And a throw away comment got us chatting about the ‘old days’…
And Christmas stockings. That was one thing we all agreed on was that we ‘got’ a Christmas stocking. Some were personalized, filled with a variety of things, and CANDY!
Some of us got these…
Now if you are OLD, they always had fruit and nuts, with maybe a peppermint stick or two. If you wonder why, it was because things like oranges, apples, and even pears weren’t always available in the stores in the late 50s early 60s.
One of the guys said he actually found some for sale, but all they had was candy and some funky toys, and they were EXPENSIVE!
Another was bemoaning the fact that his wife insisted on getting the fancy embroidered ones for all the grandkids, and he was going broke between the cost of the stocking and trying to find ‘stuff’ to fill them with, since Granny was picky on what she gave the kids…LOL
What do you remember as a child?
OBTW, ‘I’ never got an embroidered one, but I do remember maybe 5th grade we made our own out of felt and used glue and glitter to put our names on them…
Mom made mine of felt material and laced the edges with a narrow ribbon. Red, top wide white band, name shaped by individually sewn sequins. Usually contained nuts, a peppermint stick hooked on the top, and a single, 2 at the most, Matchbox car or similar. Pretty much the same every Christmas as I remember. Late 40s, early-mid 50s.
Mine & $SISTAUR’s were home-knitted. In later years, a “chocolate orange” would be in the mix, along with various small candies and other items… and, for some time, a M-A-D magazine. And of all of it, it’s M-A-D that I actually miss.
My father was a Depression Era child so that “flavored” how he did Christmas Stockings.
Us kids always had a big fat orange in the toe of the stocking. We also always received one of those Lifesavers books of Lifesavers. Then there were assorted candies. And we always received new socks and underwear from Santa.
I do believe the stockings were homemade as well. Christmas was a big deal in his family. Grandpa had an actual parlor and that’s where the Grandparents put their Christmas tree, all decorated up of course.
We started with felt ones but after we were older Mom got into a counted cross-stitch embroidery kick and made the kids, spouses, and grandkids elaborate ones that were lined, etc.
I remember those red mesh stockings and the Lifesavers books. Hadn’t thought of either for more than 55 years or so.
Heh … had the same thoughts. I actually saw a Lifesaver book in a store the other day.
My grandmother knitted each of the grandkids stockings with their names around the top band and other Christmas figures below. Usually got an orange and nuts and some kind of candy (frequently gelt). The stockings were the only part we could access until grandmother arrived to start the home presents opening. The extended family gifting was after lunch at grandmothers house. 9-10 kids plus extended family adults. Happy chaos with the kids…encouraged… to go outside.
All- Thanks, and I’d forgotten about the Lifesaver books! They were a treat!!! Funny how those memories come back.
We mostly got candy or small gifts in the stockings. I pouted a few years because my brother’s stocking was bigger, even though we got the same stuff in them. lol.
Felt, and homemade. A few small foil wrapped Christmas chocolates, a few stick candies, usually an orange and a pomegranate, and lots of nuts – walnuts, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, usually a few brazil nuts. Occasionally a small toy like a yoyo or one of those paddle-and-rubber-ball affairs, or a balsa wood glider.
I need to think about putting something like that together for our grandkids – they’re getting old enough to enjoy them.
Tuvela- LOL
Java- Yeah, I hear that. My daughters do that for the kids. I just give them $$$ to get stuff.
My mom knitted stockings for everyone. Asked her then other day and she had made 57 stockings over the years before passing on the pattern to any of the kids, nieces, or nephews who wanted it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/200425915@N06/54219617810/in/dateposted-public/
When I was a kid during the 60’s we were ecstatic to get an orange in our stocking at Christmas. We almost never got one during the rest of the year. Apples and pears were available but citrus was almost unheard of. My wife, who grew up in So Cal finds that hard to believe as back then there were more orange groves than subdivisions in So. Cal.
Mom make felt ones with the glue and glitter names.
Like most of us Kim and I got the Lifesaver books, an orange, “pocket books” (do they still make them?) …
I have a vague memory of using colorful glitter paint to write my name on a stocking. I don’t recall if Mom Bee made the stocking or not, but my assumption would be yes. No oranges, but there were little things like candies or homemade cookies. That said, I’m also a weeee bit younger than most of the commenters here…
Hereso- Wow!
Dan- Agreed!
Stretch- I don’t think so. I know the Lifesaver ‘books’ are gone.
Jay- Thanks!
I got those too, Old NFO, but they were cheap. Which is likely why I received one.
We had meedle-pointed stockings made by MomRed’s mother. We got a case of fruit from DadRed’s parents (in Florida), and the stockings had a small toy, or a small book, and fancy peppermint candy. Those were our Santa gifts.
Our stockings made of felt with gold trim and glittered names were purely decoration. They were made in elementary school. No foodstuffs filled them.
Treats were mainly family manufactured. Mom’s family made dozens of tamales for the entire family and quilts were also manufactured at this time.