Christmas Memories- Reading about a 1950's Christmas 

The fifties truly were a boom. I was born in the late 40’s. My folks lived in a garage right before I was born. My sisters were 8 and 10 years old. Dad was hired as a chemist the year I was born and we moved into a 3 bedroom home. Our Christmas tree was put up the week before Christmas. Dad fussed with cutting the bottom off the tree to fit the stand. It had to be just right or it leaned. My favorite lights were the bubbler lights. My sisters put on the tinsel which required a lot of patience strand by strand, box after box. By 1952 my Dad had purchased a beautiful property in the country. He started building a mid century modern home that he finished in 1959. We moved in 1960. That year we had a silver tree, no lights, but all blue ornaments. Mom had the kitchen of her dreams, turquoise cabinets, with matching refrigerator and dishwasher. Yes, I had most of the toys you mentioned from the 50’s, especially the dolls.

I was born in 1954. When I was 2 years old, we moved to the suburbs, into a brand new 3 bedroom tract home. That book describes my childhood with joy. We were a middle class family of four. My dad worked in a gas station while my mom was a housewife, and I felt we were rich. Our house WAS an ornament to the neighborhood. My mom always made our house so cozy, especially at Christmas. We didn’t have a fireplace so my parents bought a cardboard one that you would put up every Christmas and our stockings hung on it. Thank you for these wonderful memories.❤️

Thank you, Time Traveler. You make us yearn for a decade we've never lived in before but you make us wish we did. ✌🏻😎

Being born in the 50's, we received over 80% of the toys you mentioned in our incredibly lavish Christmases. My folks had a Christmas Club savings account at the local bank. In today's money they were spending thousands on 3 kids. We also had a great TV & stereo, 2 cars and each of us kids had our own bedroom. We definitely benefitted from my Dad's GI bill home loan and cold war engineering job with a defense contractor. A job that still pays his pension. It was an era that simply will not happen again. Thank you for this treasured walk down memory lane!!

I recently lost my newborn daughter and I was so looking forward to my grammy being able to see her and them being able to spend time with each other which is one of the most heartbreaking parts of her passing. I am 34 and the LOVE of the 50's era came about from my Gram so when I ran across you it gave me such Joy. I am very close to my grandmother and our 50's love made us so unbelievably close. Your channel has made this horrible time for our family pass by with warm fuzzy love feelings and many smiles. We absolutely adore you. Thank you for making me feel so much better during the toughest time yet for me ever...I don't think I would have made it through without my few all time favorite youtubers. You have no idea how much watching all these videos has helped me. ❤

My daddy was one of those guys who was in WWII who thought he would never be away from home again for Christmas. He was recalled , and stayed in the Army for many years after. I was born in the 50s !

I was born in the early 1960s and raised by my grandparents. They had a ton of traditional ornaments and lights, and helped decorate the real, very big tree. As toys I had the Slinky, a favorite I would put on the steps and it really worked just like the commercial, Silly Putty, Play Doh, Buzzy Bee, Mr. Potato Head, and my cousin had a Viewmaster we'd share. I also had a stick pony and another favorite, Gumby with his sidekick Pokey. My dad ( I referred to my grandparents as mom and dad) and I would drive around every year to see everyone's Christmas lights. People always say that things were different back then and reminisce about those good times of the past. It really is true and lately seems more than ever an attack on these family values and fond traditions. I wish I could go back to see my parents once more and tell them how much I loved them.

I absolutely love this video. I grew up in the late 70’s but I asked my mom who grew up in the 50’s said she does remember some of the toys. I do send out Christmas cards. I love them and they’re part of the decor.

YES! we keep the Christmas card sending alive!!

In 1957 I received a Jill doll for Christmas (because my name is Jill). About 55 years later I purchased a MIB Jill doll in a bridal gown because it was so nostalgic for me. How I loved being a child of the 50s. Thank you, Laci, for all you do in your videos to help me recall that magical time. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Curled up in a comfy chair with a book next to a fireplace with a kitty cat in my lap. That's pretty much my perfect day!

I asked for rollers like yours and a silk scarf so I can do a wet set like you. I found your channel a little over a year ago and it’s so positive and fun. Even though I was born in the 70s your style resonates. It reminds me of my beloved grandma who died many years ago. Take care and be well

I send 75-100 cards every year. I LOVE Christmas cards (and mail in general)!

