An essential read for the true meaning of Christmas.
An inter-weaving of the memories of individuals who lived through the Christmases from 1939-1945 as war separated families, rationing hit the country hard and how and why Christmas was celebrated was reconsidered.
Generally each chapter takes a part of a traditional Christmas celebration as its theme e.g. turkey versus goose versus chicken for Christmas dinner. There are a range of views expressed by individuals – from those who were relatively unaffected by shortages and continued Christmases as normal at least in 1939 and 1940 to those who struggled to afford turkey or goose during the pre-war years and now found it impossible under rationing. It is not all doom and gloom as there are some light hearted and funny memories such as the dog eating then Christmas dinner in one family.
Also covered are the evacuation of children both formally and on a voluntary basis and how this affected the evacuees and their families.
The last couple of chapters cover the men at war and how they celebrated Christmas and it is heart rending to read about how Christmas was celebrated in Changi Jail in Singapore and in the Japanese prisoner of war camps.
This is an important book in that it is a lasting resource of the memories of those who have contributed to it – that generation that either fought in or lived through the war who are growing ever fewer in number bit who should not be forgotten. It was after all their sacrifices big and small that led to victory and also to their make do and mend philosophy of life that is in stark contrast to the materialism of today.
Generally each chapter takes a part of a traditional Christmas celebration as its theme e.g. turkey versus goose versus chicken for Christmas dinner. There are a range of views expressed by individuals – from those who were relatively unaffected by shortages and continued Christmases as normal at least in 1939 and 1940 to those who struggled to afford turkey or goose during the pre-war years and now found it impossible under rationing. It is not all doom and gloom as there are some light hearted and funny memories such as the dog eating then Christmas dinner in one family.
Also covered are the evacuation of children both formally and on a voluntary basis and how this affected the evacuees and their families.
The last couple of chapters cover the men at war and how they celebrated Christmas and it is heart rending to read about how Christmas was celebrated in Changi Jail in Singapore and in the Japanese prisoner of war camps.
This is an important book in that it is a lasting resource of the memories of those who have contributed to it – that generation that either fought in or lived through the war who are growing ever fewer in number bit who should not be forgotten. It was after all their sacrifices big and small that led to victory and also to their make do and mend philosophy of life that is in stark contrast to the materialism of today.