Christmas / New Year Memories

Yes RKid, This time of the year always brings a lump to my throat and believe me I would welcome the sight of snow on Christmas morning just for the fun of it and I would be out there making angels in the snow. It will be a little harder this year as my soulmate passed away last June so I will be at my daughter's and granddaughter's house for the holidays. I am so grateful I have a very good memory because it is times like that you need it and I have so many wonderful memories stored away. That is why I find the forum such a comfort as it evokes so many great times we shared. So please go on and tell us of your 'good times' RKid, believe me I do think we all enjoy readying them. Besides, who on earth could fall out with you when you entertain us so much. {;O)

Hi Anne, I know what you mean. If it snows at Christmas there is always that extra bit of magic in the air especially on a moonlit night when all is glistening and white. We walked from my grandmother's house one Xmas Eve from Radford into Coundon - Dad never had a car in those days - and together we counted all the Christmas trees on the way home in peoples front windows, all mostly green too in those days. For a small child I found it very exciting and would have walked for miles.

I'm enjoying reading everyone's reminiscences - I did the paper chains too! We had a star on top of our small Christmas tree made out of cardboard by my dad and covered with silver paper from his Woodbines packets. Eventually we acquired a fairy doll who went on the top of the tree as the angel - she had to be small or the tree wouldn't support her. I always had a sneaking longing for an artificial tree, 6 feet tall and a garish silver, but I knew my parents would never go for it. I also went in for a bit of wishful thinking about the Christmas hampers in the catalogues. My real regret about Christmas was that I always wanted to make the advent crown from Blue Peter but my mum wouldn't let me waste the coat hangers! I shared this with my husband many years later and he had had the exact same response from his parents too. Wire hangers must have been precious in the sixties!

Do you celebrate Thanksgiving Primrose or still in the English traditional way ?

We do both - Thanksgiving is a lovely holiday before the craziness of the run up to Christmas, although this year it is "early" so we have a extra week of frenzy.

I mentioned that I had my own Santa - my late beloved partner! Here he is.

Great shot Anne, lovely photo just as I remember him will he be busy this year. Can he bring me a home to live in with a big garden to home my flowers too. please

FANTASTIC Anne, You were able to sit on his knee every day of the year then? Thanks for sharing the photo.

Thankyou! Yes, miss sitting on his knee!!

Hi All The recent posts have been just as interesting as the earlier ones! We've described our own childhood memories - now what about memories of other decades? Christmases with our own children, grandchildren, nephews and our partners... what family customs have developed? Which panto's have you seen in Coventry and elsewhere (oh yes you have...) What toys have been 'the thing' each year? Really looking forward to hearing all about it!

Doing a stint as a governor at a school in Bedworth I was asked to be the old gentleman in the red coat. Preparing to take my place in the grotto I was informed by the head that in no way was I to touch the children let alone sit them on my knee. Suited me but the disappointment by children and parents was obvious with quite a few moans and groans. That was that for the 6th form, worked better with the infants the following year.

I make the best of what I can find through the year. I am a bargain hunter and make the best of opportunities. A couple of years ago everyone in my family, the wife's as well, all received the same present. While shopping in a large store in Walsgrave, its name began wih A and ended in A, I was in need of a small electric shredder and they had one just the right size on offer, so I purchased one. On checking the receipt back at the car I suddenly noticed the price I had paid. WOW. I shot straight back to the store and bought another fourteen of them (it was all they had left). The bill altogether for 15 of them came to a staggering 30p, 2p each. Bargain.

Yes, my late partner always took great care over this issue - he was a children's entertainer all year round as well as Santa at Christmas. He insisted on not being left alone with children either. As well as protecting children the rules protect the adult's reputation as well

I've heard of Coventry people who ate/eat pork pie for breakfast on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Apparently there used to be a particular pie shop, in town, which had queues for 3 days before Christmas because their pork pies were so good. Can anyone remember where that was?

Hi Anne, Isn't it strange, my mother always bought a big pork pie for Christmas morning breakfast, although I would eat them any time now I imagine the pork pie tradition goes way back in time as sometimes you will see it in old paintings or pictures. Also, it always had to be a monstrous leg of pork Boxing Day as there had to be some for the 'regular customers' (pub) in the batches for their supper