YES! YES! YES!! I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE TOY FROM THE 50'S AND UP. I THINK I HAD MOST OF THEM TOO!! LOL

I saw White Christmas for the first time this year and I LOVE it. I’ve watched it almost twice a week this Christmas season 🥰

This was such a fun book about 1950s Christmas, I really enjoyed this. I especially loved that girl’s gold glamorous dress. 😍 Thank you for sharing. 💕- Kim

We do send out Christmas cards--although my husband usually handles it as he likes to make them. This year he sent out hand painted cards to everyone on the list. I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas this year!

I grew up and the 70s and 80s. When us kids would pout, mom would say “Don’t be a a Pitiful Pearl”. Had no idea she was referring to a toy doll!

As London has gone into lockdown over Christmas and we can’t see family I came here to get cheered up. Thanks so much during these hard times 😊🎄

I can just picture my Grandparents as young parents with 4 young kids during a 50's Christmas !

I remember Silly Putty, you could spread it on the comics in the news papers and the print would transfer to the putty... BTW: I remember seeing several pink aluminum Xmas trees, pink was actually popular. Ours was silver and as a kid I never really liked them. I remember that pink cars were available in the 50's if you could afford the models that color came in...

My parents had a silver aluminum tree when I was young, with the color wheel :) I always send out Christmas cards - looking for vintage style.

I was born in the early 60’s but all of my siblings were born in the 50’s and I had several of their hand-me-down toys. We had a ViewMaster with loads of picture wheels. That toy kept me entertained for hours at a time. We also had Silly Putty, Gumby and Pokey, and a Slinky. Side note: I don’t know one friend whose Slinky lasted more than a day after receiving it. They always tangled up terribly and wouldn’t work right afterward. In my house, our parents gave each child multiple toys but everyone else gave one gift per person. Dad gave Mum more than one gift, as did Mum to him.

I love how you hang your cards. Yes, I send them out

I have been following along with my copy of this book, fun and festive! We enjoyed a Solstice dinner tonight and regaled our daughter of Christmas memories (1960s and 70s). We told her no internet search could beat the beauty and magic of the Sear's Christmas catalog. My husband sends cards, I'm a grinch!

Omg Johnny cash is soo cute! I loved this video! It was very relaxing!❤️ We love you Laci and we’re always here for you!❤️

I wonder if anyone remembers this... in the mid 60's a postage stamp was $.05 . If you just tucked the flap into the envelope rather than sealing it, it was only $.04 to mail it.My mom would have me tuck the flaps into the envelopes for her, because she said there was nothing "personal" written in tha card.We saved a penny per card on postage!!

Oh my goodness ! What a wonderful walk down memory lane !! Thank you for sharing this ! I was a child in the 1950s. I had a cowgirl suit, a Betsy Wetsy doll, Mr. Potato Head, slinky, all those wonderful toys ! I loved hearing about all the decorations and traditions people had back then ! I had forgotten about some of them ! I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season !

Thank you for such a great YoutTube video flash back series of the 50's. I am a 70's child but when I got married in the early 90's my wife and I have become become huge fans of the Atomic Age. Wish we could go back in time and live in it. ..but with bringing back all the dental and medical technology with us. I think this era was the greatest of all: Families were close, new technologies and innovations were arriving daily with artistic flair, people talked and had get-togethers and the art/architecture was the best. Christmas music was the best during that time also. Thanks for the videos and look forward to any new ones you put out.

I love the historical background of the 1950s Christmas,thank you for posting 😊🎄🎅🤶

I started sending out Christmas cards when I moved into my first apartment after college. Still do so today, although I made them this year rather than buying them. Was a craft to do in quarantine!

My grandmother claimed this was the greatest time in the USA. I find the decorations that grandmother decorates with still works and we to this day are still entertained by these. She even has glass made candies to decorate her candy dishes.❤🎅

I did send out Christmas cards this year but I had missed a few years. I had mousekateer ears, colorforms, a hula hoop, Mr potato head, the baby doll that made tears. My grandmother had the silver tree with the spinning light. My other grandparents put up their tree and a train on Christmas Eve so that we thought Santa did it. So did my parents but my grandparents display was on a raised platform that was larger than a twin bed and had a water wheel, people working farms, runnels, and the train put out smoke from the engine stack. It was quite the production.

I love Christmas cards too. I sent mine at the end of last week. It is a chore to write them but it makes me feel warm inside. I also love to receive ❤ them.

White Christmas is my favorite Christmas movie too, Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!!!!

"Thank You" for that ... It was so fun...I was born in1955 so it spoke to my heart and I also have a black kitty named Cash. I just found you and am looking forward to getting to enjoy more of your sweet personality.

