My childhood memories of growing up in the mid-1950s to the early 1960s are filled with excitement over the possibilities of obtaining that year’s most desired item. In preschool, I eagerly anticipated Popeye-related toys, as well as significant gifts like a new Flexible Flyer sled or a bicycle. Other years, it was ice skates or roller skates that captured my attention. The roller skates at that time were made of metal and required a skate key to tighten them to your shoes. They would spark with each stroke on concrete. I remember one pair breaking in half, but with a bit of creativity, I repurposed a four-foot, two-by-four board, some nails or screws, a wooden soda crate, and a couple of one-foot-long pieces of 1×1 wood to create a pretty neat boxcar. As I came of age, my gifts included a two-wheeled, three-speed bike, a record player, or a tape recorder.
What made Christmas special for us was the effort everyone put into making each day meaningful. As the lights were hung outside our house and the nativity scene was set up alongside other decorations, the excitement in the neighborhood grew as we counted down the days on the Christmas calendar. We stored our holiday decorations in an old green chest that arrived on the ship that brought our grandmother to America in 1883. It always had a scent that combined a musty smell with hints of pine needles. Each item was carefully preserved: glass ornaments, stockings, leftover tinsel, and a variety of other Christmas decorations, all of which held cherished memories.
You would check the TV Guide or newspaper for the times and channels of your favorite holiday-related movies, shows, or cartoons. Back then, I used the term “channels” loosely, as we only had four stations, which went off the air before midnight with the lowering of the flag. Between 11 PM and 6 AM, all that could be seen was a test screen image.
It was an exciting time filled with family gatherings where we would sing carols and spend time together. You would work or save money to buy gifts or cards for each person. If you didn’t have any money, you would create something special instead. Attending mass as a family was a tradition, and you would never miss it unless you were on your deathbed.
I still remember a few years when we had snow on or just before Christmas, which added to the fun and excitement. We enjoyed sledding, building forts, and engaging in friendly activities that also gave young entrepreneurs a chance to make a little extra money to help with their Christmas gift buying.
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