I'm Dreaming of a 1930s Christmas!

Disney Department Store Christmas!
I really don't know if this cute little card is from the 30's, but it has that feeling.  I'm sure most of you are aware that the Disney California Adventure Park was remodeled recently to reflect Hollywood and Los Angeles of the 1920s and '30s.  I love the feeling of stepping back in time to old Buena Vista Street...to admire the Art Deco-style of the shops, the mission-style Carthay Circle Theater and hear the whistle of the old-time cop warning you not to step into the path of the Red Line Trolley cars.  It's a trip to a golden age...but even more so at Christmas!  George and I always make a trip for our anniversary which coincides with the unveiling of the holiday decor.  This is the first Christmas that California Adventure has almost more merry decorations than Disneyland itself.

Christmas on Buena Vista Street...

Oswald's Service Station.

I remember bells like these...even in the 60's!

"Ginormouse" Christmas tree!

All the music played is from that era.

Toy Train big enough for a child to ride.

All of our favorite vintage ornaments...large scale.

Classy Elias & Company Department Store.

Elias Window Display...vintage ornaments!

 

Another lovely window...

Happy Vintage Shoppers...

 

Millie the Messenger delivers Christmas packages...

Thirties glamour on the balcony...

Lots of tinsel on the tree...

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Department Store Santa!

It was almost a wish come true...my "Department Store Christmas!"

 

Merry Disney Christmas 1935!

 

 

 

 

Happy St. Nikolas Day!

St. Nicholas Day...
Today, December 6, is known throughout Germany and many European countries as St. Nicholas Day.  Children in those countries put their shoes on the front step in hopes that the kindly gentleman will fill them full of treats.  Traditional gifts include chocolate, fruit, small toys and gold coins...chocolate coins most likely.  The legends about St. Nicholas begin with the story of a poor man with three marriageable daughters.  He could not afford to provide them with a dowry...in those days girls could not get married without a cash dowry.

Wooden shoes filled with treats...

Passing by the home of the poor girls one winter's evening, Nicholas was moved to pity by their penniless state and wanted to help them.  Wishing to remain anonymous, he secretly tossed a bag of golden coins into the window of the girls' room.  The story claims that the coins fell into some stockings hanging out to dry by the fire.  This is how the tradition began of filling stockings with gifts.  Next year on the eve of St. Nicholas day, it might be fun to have your children put their little shoes on the front porch.  Wouldn't they love to find a little bag of gold chocolate coins in their shoe when they get up the next morning?  Be sure to tell them to leave a carrot out for St. Nicholas' white horse.

A fun new tradition!

Our family tradition of celebrating St. Nicholas (Nikolas) Day only lasted a few years...but it was fun while it lasted.  We wouldn't wait until morning...St. Nicholas came just before bedtime in our little corner of Germany.  Children would get ready for bed and put their shoes on the porch.  Then there was a special program on television for them to watch while one of the parents filled their shoes.  Bedtime television featured a character call the Sandmännchen or "little sandman."  I suppose the purpose was to make children sleepy.  They might show a cartoon, then the Sandmännchen would tell a bedtime story.   When the Sandmännchen said "Gute Nacht...und schlaf recht schon" it was time to see if St. Nikolas had left candy or a switch in their shoes.  Nikolas had a helper named Knecht Ruprecht, a dark and sinister character who just might put naughty children into the big sack on his back.  There are many legends and traditions about the Knecht Ruprecht character...in some he later became "Der Weihnachtsmann," the German version of Santa Claus.

Der Weihnachtsmann shopping at the Christmas Market.

He could also be wearing blue or brown.

Christmas Eve in the home of our German friends, the Dahnkens, was the time when the Christ Child...or Christkindl...decorated the tree and left presents.  They didn't use Christmas stockings, but the Christkindl left plates full of cookies and candy.  In other homes, gifts were left by Der Weihnachtsmann. 

I loved learning the customs and traditions of Germany.  Thank you for letting me share the story of St. Nicholas Day.

