Christmas in the 80’s as I Remembered
By: Tandreia Santini
Tags: Christmas, Nostalgia, Memories, Holidays, Happy Life

Christmas was a magical time and looking back at it brings back warm memories of my childhood. Specifically, during the ’80s compared to any other time, it was very different even the weather. The goofy, jumbo multi-colored Christmas lights, the abundance of toy stores and Santa Claus were all a part of making this time very unique. I didn’t know I was making memories that would shape the way I look at Christmas now.

Santa Claus was as Real to Me as Jesus

Christmas was owned and controlled by one man, Santa Claus. I believed in him, wholeheartedly. He was the man born to bestow all the gifts on all the “good” children and none for the “bad” ones. This was my belief, my religion as a child. I didn’t know any better — of course, Jesus took the place of him, later.

My list was posted all through the house on the refrigerator door, the bathroom mirror, and even snuck them in mom’s purse — I was a determined child with an end goal in mind.

As I began to get a little older, my mom created this Santa/mom partnership. She told me that Santa gave her permission to shop for toys — giving her rights to do the shopping for him. I believed anything coming from Santa. As ridiculous as it sounds, It was clever and kept the imagination of Santa alive longer. It explained all those instances I caught her putting gifts under the tree. It alleviated any and all questions — my mom was a creative genius.

Christmas Catalogs — The Sears Wishbook

When October came around I was most excited, anticipating the arrival of the Christmas catalogs! Sears had what they called a “Wishbook”. It was “all things Christmas”. I skimmed quickly to the back of the catalog — the toy location. There were so many toys! I had my pen and went to town circling everything in sight. Even the children in the photos I circled. I wanted their emotions, happy and glad they got what they wanted for Christmas — a subliminal message to my mom. I wrote notes beside each item saying, “ I want this one” or “ I REALLY want this one!”. After I was done circling the entire toy section, I gave it to my mom. (The mom and Santa connection, remember).

We often talk and laugh about this time. She later told me how helpful my lists were. I guess the circling was very effective.

Decorations

Jumbo multi-colored Christmas lights, styrofoam satin ornaments, fake snow, pine-scented sprays filled our home. It was Christmas and you knew it when you walked into our house. We sometimes did a real tree, but as a child, I favored the fake ones.

I loved multi-colored lights which drove my mom nuts. The styrofoam satin baubles and glass ornaments filled our tree from top to bottom. They came in the traditional colors of Christmas — red, green, gold and silver. These would often fall off the tree in the middle of the night crashing on the floor — we wake up to multi-colored glass showered over the gifts.

We also decorated the living to match the tree. I liked spraying the window with fake snow, but later the real snow would make a half-moon crescent along our window pane. I can feel the frost and see this so vividly.

Toy Stores

The Children’s Palace, KB Toys, Toys R Us were huge in the ’80s. It was the era of going into a physical place (and not amazon) to buy your toys. As a child, I thought Santa owned all the toy stores. It's funny how a young mind perceives the world. Through mature eyes, my mom was strategically cost comparing and shopping at the most economical store- the reason we shopped at so many. She worked hard to give me the desires of my little heart and did. A single mother working double shifts as an RN successfully pulling off Christmas alone — I salute her.

Grandma’s Homemade Ice Cream made from snow. Yes, real snow!

We had a white Christmas every year. The snow would fall a few days before Christmas and I couldn’t wait.

I wake up to the warmth of the stove and the delicious scents of our holiday meal she was preparing. One of my fondest memories is the homemade ice cream made from snow. It was a recipe passed down from her mother — who was from the country.

This was a different time when the atmosphere and elements were not as harmful as they are now — a lot healthier. To me as a child, I thought God gave us a gift from his home called heaven. I thought it was like magic.

I had a big job and that was the collector of the snow. My grandma elected me for this big task. I felt important. She was a sure confidence booster to my self-esteem — thank you, grandma.

My mom would bundle me up in my pink fluffy mittens with matching earmuffs and puffy coat. I took my favorite Strawberry Shortcake (Strawberry shortcake was a doll/cartoon in the ’80s) bucket and filled it to the brim with freshly fallen snow.

My grandma had an old wooden ice cream maker, non-electric she used to churn it. I remember the sound of her churning the handle around and around until this smooth, creamy magic poured into a bowl.

This was truly specific to this not to be repeated. I wouldn’t dare put anything coming out of the atmosphere in this day and time — I don’t imagine I would live.

Footed Pajamas

On Christmas Eve, my mom and I would wear Christmas-themed footed pajamas. They were sometimes green with vibrant Santa and gift images on them with a long zipper in the front. We were armed with egg nog and homemade Christmas-themed cutout cookies. We snuggled in my grandma’s hand quilted blanket watching Charlie Brown’s Christmas special. I can still hear the song, “Christmas Time is Here”. This was one of my favorite songs and favorite shows around this time. What good memories.