets out of control – that’s really not good.
This year we are completely mixing things up and trying something new. I’m so aware of how many Christmas’ I have left with my Children still as children and I hope to make sure I enjoy every moment this. (It’s not too early to talk Christmas – I’ve started my planning ;))
Victoria @ Frugaltrial says
I agree, I think Christmas nostalgia exists. We were rather poor when I was a child and we would get one ‘big’ present or a few small presents and the selection box. If we wanted a bike for example, that was pretty much all we would get. I usually chose a few smaller presents, I liked barbie dolls and sets where I could make things over bikes and computers.
I think it must be very hard for adults with children these days. I remember your post about your daughter wanting a mobile phone, no child really needs one but they all have them so it becomes a logical christmas present.
My dad would be posting about how he received a tangerine for Christmas….
the.shrewd.life says
Lovely post and so true. I miss Christmas as a kid, I’ll always remember when the Salvation Army would drive a sleigh(car) with fake reindeer down our road playing Christmas songs-one year we ran outside and it even started to snow whilst they were there, nothing fancy but that felt so Christmassy!
AngryForLife says
Yeah i loved christmas until i found out it was really my parents who gave me thoes present and NOT santa.
Naomi Willis says
Oh dear.
I still believe :)
David Baron says
Very true, there also seems to be a lot more peer pressure with kids too. A friend of mine has been panicking trying to source a PS5 for their 9-year-old as ‘all’ of their friends have one. I can remember very few presents (apart from my Raleigh Chopper!) but I do remember spending time with family and that is worth more than any gift.
Ricky Willis says
PS5 is a difficult one as you can’t buy them anywhere, so the person may end up overspending via a marketplace. The “all my friends” one is one of the oldest tricks (I think I even said it when I was younger) so not sure how much is peer pressure from the kids, or adults wanting to over please?
Your idea of spending time is very true and I think what a lot of people find precious.
Sam says
I loved the fact my grandparent’s would be coming for lunch (miss them all very much now) and of course the feeling of that stocking on the bed. I even remember we always got a satsuma at the bottom, magazine, gold coins and little fun toys.
I remember all the old comedy specials on tv like two ronnies and who can forget the Snowman and Father Christmas goes on holiday!
I feel its so important to make your own traditions for this generation. Everything is commercial now. I avoid the over spending (the kids get about £100 each aged 10), no xmas eve box or annoying elf! We have chocolate advent calendars and try to spend time together at weekends watching xmas movies and breaking into the quality street on the weeks coming up for xmas. The kids get new pjs xmas eve so they are all comfy on xmas morning and look decent in the photos .
My kids get the stocking and one present from father Christmas, the rest is labelled from loved ones. Time together having fun and games is what they will remember with family.
hopefully it will inspire them to do the same with their children one day. They have never asked for too much for Christmas and thats because they think of it as a whole experience not solely a way of getting stuff. They like a surprise on the day. When i look at facebook it seems to be a “parent off” with boxes, elves and trips to lapland!!
I think lockdown has shown a lot of people whats really important.
Ricky Willis says
Your traditions sound lovely and I know your kids do treasure them and will repeat them with their own families :)