I was born in 1957, so I guess my childhood memories of Christmas start four or five years after that. Santa was the big thing, of course, and no-one was allowed into the living room until we all went in together. That usually followed hourly instructions from about 2 a.m., to the effect, “He’s no’ been yet. Go back to bed!”
By 6 a.m., we were up and tearing into presents. There were always satsumas, Brazil nuts, and dates which we never seemed to eat at any other time of the year. Dad would then leave for work. He was the manager at a builder’s merchant store, which is now a Jewson’s branch. He left about 8:30 a.m. on Christmas Day, which wasn’t a public holiday in those days. He only had a half day though, so Christmas dinner was eaten early afternoon.
It was New Year’s Day which was the bigger celebration by far. The 1 and 2 of January were both public holidays. We never had turkey in those days – nobody did. It was variously duck, goose, or capon, but all with the best oatmeal stuffing ever.
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