Written by Marge D., Sprout Contributor
What Christmas was like during the depression.
Have you ever wondered what Christmas was like for your family members during the great Depression?
Our tree was branches of trees that we found in the field. Tree trim was strings of pop corn and paper ornaments. A few cards would come in and would be displayed for decoration. Christmas dinner was much like any main meal dinner; protein, carbohydrates, vegetables, dinner rolls and a pie. Two large Roasted Chickens were the main attraction for those at our table.There were five of us, my Aunt Ethel and Uncle Ralph and their two children, Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Ed, and Aunt Frances and Uncle Horace.
From the grocery store we would get a pound of grapes and a pound of mixed nuts in the shell. When dinner was finished and the dishes done by hand the board games and puzzles came out. Early in the evening was “Chore Time” for my father and any man wanting to join him.
Animals do not take a holiday so they had to be cared for just like any other day. After that our guests headed for their own homes. Christmas day still had the magic of Santa Clause. My brother and I could count on two presents – both came from Sunday school class at our church- a box of candy and a large navel orange.
I remember the year my brother had money from cutting grass and running grocery store deliveries on his bike. He bought my mother a green kitchen clock; she cried and cried because she did not have the money to recipricate. By the time New Years came, Christmas was all put away.