Tag Archives: vintage

Thankful for Nostalgic Christmas Decorations

Tracy Helps You’s Thankful Thoughts for Today ~ 11/30/14

November 30, 2014 ~ Today I am thankful for nostalgic Christmas memories. Our family starts decorating for Christmas on the day after Thanksgiving. Thankfully, I’ve never really gotten into the Black Friday shopping thing, so my choice is easy. Over the weekend, we set up our Nativity and the village; we hang stockings and lots of garland. We decorate our entryway on the inside and outside. We finish with decorating the tree on Sunday.

I’ve always loved Christmas decorations. My decorating style leans toward nostalgic / vintage as opposed to trying to re-create a magazine photo shoot. I own lots of decorations that I’ve had since my childhood. Many of my ornaments and other pieces have great memories attached to them.

Each year, we hang the lights and ornaments while Bing Crosby sings White Christmas to us. We drink egg nog and eat chocolate chip cookies, warm from the oven. I have lots of ornaments … as I unwrap each one, I share the memories they bring to mind. I share stories of Christmas’s from when I was growing up. We reminisce our family’s memories. Some of my ornaments are from my great grandmother – some from friends – some I made myself. Many times the ornament represents something significant that happened that year. Sharing memories this way is one of my favorite family traditions.

♥ Today I am thankful for nostalgic Christmas memories ♥

1960's Vintage Christmas Eve

My Memories of the Christmas Holiday Season

I have always loved the Christmas Holidays!

I lived with my Grandmother and the whole family gathered at her house for every holiday. I have wonderful memories of the house being filled with the aroma of baking cookies. I remember my uncle used to paint pretty, snowy winter scenes on the big windows in the living room. My Grandma loved to crochet, and there were often gifts of scarves and afghans … I still have a poncho she made for me (it was the sixties). I remember someone usually had to run to the corner drugstore to get more batteries or film and flashcubes (anyone remember those?).

We had an artificial Christmas tree and I have couple memories of a few choice words being uttered when the assembly didn’t always go as planned 🙂 I remember there were a few fragile ornaments from great grandparents that I wasn’t allowed to touch until I was ten. I have many of the ornaments that hung on that tree … hanging them on my tree each year always brings back cherished memories of my childhood.

I remember always having so many new toys to play with. We always had a big turkey dinner on Christmas Day and the house smelled so delicious and wonderful, all warm and cozy.

Our celebrations continued all through the week between Christmas and New Years. Both my Grandma and I have a birthday during this time. I remember toasting with 7UP after counting down to New Years. I remember loving to watch the parade while Grandma was getting the New Years dinner ready. She always gave me the extra maraschino cherries she didn’t need for the ham 🙂

I cherish these nostalgic memories of childhood ♥