Mr. Potato head, frisbee, etc..., but they're missing the most important one for me was Barbie. I was born in '59 and Barbie was created in '59. I always try to get the anniversary editions. Have a great night. Blessings - Judith 🎭🎵🎄

Love the book. Great times, let's go back to the 50's again. I had many of the toys you read about in this book. I hope you reach 100k soon. Merry Christmas!

I swear I had every.single.best.intention on sending Christmas cards this year.

Ooh, I love your Christmas card display - what a cute idea!

Watching as I wrap gifts. I watch White Chrustmas andcSound of Music every year.

Laci Fay, you are amazing! You have the look of 1950s America in every detail. I was a tiny kid in those days, but you look so much like my mom and other women in that time. All the household things, too--I still have some of the things that my mother and grandmother had, including pyrex mixing bowls (my daughters and I still use them), my grandma's Sunbeam mixer (broken, unfortunately), and various home decorations, now mixed in with later items. Your show brings back so many memories of an earlier time. It's as if you had been there, because you've captured the look of the time so authentically! Thank you.

This is definitely fascinating! Thank you again for wonderful feel good content!

I always send out christmas cards to friends far and near.I was born in the mid 50s. We lived in the northeast , so there was an annual family trip to the tree farm the week before christmas. My parents were fairly frugal with gifts; most were clothing and necessities, but there always were a few special ones under the tree from "Santa". I remembered many of the toys you mentioned.

I watch this even when it's not Christmas time because it warms my heart so much

I’ve been singing a ton of Sinatra and Bing Crosby this season

Merry Christmas and wonderful blessings for the New Year. Thanks for all the wonderful inspiration in 2020. Your are lovely as well as your beautiful family. ❤️

Macy's had the answers for the hoarding rush of last spring lol. I do send Christmas or Hanukkah cards with pretty stamps. I was writing one whilst watching you actually. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas 🎄⛄

We have 4 🌲, One of which is my most beloved Vintage pompom Aluminum tree🎉 We enjoy giving experiences and travel along with a few special gifts. I clearly remember getting a view master, silly putty and playdoh as gifts. We grew up in the late 1960s🎅🏻❤️😊🎄

My brother still has the silver tree and light wheel from our childhood. He put it up one year for his daughter when she was little, loved seeing it again.

Yes. My husband and I mail out Christmas cards every year. And yes there are certain people I buy more than one gift for🎅🎄🤶

Love it love it love it!!!! How I wish I had lived then!

It was the simpler things in life that made it so extraordinary. I wound give anything to go back to those times. Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🎁🤶🦌❄⛄

Love the quote about not buying in fear. I send out a few Christmas cards. I was born in 1959. I have the baby magazine my mother had at the time, it is fun to read! We had an aluminum Christmas tree. My mother hated putting it up, so I did it all through the 70’s. I still remember taking the branches out of the paper sleeves. We had multicolored balls from the 60’s to decorate it. Most broke over the years but I still have one, and it’s on my tree. Thanks for the showing us the book!

I totally send out cards. Its my favorite. I try to have them out the first week of the month. Because of sending all over the country to friends

I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I had a Busy Bee. I had a Wheel-Lo and who didn't have silly puddy, or Color forms! I LOVED the Color forms! This video reminds me of Christmas past. So cool! P.S. White Christmas is a great movie!

Love it!! From everything I've seen and studied and heard, that was probably the coolest and best decade ever, to have lived in. Everything about it seems to have been so fresh and new and exciting I can only imagine that the holidays added an extra dose of that! Just give me a time machine and one of those t-shirts that says"I'm here for the Party" Lol

Christmas is NOT Christmas without watching White Christmas!! I love that movie so very much. Vera Ellen's dancing is amazing, Danny Kaye was so funny and talented. Plus Bing and Rosemary Clooney.....forget about it!! Hands down the best Christmas movie ever! Though I do LOVE the original Grinch animation for TV. the best part is when Max the dog runs to slow for the sled and gets dragged behind and then waves at the Grinch. Makes me laugh till I cry every time. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

Most of the Christmas music I love is from the 40s to the 70s (Also Harry Connick Jr.'s Christmas albums lol). Bing Crosby's voice is so calm and I just love crooners like him from around that time period. I don't comment a lot on RU-vid but I've been binge-watching your channel ever since it was on my recommended and wanted to say I've loved what I've seen so far and am definitely going to stick around

It is a lot of fun reminiscing through your book about Christmas of days gone by. I do send out a few Christmas cards like my mother and father did. As far as gifts go I have always bought Christmas presents for my children. It is still fun seeing their faces when they open their gifts on Christmas morning.

