Practical Presents

Gifts became more practical, with gardening tools, bottling jars and seeds riding high in the charts of most received presents.

Believe it or not, soap was the most popular present in 1940.

It was toppled from the number one position, however, when stricter rationing was introduced two years later.

With many items scarce or unavailable, people were encouraged to be innovative. The public were encouraged to try a little DIY, including knitting slippers and gloves from wool unravelled from old jumpers, and making brooches from scraps of wool, felt and plastic.

To aid the war effort, the National Savings Committee were desperate to encourage saving rather than spending at Christmas, so began advertising War Savings as the ideal present for loved ones.

But whatever present one received, chances were it wouldn’t be wrapped in fancy paper, because that was on the restricted list, too.

. ck o t rs e tt u h S Sorting presents at the post office in 1940.