Christmas in the 1970's

Stan Krawczyk • 18 December 2020

Christmas in the 1970's

When tinsel and red Christmas baubles were all the rage! I remember it well.

Exhibit 1 above.

Orange shiny curtains, hand sewn by mum. Orange, yellow and brown were the popular colours of choice in the 1970's.

Tinsel excess, a real tree and proper Star on the top, what more do you need?

Exhibit 2 below.

There I am in stylish purple cords, slippers and de rigueur tank top, with my favourite bear Ojciec (father in Polish).

Sat on a Remploy rocker next to the tree. Not told to pose in anyway what so ever by dad as he took the picture.

Observe closely the twisted pair cable plugged into the mains for the traditional filament Christmas fairy lights.

Those lights would get so hot the house was at risk of burning down. But hey this was the 1970's a time when such concerns never crossed anyone's mind!

We drank and ate E-number infused food.

Rode bikes painted with a high lead content.

Fired toy guns with real gunpowder caps in them.

Children ate candy sticks that looked like cigarettes and everybody smoked like chimneys for real.

Everyone drank hard booze and were probably exposed to other carcinogenic substances I don't even want to think about!

Disclaimer: The Krawczyk family did neither of the above. No smoking or heavy boozing in our house thank you very much!

The weeks leading up to Christmas have not changed much in 40 years. Well ok Amazon, Ebay or even a pandemic wasn't around then, so maybe actually we were better off in the 1970's?

The excitement of finishing school and dad finishing work.

Christmas shopping with my parents. Saturday after 5pm the shops used to close.

Visiting Santa at Lewis's department store in Manchester.

The actual trip to Manchester itself was exciting! Travelling by train or bus, I always preferred the train.

Katsouris Deli in the market hall to buy all the food.

It was a magical time only seen through a child's eye.

The first snow falling.

We used to have snow in the 1970's proper snow and power cuts.

Every house had it's collection of candles just in case? I still have them now, although my other half loves Yankee Candles, we will never be short of light (or scent) in case of power cuts!

Dad even had Pifco paraffin lamps (for his greenhouse) as a candle backup!

Everything seemed to be made in Hong Kong in the 1970's by Pifco and powered by Ever Ready PP6 batteries. I dare you to bridge the contacts with your tongue?

The main event was of course Christmas Eve. The only family tradition I still continue today (see Polish Christmas Eve Blog)

We ate the traditional food and exchanged blessings as always.

I would eat fish fingers because I don't like fish (fish fingers aren't really fish are they?)

Afterwards we would change into our Sunday best. Nice warm coats, hats, scarves and gloves then walk to Mass.

Originally it was the Chapel at Holy Cross College but as time went by it was better to go to St. Marie's church.

We used to walk there and back (no car) that was part of the fun for me. Not often were you allowed to stay up so late? Returning home in the evening then straight to bed.

Sometimes if it was past midnight I was allowed to have some Christmas Day food mum had prepared (Salatka for example - see blog)

On Christmas day I would rush downstairs and look under the tree.

Dad would bring the bears and we gave each other presents.

Sometimes friends would visit, join us and exchange presents but mostly it was just us.

I would play with my toys all day and well into the evening.

Mum would put some vinyl on the Ferguson record deck. Kolendy (Polish traditional carols) and dad, Greatest hits of Johnny Cash.

We watched the big Christmas films at the time on the Black and White telly.

My best ever presents being a Lego train set and later a Raleigh Chipper bike, 1974 and 1976 respectively?

They were particularly special because I knew dad must have saved and saved to buy them for me.

Even at such a young age I knew the value of these things.

Today I still take care of everything hence why its all in exceptional condition. Of course I don't have the bike or train set but you know what I mean.

On Boxing day we visited friends and exchanged presents. Ate lunch at theirs or they would come to ours.

A very happy time that seemed to go on for ever.

I have to say New Years eve/ day have always been a bit flat for me, even now.

We used to attend Mass and stayed home mostly, watched some TV.

I would make up stories with the bears and dad. Right up to February this year, I still made up bear stories with my daughters bears but she is at that age now where she has denounced bears!

Simple times by todays standards but extremely precious memories never to be forgotten and remembered every single Christmas since.

I know 2020 has been a terrible year for the world but keeping these old traditions alive helps us continue with our family history and maintain some continuity to help us get through it all.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas from 1974!

Wesołych Swiąt!

Polish Christmas Eve Blog Krawczyk family Salad blog