What was in a stocking 70-80 years ago?

Maisie

We always had long grey socks for school and would hang one of those up.

Loved to see the long dangly sock hanging on the bed knob with all the knobbly shapes poking through when we woke on Christmas morning. We did get a few other presents mainly clothes that we needed anyway and new shoes.(All saved for on coupons in WW2)

Our stocking usually had an apple tangerine and a shiny coin with a small bar of chocolate that my mum saved the coupons for. (Ration coupons as it was during WW2 war when I was a kid). That was in the foot and toe and other bits stuffed in the long part of the sock.

Most gifts were hand made. My mum used to unpick jumpers and things to make us scarves.

We sometimes had a game ie Ludo or snakes and ladders etc. That was between my brother and I. Most of the presents were to be shared. Not individual like today.

finlay

We always have Xmas stockings - all grown ups - I always do them (well Santa is far too busy) and put in nuts (make sure you have nutcrackers handy though!) tangerines, maybe a Xmas choc decoration and some truffles and mints. To make it more interesting I also put in a small pressie, maybe a notebook or diary or something - miniature honey, handcream etc - (wrapped) and a miniature of spirits. Make sure there is a glass handy too! Have a cool yule!

Spendless

Maisie wrote:

My Christmases don't go back 70/80 years but in the '40's I remember all the things mentioned except the coal! Maybe I was a good girl!

One year I got a book with cut out figures of dolls and their paper dresses. I loved that. Had a cardboard piece on back of dolly so she stood up with her different frocks. .I think you can still get those books.

Poor but happy memories.

She mentioned that too. I'd forgotten till I saw your post, so does anyone know where to get the same similar thing?

Spendless

omega wrote:

Great post. Couple of questions. Hope you don't think I'm too daft:

70 - 80 years ago: what type of stocking was used? I'm assuming it was one out of your sock drawer, rather the "oversized" commercially-produced ones of today????

Also, from conversations with my now dear departed Grandma I gathered that the contents of your stocking were ALL you got for Christmas. Did you exchange pressies with siblings, wider family members etc in addition to Father Christmas "filling" your stockings?

I wondered that about the stockings too. Not sure if all she got was the stocking.

[Deleted User]

Maisie wrote:

My Christmases don't go back 70/80 years but in the '40's I remember all the things mentioned except the coal! Maybe I was a good girl!

One year I got a book with cut out figures of dolls and their paper dresses. I loved that. Had a cardboard piece on back of dolly so she stood up with her different frocks. One year I got a real china doll and that was the tops.
Always wanted a doll's pram but that never came. Cost too much for our family.

I think you can still get those books.

Poor but happy memories.

oh maisie you just reminded me of those cut-out Doll's books. The Dolls had to be very carefully cut or if you weren't careful you would cut the tabs off that affixed the dolls clothes to the doll.
Do you also remember when Kellogs cornflakes had cut-out masks on the back of the packets .Usually clowns or sometimes horror masks. My brothers and I used to fight over those.
I too always longed for a dolls pram, or even a twin pushchair.
Things like roller skates were handed down as the boys outgrew them.Jacko roller skates with red wheels ,I wish I could have a go on a pair now ,happy memories.
One little girl in my class used to lend out her Beano and Dandy annuals at 1d per week after Christmas.She was an only child who was spoilt rotten. I wonder what she is doing now ,probably running ICI with her buisiness acumen.
Most of the children were all in the same situation so we never seemed to worry about what we didn't have .As long as there was something lumpy in the long grey sock that was usually worn to school then that was O.K.
here I am nearly 60 years later still broke ,but quite content with my lot

Chipps

My Grandma was born in 1908, so will be 97 next month. She talks about having a tangerine, a coin & some nuts for Christmas.
She also has a story about how her pet rabbit disappeared, but was back again a while afterwards.......
(I don't think it occured to her at the time to check that it looked the same size etc when it reappeared!)
Her daughter (my Mum) was a child in WW2, and I still have a golliwog doll that my grandma made for her for Christmas. It was handmade, with black curly hair made from unravelled wool. She made one each for my mum & her sister's daughter; my mum's cousin. Although my mum was an only child, money was scarce during the war, so presents were always handmade or 2nd hand.

Spendless

Thanks for all your ideas. :A A google search discovered I can get the cut out dolls. If I put a chocolate bar in which should it be? Ideally I'd like one that was around when she was a child-1920s/30s. I've thought of frys chocolate cream bar that our newsagent sells-but any other ideas appreciated.

rosy

I have really appreciated this discussion. Really heartwarming to read of how much small things obviously meant to people in the past. Several posts have said how vividly the recipient remembered getting a gift which by today's standards would be insignificant. How many children today will remember anything they got in their stocking forty years in the future? Can't help thinking that the presents really were much better in bygone days and much more meaningful for being less. Many thanks to Spendless for the thread ( and also for solving what to give 85 year old MIL for Christmas! )

lindadykes

According to tradition the real "Santa Claus", St Nicholas, a wealthy man was known for his help to the poor. Legend has it that he gave a bag of coins to a poor peasant about to sell his three daughters, but, wishing to remain annonymous he threw the bag of gold through the open window and it landed in a stocking hanging by the fire to dry, thus the custom of hanging up stockings originated. The contents are also meant to be symbolic, a rosy apple for good health, an orange for luxury, a bright new penny for wealth, (I always had a new penny in my stocking and still continue with my own children, despite the fact they are now teenagers!) and a bag of foil wrapped chocolate coins to commemerate the gesture of St Nicholas.

purplegirluk1

You know what, I am 23 and I have enjoyed this thread so much! I love Christmas and have always bought and been given a large amount of presents at christmas time. As a child I did not get a great deal through the year and it all went towards christmas instead so I got lots of lovely things at once. I still have a stocking now and make one for my OH too as he never had one at all!!!!

I do enjoy getting lots of presents but I can't help but wish for simpled times when the amount of presents wasn't the aim of giving and receiving. Then again I wish that everything was a bit simpler, the world seems a little made about money and greed these days. I for one am hoping to make this a very special family christmas using some of the lovely ideas from here. I am especially looking forward to giving people sugar mice as gifts!!