Journey through Christmases Past: The Influence of World War II on Christmas Decor

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

World War II spanned September 1, 1939, through September 2, 1945, and six Christmases passed during wartime. Due to wartime shortages, homeowners looking to bring a bright spot to those dark days turned to homemade or magazine DIY decorations, and blocked trade led to some American creations. 

Little House on the Prairie: "Christmas on Plum Creek"

Paper garlands originated in the Victorian era, and shortages of supplies found families turning to these traditions when imported Christmas decorations were unavailable. 

Photo from the United States National Archives

Though decorated eggs are typically associated with Easter, they were also used as Christmas decorations during the war years. I also recall some while I was growing up in the 60s and 70s.

Photo from this Facebook post

One special treasure I think we still have somewhere in this house is unsilvered glass ornaments similar to the ones in this closed eBay listing photo. My in-laws, who were born in the early 1930s, owned them. 

With trade from Germany blocked, access to hand-blown ornaments was impacted. Thanks to German immigrant Max Eckhardt and his partnership with a representative of Woolworth's Department Store, they brought the idea for Shiny Bright ornaments to the Corning Glass Works in New York. You can read more about this creation in this blog post from The Barnes Museum. 

And as this article from History discusses, faux fir Christmas tree sales ramped up during the war because men were serving their country--not cutting down trees--and fees paid to landowners for tree-cutting rights rose. 

Did your family or do they know embrace any of these traditions and decorations?

Newest Additions to My Christmas Decor

In addition to the few items I bought at local craft fairs this season, the family gifted me items to add to our ever-growing Christmas decor collection. 

Jim Shore gnome from my oldest and his partner

Gifted by a friend of mine in a gift basket

From my husband

From the same gift basket my friend gave me

From my oldest and his partner, adding to our memorial tree honoring my in-laws

From my husband

My mother and me at a wedding (I think I am 3)

My in-laws' wedding photo

Our wedding day (All three ornaments were from my oldest and his partner)

Jingle bell from that same gift basket

Did you or anyone else add to your Christmas decor collection? Share in the comments. 

Cutting Back on Christmas

 

Image by stockking on Freepik

Hello,  my name is Cheryl, and I am addicted to Christmas decorating. 

I know it.

My family knows it. 

My friends know it.

The Internet is learning it. 

We've spoken about putting up and taking down Christmas decorations before. It takes me 2 - 3 days of dedicated time to decorate the house, but I love it. Yes, it's tiring, but it brings so much joy to my family and me that it's worth every exhausted moment. 

Since I know there is a ton of stuff, I've held off on buying anything new unless they wore out--like lights and garland. But this year, we added a lit barn I won at a bazaar, and the family bought me a musical TV that lights up; similar to this one, but prettier. 

This weekend, my husband helped me carry down boxes of packed decorations into the basement. As he is carrying one of the last bags, he suggests we don't put up as many decorations next year.

Like what?

Has he met me?

Have I ever done anything halfway?

Even the year we moved into this house, which was two weeks before Christmas in 1999, we had a decorated home, and I hosted my family on Christmas Eve. 

I've known people who have cut back as time went on. Some don't even decorate anymore. That's not for me; at least not while I have the strength to decorate to my heart's content. 

Are Your Christmas Decorations Still Up?

 

How many people still have their Christmas decorations up? I tucked away some of the decor and pulled down the outside lights before this weekend's snowstorm, but all my trees are still up. 

Christmas in January?

 Did you know that some people celebrate Christmas in January? Since the exact date of the birth of Jesus remains unknown, some Orthodox Christians celebrate it on January 7. Here are two articles that talk about it:

Time

Euronews

Many of my friends leave their decorations up until the feast of the Epiphany, which is January 6. You can read about that here.

So, when do you take your decorations down? Day after Christmas, after New Year's Day, or later?