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This question is geared more towards the older commenters... since we all have a tendency to say our childhood years were best.
Which decade (or years) best exemplified the cheer/spirit of this holiday season?
All the rhetoric I have experienced for at least the last 10 years... especially around the "war on Christmas", makes me wonder if there was ever a time in this country when the holiday season was near "perfect".
The mid 1950's. Most women were full-time homemakers who had the time and memory for Victorian/Edwardian Christmas traditions (many had grandmothers or even mothers who grew up around those eras) to make a Christmas that would make Martha Stewart envious. Everyone sent Christmas cards; bought dozens of gifts for their huge families and friends---even for acquaintances like shopkeepers; schools performed nativity plays---even public schools; ladies wore Christmas corsages; every workplace had a party, including alcohol; people always wished people a "Merry Christmas;" and nothing was open on Christmas Day.
Here's the thing, are folks judging these eras based upon their childhood if so, then the judgement is totally subjective. For me yeah, the 50's nad 60's were awesome times for Christmas! All those Christmas specials on TV, going to but a tree, the stores with those wonderful Christmas window displays - no black Friday scrimmages. Of course I wasn't aware of the ugly divorce my mother was going through. Mrs Downs horrendous problem with alcoholism, although in the back of my mind there were the recurring rumors that the Russians were going to nuke the US on Christmas when we weren't expecting it, other than than it was great!
PS - I still believed in Santa and the baby Jesus.
O.k. this is the history forum so let me address the thread in a constructive manner.
As far as I can tell, Christmas in the 17th and early 18th century must have been a great time of community celebration. In the mid-Atlantic states Christmastide (depending on where you were) could begin in late December and last until January or in some cases the beginning of Lent (dependent upon which calendar you used). The period was noted with random groups traveling from home to home drinking and eating their way through the community. This was common practice throughout North America from Delaware to Newfoundland.
The 50's and early 60's. It was CHRISTMAS, we had a Christmas tree (not holiday tree), went to Christmas parties (not holiday parties), bought and received Christmas (not holiday) presents. We said Merry Christmas, not happy holidays.
The 50's and early 60's. It was CHRISTMAS, we had a Christmas tree (not holiday tree), went to Christmas parties (not holiday parties), bought and received Christmas (not holiday) presents. We said Merry Christmas, not happy holidays.
You can still say 'Merry Christmas' - no matter how much you like to pretend you can't.
By the way, there were plenty of 'happy holidays' greetings back in the real (as opposed to the imaginary) 1950s.
Quote:
Life was simpler then.
Indeed. Non-Christians, non-whites, non-men and non-straights knew their place. Conformity was rigidly enforced by social disapprobation (what is now disparagingly called 'political correctness' by the same people who long for that conformity-by-social-disapprobation of the 1950s - and do so without a hint of irony). And the top marginal tax rates exceeded 90%. Much simpler.
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