I was born in 1957 and some of my most cherished old photos in my Christmas scrapbook are the ones from the 50s! I still have a miniature rocking chair I was given for my first Christmas in Dec '57. In the photo I am nearly a year old and propped up in the chair under my grandmother's huge Christmas tree which dripped with carefully placed tinsel. I definitely remember colorforms! Love your videos! Merry Christmas!

I love to see the fifties dolls, especially the baby doll in the box with accessories! 👶🏻 I was born in 1969 and have always been fond of dolls😊❤ I still have a large collection; a few of my old dolls, from my daughter and the most I bought when my youngest child was no longer a baby and I kept a lot of their clothes which fit my bigger baby dolls 👶🏼🥰

Love the fire and love your channel! Thank you for being my new find for 2020!❄️☃️🎄

A vicuna is a South American alpaca that were used to make coats. Luxurious, I gather and expensive. Growing up we did many gifts but now hubby and I only do a couple and I like to get something for the house. Mostly large items like lamps. We have a 1953 Ranch and I finally now bring in only what suits the house and its mid century style. Mom liked to go all out at Christmas and was really good at it. This video was sweet. Merry Christmas to you too.

I sent out over 100 cards this year because I felt all my friends and relatives needed one because of this crazy year.! Many people are lonely this year because of COVID.

l grew up in late 60s having an aluminum tree with a stand that turned & the color wheel. l had it til 1981. Some of the toys l got was silly putty, hula-hoop, frisbee, Play-doh, Gumby with his horse Pokey, Color forms, that view master & whee-lo.

I was born in 1951 and this brings back so many happy childhood memories. When the aluminum trees came out my mother had to have one and we loved it. We thought it looked so sparkly and magical. We sent lots of Christmas cards and got lots in the mail and would hang them up on a garland. My grandmother would keep a list of all the people she sent Christmas cards to and put a check by their name if she received one back from them. If she didn't get a card back she marked it in her book and they wouldn't get a card the next year. Thanks for the great memories reading the book and showing the pictures. We did get gifts but not the expensive items mentioned in the book. View Master, Silly putty, Play Doh, Hula Hoop, Visible Man yep I got one of those for Christmas, I kept calling him the invisible man because you could see through him. I don't know about some of those prices though because we weren't poor but we weren't rich either and had to watch our money. There's no way we could have afforded a refrigerator that would be $3,000. in today's money. I recently bought a new fridge for $700. I know my parents didn't have that kind of money. Maybe it was high end items that richer people could afford. Thanks so much for the fun look back!

Love this video! Love to hear more about times in the 50s. Christmas is my favorite time of year. Also, I send out Christmas card, but I’m lucky if I even get 10, but each is so special!

I was born in the 70s, but I distinctly remember that busy bee pull toy - I think it belonged to my dad. I only send out a few Christmas cards - my immediate family doesn’t celebrate, so I only purchase gifts for friends and coworkers. My favorite Christmas movie is Holiday Inn .

That was very interesting!!! I was born in 57 and certainly remember the aluminum tree with the three color light thingy that turned around. Like you have on your tree.

I loved this video!!!!!! I love to hear about Christmas from the 40s and 50s. That’s when my Dad grew up. He loved to tell us about Christmas when he was growing up and he loved Christmas! He always made it so special for us. He passed when I was only 21. I always feel closest to him at Christmas.

I love it when you read to us ❤️❤️❤️

Watching this in 2021 December 19th. Loving hearing the history and tales. I love Christmas cards and the 50-60’s turquoise and pink fawns, the fifties children playing in snow or tree decor, puppies etc. I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s but spent a bunch of time visiting my quintessential 50’s family queen grandmother who had so many of these gems of the 50’s.

I had a Betsy Wetsy doll. I loved her so much. Was born in 1950 so I must have been 6 when I got her. I remember 1957 was when we got our first tv. Not many channels that I can remember but alot of staticky shows to watch. We would rather play outside with all of our neighborhood kids than watch that silly TV.

you inspire me to do my life like the 50s thank you

I was born in 1963 & I can remember as a very young girl my mom putting up a tinsel tree. We had cats & lived in a small house so a bigger tree wasn't feasible. I loved it for the shiny but hated the way it looked if that makes sense. Cats still attacked it & always knocking it over. Great memories really.

Awwwssss Johnny Cash. Merry Christmas Laci to you and your family.

Wow! I was born in 1954. We always had great Christmases! I received my favorite, Tiny Tears with the whole layette. I loved it, and, in fact, I still have it! It is a little worse for wear, but by far my favorite toy. My brother put crunched up crackers in her mouth, so he kind of "clogged" her up, but I loved her just the same! The Barbie in the black and white striped bathing suit that Santa brought in 1960 comes in second, and I still have that as well! Of course, I had a hula hoop, Play-doh and Wooley Willie as well. Thanks for the memories! Merry Christmas!

