Festivities

Richard Webber admires the spirit of the British people as World War II made families adapt their celebrations.

THESE days, Christmas is often viewed as being too commercialised, with its true meaning lost amid a tidal wave of adverts, extortionately priced goods and over-the-top celebrations.

Reflecting on these thoughts, I began wondering what the festive season was like during the dark years of World War II, when my parents were growing up.

Surprisingly, despite the hardship endured during that period, it’s felt by some people that Christmases, in many respects, were more caring and truthful.

Of course, times were very different back then.

Millions of men were away fighting the war, women were contributing to the war effort around Britain, and many city-dwelling children were evacuated to the countryside.

There was inevitable disruption to what people accepted as the norm, such as the daily postal service, and Christmas post was particularly difficult to maintain.

Fewer staff were working for the Post Office, and trains normally utilised to transport mail were assigned to carrying troops and munitions.

Other knock-on effects saw women stepping in to play Santa at department stores, while the traditional Christmas tree became scarce.

Not only was the usual forestry workforce in short supply, but the transport needed to carry trees to the shops was requisitioned for more vital needs.

As a result, families made do with their own creations.

Sadly, some people in badly bombed cities during the Blitz found themselves in the dire situation of spending Christmas in shelters, having lost their homes.

But even in such trying moments, citizens pulled together, with underground tunnels decorated with home-made Christmas trees and canteens set up to feed people.

The war affected all aspects of Christmas festivities, and with rationing becoming stricter year by year, it was certainly a time to make do and adapt. ■