Oh gosh! Christmas is practically here! This year has definitely been one for the history books, so this week we're taking a delve back into the festivities of Christmas' past, including decorations, fashion and presents.
Forties Festivities
The 1940s was a decade dominated by the Second World War and the fall out effects from it. Rationing limited much of what we recognise as making Christmas so marvellous today. Food was scarce and so alternatives had to be found or supplies squirreled away beforehand, but the best was always made of a bad situation.
Decorations were paper based (who doesn't love a paper chain and snowflake to this day?) and were often foraged from nature, but entertainment was found in other ways. If you ask many people what their favourite Christmas song is, or what movie they will be watching all snuggled up on the sofa, you're more than likely going to get an answer from the 1940s. It was the peak time for Golden Age of Hollywood with films like Miracle on 34th Street and Holiday Inn, and songs like White Christmas are just as popular now as they were when they were first released in the 1940s.
Gifts were small but well thought out, and often practical. Occasionally a luxury would slip under the Christmas tree, such as a new lipstick, a pair of stockings or even a new piece of jewellery. Charms were popular during the decade, but so was Bakelite (still a wonder product of its era). If you fancy a bit of 1940s style in your Christmas this year, our Fakelite collection with a dash of Heavy Carved makes the perfect stacking fillers (geddit?).
Mid-century Merriment
Once the Second World War was over, the world was a fresh place in full technicolour. Christmas was reborn and everything had a big boost of excitement. Lots of the styles and traditions we have now, from food to the way we decorate our homes, have a nostalgic nod to the 1950s.
The 1950s is also Splendette HQ's favourite decade to source festive inspiration from - oh what we would do for a aluminium tree! Luckily you can still get hold of lots of 1950s Christmas decorations to get the full effect (those two-tone baubles are the best and, dare we say it, have a nod of Duotone about them? Hmm...ideas...).
The mid-century years were also the start of the trend of giving and receiving presents on a large scale. Toys such as Barbie, Mr Potato Head and the hula-hoop were must-haves on Santa Claus' list, whilst adults were treated to the newest pieces of technology.
To add a 1950s flare to your Christmas we have so much to offer you! From a glitzy stack of glitter bangles to some cute Atomic Snowflake jewellery, there is so much you can add to your vintage inspired outfit to transform yourself into a 1950s Christmas elf. And once you have sorted the outfit, you're going to need somewhere to keep it! Why not add an Atomic Bamboo Bangle Stand to your wish-list? Super retro design plus can invoke those childhood memories of constructing your toys ready to play with haha!
These will be joining the gang for Christmas 2020!
Christmas is still such a magical time, and we love getting nostalgic over the winter festivities of our childhood as well as looking at how people celebrated in the past. Do you add any 1940s homeliness or 1950s kitsch to your Christmas? We'd love to see how you do it (obviously posing in front of your Christmas tree!) so don't forget to tag us on Instagram.