My brother had The Visible Man and myself Tiny Tears Doll. Favorite Christmas Movie “ It’s A Wonderful Life”. Merry Christmas to All and a Happy New Year!

I still have a Buzzy Bee pulltoy that my grandchildren have now played with as well.

Laci, be on the look-out for two other books in this series by the same author: "Under the Tree" all about toys from 1930 to 1970, and "It's a Wonderful Christmas". Thanks for your happy cheer--Merry Christmas. Yes, I send out cards, but then, I'm a senior so it's always been a part of my Christmas. I try to find the most retro ones I can.

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁! My favorite Christmas movie is Meet Me In St Louis yes they had Christmas scene I loved when they thought they had to move. I love Little Women to very much so! I got a kitten one Christmas my best gift ever I love my Maro. We send cards each year!

I would love to see your wedding day

I love this. Thank you for sharing. I place my Christmas cards on my mirror and clock the same way. I love receiving cards for the holidays.

This little journey into Christmas history was so much fun. I love hanging at your house 😄 Merry Christmas to everyone. D

I love to look back at memories.

that book is awesome.. what a wonderful gift to get. I used to send cards out to all our friends and relatives when my kids were small along with a family photo so distant relatives could see how much the kids had grown. In the last few years my card sending had dropped off but with everything that happened during 2020 I thought it was extremely important to let people know we were thinking of them as we were in lockdown over Christmas and not able to visit at all. I think I sent 60 cards this year. I was born in the 60's and had a view master, Nina Ballerina (I loved her so much), Gumby and a walker doll... she was almost as tall as I was 😊

Christmas back then was AWESOME. You really did plan your kid year around it. A new bike? Skates? Radio flyer wagon? Would dad get the family a new TV it was fantastic 😊😁.

Thank you Lacie. xoxo. You are always a ray of sunshine in your video's. Thank you for your channel, I enjoy all your video's, info., fashion and recipes. The Fisher price little people school bus was one of many toys in the toy box at my grandparents house that was there for all of us grandkids to play with when there. I was born in 1970, so it was already pretty old once I came around.

That was a nice cosy setting for reading. The book is super interesting...it would make a great gift Your reading made it interesting The Macy's statement is so appropriate today. I send out cards but not like I used to, I don’t get as many anymore. It is nice to get them, it means someone took that time to think of you I had a Mr. Potato Head but you had to use a real potato...your basically playing with a potato..lol Hope you have a great week and a very merry Christmas 🎄 🇨🇦 ❤️

Hey my beautiful friend. So lovely to hear you read snippets from this gorgeous book! I really enjoyed listening to what it was like to celebrate Christmas in the 50’s!🎄 I hope you’re all safe and well & sending love to you & your family 🥰🎄🎁Xxx

I sent out many cards (I do every year, not just this) to friends and family all over the world. :) Love to send out some love and a little splash of color :-) Have an awesome and just wonderful Christmas and enjoy the holidays :)

Hi Laci Fay, thank you so much for this video. It was wonderful! Love to be read to. Been sooooo many years. Very comforting and cozy feel. Love the fireplace going. You look wonderful!! I got so excited when I seen you in your beautiful pearls. So retro, I so love you in them! Such a happy feeling from all the lady’s wearing years ago and everyone looked so polished. Thank you again. 👍🏻❤️ Hope your Holidays are happy, healthy and safe for you and yours.

I got to play with many of those toys as different friends had different ones. My sister had a Ginny doll, an aunt had a Viewmaster, friends had colorforms, & someone must've had Betsy-Wetsy. I had a Hopalong Cassidy spoon; I'll bet my sister still has it! Blessings & Merry *Christ*mas! Jackie in upstate NY

I love sending out Christmas cards! I send alot this year!💌 Me and my family I've alot of gifts to each other and also to beloved friends! 🎄🎁 I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!

I just love you! Thank you for this... Merry Christmas to you and your family

I just ordered this book, so excited!!!!! Love your videos!!!! I long for simpler days, love vintage!!! I was born in 1958 so I had so many of these toys!!! Thank you for what you do!!!

Born in the late fifties but some of the toys I remember and we had a sliver Christmas tree in 1968 as Christmas music I like only a few Classics have a very merry Christmas Laci 🎄🎁🎄

Simply divine!!!

You are so sweet what a joy you bring. Happy Holidays