Hi Bruce,
Season's Greetings to you.
Christmas has always been an exciting time. As it is today, so it was the same in days gone by, perhaps even more so. We nearly all went to Church, so the true meaning was most important to us.
We hung our Stocking up before going to bed, and knew our parents would put something in it. Luxuries were few and far between, usually we had things which would become useful to us during the year. I am talking of the 30 / 40s - remember there was a war on and folk had little money to spare.
I am copying this wonderful poem - a great favourite of all Caithness folk. Here you will get a flavour of what it was like for a child.
I hope this will be the start of many replies to your question.
Sorry for any typing mistakes.
Yours
Trinkie.
Ai Christmas Stocking
By W. T. Lyall
Div ye mind yur Christmas Stocking
That ye hung up long ago
No ai fancy plastic things
Wi’ everything on show,
But ai woollen kind ye wore knee length
Wi’ short troosers at ai school
Ade wis a Christmas mystery pack
Han’ knitted pure sheeps wool.
Ai modern socks can never match
Cos fashion’s cheinged for boys,
Ye can turn ai top o’ ai ould een up
An ade fairly fills wi’ toys,
Ye could hing ade on ai mantlepiece
Wedged ticht below ai clock,
Then doon ai lum comes Santa Claus
When yur sleepin’ lek a top.
An’ when ye wake on Christmas Morn,
Ye’re oot ai bed wi a chump,
Ye see yur stocking fit a shape,
All knobbly Humps and Bumps,
Ye take ade doon off ai mantlepiece
An wonder fir ye got,
Cos in ai days o’ stockings
Ye couldna ask for a lot.
An then ye see fit Santa gave
But ye dinna empty fast
Take ai contents wan at a time,
Ye want ai fun till last,
A chocolate Santa’s first ye see
He’s first till be devoured
A sugarie peeg is next in line
It too is overpowered.
A windin car ats made o’ tin
A bag o; coloured balloons,
An’ then a lovely shiny torch,
Till examine further doon.
A tattie gun, a chocolate watch
A top y lash wi’ a wheep,
A double sided moothy
By now yur deegin deep.
A chuicy orange in ai heel
An aipple in ai toe,
Some nuts thrown in ai middle
Yur doon as far’s ye can go,
Ade michtna seem an awful lot
Compared till ai day ades tragic,
But ai mystery, ai smell, ai knobbly bumps
In ai ould Christmas Stocking wis magic.
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