Christmas Nostalgia Thread

[DisneyMissy318]

(Mel Cooley on The Dick Van **** Show) voiced one of those elves and that's why there's a tall, bald elf that looks like him!
(I knew part of that name was gonna be bleeped!)

It could have been worse - The **** Van **** Show!

 

[Jockaroo]

Anyone remember the old Goodyear Christmas LP records with celebrities? Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Barbra Streisand. One of my favorites was Sammy Davis, Jr. singing "It's Christmas Time All Over the World" with the children saying Merry Christmas in different languages. I always thought of "It's a Small World" when I heard this song.

 

[TwinsinCA]

In suburban Mpls/St. Paul there are 4 shopping centers known as the 'dales'. Every year around Christmas they would set up a themed display of sorts that you could walk through in the middle of the center. One theme was Small World and another IIRC was Main Street. They would rotate amongst the centers each year. After you walked through, there was the line for Santa.

Also in Minneapolis was the 8th floor Dayton's display every year. As far as I know they still do it even though it is now Macy's

 

[DISUNC]

I LOVED when the Wishbook came in the mail as a kid...I usually was the first one to get my hands on it, I would then run to my room, close the door, and start the first of MANY Christmas lists.

The book looked like it had been through a warzone by the time Christmas actually arrived.

Ours was shredded!

I've never seen those Christmas elves. Frankly, they creep me out a little bit . . . . .

My friends and I used to call them "Kraft stomach-turning recipies."

I remember the glass bubbling lights to put on the Christmas trees. They were discontinued because they were a fire hazard. I know they make smaller plastic ones now, but they pale in comparison.

Yup those recipes were
Bubblers! I always wanted them but Mom REFUSED...cause "They will burn the house down"

DISUNC, Great thread! Really makes me smile.
I remember that Peanuts Avon soap smell too, how funny! My Grandma did the Avon thing too.

Making paper chains to decorate any free space in the entire house!

Getting a Lifesaver Storybook in my stocking each year.

Toys R Us Commercial from the 70's - I remember that song!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt-TE6JYC2s

Thanks for the memories!

Aluminum tree w/color wheel

Norelco commercial with Santa riding the shaver as a sled.

Santa at Johnson's Book Store who gave you a gold coin.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS Aluminum Trees, My neighbor downstairs had one....I am a sucker for SHINY!

Norelco use to sponser Rudolph the red Nose Reindeer, and the commercials had all the Elves sledding down the mountain on the Electric Shavers!

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" brought to you by, Dolly Madison Zingers!

I AKWAYS wanted DOLLY MADISON Zingers because of this...they didnt ell them in Brooklyn when I was a kid.

My cousin sent everyone a copy of an old article he found on how to make felt animal ornaments. Does anyone remember these? Our family members had several in their trees.

FELT...I dod I forget FELT. Felt was a 'Christmas" thing..."Crepe Paper was a "Easter" thing!

Loved the commercials -- don't forget Coca-Cola's I'd like to buy the world a coke commercial.

Retro memory: gift from grandma: a shirt box w/ a pack of underwear, lifesaver book, an orange, and a box of twix. Same thing every year.


We totally do retro Christmas at my house. Big C7s and C9s on the tree and outside + bubble lights (although I have a hard time getting them to stay upright on the tree). Big plastic light up figures. TINSEL TINSEL and more TINSEL on our big tree. Plus, I have an aluminum tree (still in the original box) w/ the color wheel. I have a huge collection of the elves, Santas and Mrs. Claus' with the plastic faces and felt bodies. The tackier the better.

I went to Catholic School,,,The Nuns MADE us learn the Coke Song!!!
We need pics of your Retro Christmas.

 

[2girlsmom]

Okay Disers, think back on some of your favorite Christmas things/items./memories that no longer excist, and post them here.

I'll start.

- Sears "& Roebuck's" Christmas Wishbook

- Major Department stores opened until MIDNIGHT on Thursday & Fridays during the season.

