I excitedly woke my brothers and sister and we went into mums bedroom (always was mums bedroom because dad was seldom there) to awake our parents. Down the stairs we all trooped and sat around the breakfast table whilst mum bussied herself making ham, eggs and toast. This was a special treat. Breakfast normally consisted of two slices of white bread and echo margerine or, on a good day, goose fat instead of that horrible margerine.
Fast forward. 25th Dec 1950 @ 3pm. We Have been sat eating our Christmas dinner. All finished we leave the table and my big brothers do the washing up whilst mum and dad go into the front (lounge) room and rustle the logs on the fire. Dishes done we are all invited into the front room. (Christmas day was the only day we were allowed in there!) We walk in and I am in awe as I see the decorations spreading from a metal circle secured to the single lampshade to the four corners of the room and several strands running between. The paper chains we had been busy making adorned the walls along with sprigs of holly and balloons.
In one corner stood a christmas tree set in a bucket of earth from the back garden and surrounded by colored paper. Beneath the tree was an array of parcels all neatly wraped and tagged with names. Being the youngest child who could easily stand, I was given the task of dispensing the presents to each of my brothers and my sister, along with mum and dad.
The room was warm from the log fire in the hearth. A rare sight since this is just after the war. Our presents consisted of a small tractor for me along with some plastic farm animals, a lorry each for my brothers, a lovely doll with silky blonde/gold hair for my sister and Mum and Dad had their presents. Mum had bought dad a nice jumper and dad a dress for mum.
A slice of home made christmas cake each and it was back out to the back living room for the kids as mum and dad sat in the front room and enjoyed the log fire. There was no television. That came some 4 years later in our street. The old gramaphone played the 78 records and we could hear the music and songs quietly as we played with our toys.
No expensive computer consoles, mp3 players, or any of the stuf you kids take for granted today. Those were hard days and any present was something saved hard for, because money was scarce and not much to go round. I had 7 brothers and 3 sister by the time I left home. Things never got any better financially for us in that house and I was glad to leave it and make my own way aged 11.

So, the first christmas I remember. So the next time you hear someone talking about "the good old days" you think on. They were good at the time only because we knew no better. In actual fact they were very hard days. No sweets in 1950. Sugar was on rations! That lasted until 1953. The things we so take for granted today..............

Refined sugar, and white flour are terrible for you anyway, but that does sound like a great childhood memory. It doesn't matter if you have been poor all your life, or extravagantly wealthy most children will be very thankful, and happy with what they get. I'm sure even in the 50s not every family was perfect, and you had some naughty little brats who chunked their toys in the trash the next day. I don't see anything wrong with giving a child 10-25 presents, it's a great day, regardless of it's true meaning, your kids childhood is only a quarter of their entire life, so you might as well make it the best part of their life.

-dirt dobbler

You expect me to read this shit?

No, but you could stop breathing, now THAT would please me!

I tri to hold my breath but for some reason I always end up breating any ways.

I asked santa to give you a dictionary. Did it arrive? I see you haven't been useing it!

tri = combining form (of) three
try = make an effort.

breating = no such word
breathing = taking in and letting out (of air )

Now be a good likkle baba and USE IT.

I was bored. When am I going to hang your baubles and beads for Christmas?

Sorry, I was negligent. I hope you managed (I am sure you did!) to make this a memerable day for your little one and that you both had a great day.

Well geeze no wonder why you guys were so poor..having 10 other siblings living under the same roof? WTF...thats a lot of money to raise 11 kids!

It is not something I would recommend, that's for sure and not just for economic reasons either.

Yes Nearly i can certainly relate to your story here. When me and my 1 brother and 1 sister were growing up we were extremely poor. Our mom and dad were divorced when we were very young children and my mom was forced to raise us on her salary alone. I was the oldest and was watching my brother and sister when i was 10 years old because my mom couldn't afford childcare. It was very though but she always made a nice Christmas for us,we would mostly get clothes because that's what we needed the most and all she could afford. I was always very happy with whatever i got. I would be a bit jealous of some of my friends that had mom and dad to buy them gifts and simply be their for them at all times. I guess the point I'm trying to make is kids nowadays just dont realize how lucky they are to have all these modern things to make their life easier.

I think some of these kids are spoiled to the point it is just ridiculas. Of course,every parent wants their children to have things they themselves never had but some people just completely overdo it at Christmas.

Well its no big secret I am the worst speller on this site. I'm sure a middle schooler could beat me in a spelling B. Oh well life goes on.

Well, it augres well that you recognise the fact.

hmmmm i'll have to get back to ya on that one.

-dirt dobbler

You got 363 days to the next one. Reduce that number by 7 to give me time to get to you lol.

Why dont you suck a cock.

Such an intelectual comment! Just goes to prove you a bigger idiot than we all know you to be LITTLE BOY.

I just know what a sick fagget you are.