- Kraft sponsored Christmas TV Specials. Where all the commericials were all (yucky) recipes involving Kraft Products. The Recipes were always in the current version of TV Guide.
I remember all these recipies involved Miracle Whip, Marshmellows & coconut!

- School Art Projects that involved nothing more than the following supplies; Construction paper, Glue, Glitter, Cotton Balls, TinFoil & Dixie Cups.

- Pixie Elf Dolls

- All Christmas Variety Specials, esecially Bing Crosby & Perry Como.

- Toys that came in Square or Rectangle boxes. (No Plastic Blister Packaging).
If it was a real "expensive" toy...It had a Cut-out on the box, and a peice of clear cellophane glued on the box, as a 'window".

- Avon 'Peanuts" stuff. My Nana was a Avon lady. I STILL remember the clean freash smell of the Linus Liquid Soap!

-Christmas Tree sellers on many street corners (They may still have them, I am not in the city anymore)

- Local 5 & 10 cent store having all their Christmas decorations on a 50% off sale on Christmas Eve.

- Cardboard Fireplaces with the Spinner you put on the Orange lightbulb
UPDATE: The still sell these on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Shindigz-Corr...1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1226908597&sr=8-1


Okay what are some of yours????

-

I have 4 of those elves, and they are still on my tree every year. We do still have folks selling Christmas trees every couple blocks, too.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

I have one memory that's very special to me. We only did this until I was about five but every year our whole family would get together at my grandma and grandpa's house. It would be my dad, my mom, my sister and I along with my aunt and uncle and his kids. It was the only time during the year when we would all see each other. Our family had a lot of problems and was always fighting but this one time a year they would put everything aside and have a wonderful time.

This particular year, 1995 when I was five ,my grandparents got their neighbor to dress up as Santa with his wife as Mrs. Clause. They tapped on the roof to sound like reindeer. Me, my sister, and two cousins ran around the house looking out the window trying to spot Rudolph's red nose. Then Santa and Mrs. Clause came into the house with presents and spent time with each of us. It was one of the most magical nights of my life. I'll never forget how special I felt having Santa come to our house and he knew all of our names! It was so nice to spend time like that with family. It was probably the last time we'll ever be together like that I look back on it very fondly

 

[2girlsmom]

What about the white ceramic christmas trees with either colored lights or blue birds sticking out?

Everyone in the family, usually the extended family, coming to put up the tree together, with the dad bah humbugging and complaining about the lights that aren't working

Touring town to check out the christmas lights and decorations in the "nice" neighborhoods (cause they were the only ones that had them).

Singing Fabu Foray (opening song from the Grinch, animated version) for a week after it showed on tv.

Going christmas caroling to the neighborhood

Going to the nursing home with cookies and singing carols.

 

[L107ANGEL]

I just thought of one. Going out in the car on Christmas eve to see the illuminaries.
You know the white bags that had sand on the bottom (to not blow over) and a tea light in each.
I loved that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mom2Satan&Daisy]

Getting a Lifesaver Storybook in my stocking each year.

I used to get one every year too!!

We used to spend Christmas morning at my Grandma's. I remember arriving early every year and helping her start breakfast.

 

[amyhughes]

I remember my Mom had something similar to those elves, only ours climbed the Christmas Tree... They had wire hooks for hands to hold on to the the dow rod ladder

]

Freaky!

 

[lovesmurfs]

I just thought of one. Going out in the car on Christmas eve to see the illuminaries.
You know the white bags that had sand on the bottom (to not blow over) and a tea light in each.
I loved that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, we still do that every year I'm home in NJ with my parents. There's a subdivision in Bridgewater that does this every year. We bring the cookies and the hot cocoa!!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Anyone remember the old Goodyear Christmas LP records with celebrities? Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Barbra Streisand.

Guilty of buying the "Time Life Treasury" of 3 old-fashioned Christmas CDs.....It's not Christmas unless you hear it!!!!

 

[amyhughes]

Anyone else own this?

Sad to say my parents were Oom Pa Pa Mow Mow fans...

 

[mskani]

I remember the Sears Wish book that was almost as thick as a Chicago phone book. You could look at that catalog for hours!! I just got my JC Penney Christmas catalog and I swear it is only as thick as a Ladies Home Journal!

I remember getting my Christmas stocking with an apple, orange, walnuts and peppermint in it.

I remember the Christmas parties and programs at school. One of the few days of the year when we kids could eat a lot of candy and sweets.

Lastly, one of my favorite Christmas memories happened when I was about five and at that time, not only did I still believe in Santa, but I thought that the people on TV could see me. Anyway, the 6pm news was on and Bill Kurtis (yes Bill Kurtis from A&E) introduced Santa Claus and started speaking to him. I remember diving across the room to my bed and covering my head with the covers so that Santa could "see" that I was in bed and not being "naughty" by staying up late! I recently told this story to my daughter (who is 12 and NEVER believed in Santa) and she laughed at me.

Ok, who's next...

 

[pixie dust 112]

I remember having ornaments like this

in red, blue and green.
Does anyone else remember making angels by folding pages of reader's digenst magazines and then spraypainting them gold or silver?

 

[sewer]

Since I lived in the Cleveland area, it was going to see Santa at the Halle building......... just like in Christmas Story!

 

[MNFootballMommy]

A lot of mine have been listed already, but I used to love the Christmas parties at school and making the macaroni noodle ornaments/wreaths/sleds. They were always spray painted gold or silver and the folks just oooh-ed and aahhh-ed over them.

 

[MsLeFever]

Dad always made us put on the tinsel strand by strand - which was incredibally tedious and HE always escaped part way through to watch football.

Then the cat would get into the tinsel and eat it. Which made her litterbox quite a festive place!

 

[paintnolish]

Being able to fit inside my new Barbie Dream House!
Listening to the Mickey and Friends Xmas 8 track!
Stuffing myself with candy, minus the guilt!
Iceream novelties...mint trees, choc/vanilla snowmen, straw/vanilla santas, gingerbread men or sugar cookie bear icecream sanwiches!
This weird angel candleholder thing thatr evolved when the candles were lit!

 

[DISUNC]

What about the white ceramic christmas trees with either colored lights or blue birds sticking out?

Touring town to check out the christmas lights and decorations in the "nice" neighborhoods (cause they were the only ones that had them).

.

My Mom had one of those ceramic trees...I think she threw it out after she only had 2 colored pegs left...and couldnt find anymore.

I grew up in the "Flatbush" section of Brooklyn. Every year My Mom and her best friend took all the kids (10 in all) in the Sedan, and we Toured the section of Brooklyn...Canarsie. Then the GRANDE FINALE was Pizza at Lenny's on Nostrand Ave.

]

Anyone else own this?

:

No never had that...BUT I STILL HAVE THIS....

SHHHHHHHHHH ITS ONE OF MY FAVORITES!

I also have the orginal Chipmunks album in the RED FOIL! (again with the shiney) My house I grew up in was a strick Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand, Dean Martin Christmas music type house. As my Mother would say "When Music was MUSIC"!!!!!!
She use to put the Stereo speakers out the window. She said it was for the mood, BUT I think she was trying to peeve off the Levines next door!

I remember having ornaments like this

in red, blue and green.
Does anyone else remember making angels by folding pages of reader's digenst magazines and then spraypainting them gold or silver?

Ornaments, no...BUT YES I remember my sisters making the RD Angels in Girl Scouts.

I also remember my sister getting Christmas Craft packages in the mail every month....then at Christmas she have all these handmade decorations. She only let me help when it came to pushing 100's of pins into styrofoam balls... my thumb STILL HURTS from that!