Frohliche Weihnachten!



Tick Tock! Christmas is Coming!

 

"Christmas Time" Clock Characters...

 

I saw these cute ornaments on the Traditions website.

There is a Santa as well...so cute.

I decided to make my own versions.

 

"Christmas Time" Gang!

Painted small round 2" and 3" boxes.

The Graphics Fairy has clock faces...can't remember where I got this one.

  

Santa is the small 2" size.

 

Elf is 3" size.

I had some vintage heads in my stash.

Target has cute snowmen heads in the $1 ornaments.

I bought some to make snowmen clocks later.

 

Just a quick craftie to share...

Enjoy your decorating!

 

Note: Cute candy border is from Imagimeri's blog.

She's doing a fun giveaway...so head on over!

 

Germany...Christmas 1980!

Merry Christmas from Germany...
Our little family spent three Christmases in Germany...or West Germany as it was called then.  By the time 1980 rolled around we had added a little boy to our clan.  Our little German boy was named Geoffrey Georg Hatfield.  We used the German spelling on his middle name, but we just pronounce it George!  Little Missy on Santa's lap...an American Santa at our Detachment Christmas party...doesn't seem sure if she likes him or not.  This was her first experience with the jolly old guy.  This post is just a little trip down memory lane for my kids.  I will be sharing some of the German Christmas traditions we brought home with us in the next few posts.  As we move farther into December, I hope that your holiday preparations are going well and that the spirit of the season warms your hearts.

Frohes Fest!

Amber and Missy get treats from Santa...

Only 14 months difference in age...they seem more like twins.

Big Baby...Geoffrey Georg!

Born in August he was only four months old in this picture.

Oh, Tannenbaum!

Closeup of our sad little tree courtesy of George's new camera lens.

Two sweet little sisters host a Christmas Tea Party.

Fisher Price and the Sears Wish Book were my best friends that year.

Geoff's first Christmas present...a German toy train.

German toys were wonderful...durable...and very expensive!

Again...thank you, Sears Wish Book!

Just be sure to order two months in advance!

Have a lovely day!

Let's Be Neighborly!

 

 

Neighbor Gifts...

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is to make something for each of the families on my block...which is in a cozy culdesac.  There are eight homes with eight wonderful families...the best of neighbors.  My rule of thumb is that I try to keep the price to around $5 per gift.  I can use my vintage stockpile of doodads which makes it extra fun!  The challenge of creating something cute on a budget is like Jazzercise for my creativity.   I'm posting some pictures of  neighbor gifts from days gone by.  They are in no particular order.

 





Paper Clay Snowmen Candy Jars.

I used a vintage Santa mug...the ribbons, bells, and little figures are from my stash.

I cannot pass up even one of these mugs...I have dozens of them!

One year I hung them all around my front door.

Rustic Cone Ornaments...greenery and vintage doodads.

Mod Podge Postcard Candy Boxes...I still love to make these!

"Gingerbread" framed Santa pictures.

Some Hostess Gifts...rag ball snowmen heads on the jars.

Homemade Vanilla...alcohol is hard to buy in Utah...so I got my vodka at a Walmart in Nevada.

(Note:  has to be made several months in advance)

 

Christmas 2011...Wisemen Jars.

It's hard to see, but there is a postcard of wisemen following the silver star.

The tag reads "Wise Men Still Seek Him."

The jars were from Deseret Book...nice cannisters for later.

 

Just a Hint...

Just a wee peak...Christmas 2012.

I don't want to show too much...a couple of my neighbors visit my blog.

Thanks to Kim K ...I bought all the darling little snowmen at my Target.

OMGoodness...they are cute!

 

Are you in the Holiday Spirit yet?

Merry Christmas, Sweet Friends!

 

 

 

My Putz House from Deb!

Back Home...
George and I are back home after our little anniversary trip to Disneyland.   One of these days we may go someplace else...but why?  There is no place I like more than this Happiest of Places at Christmas time.  I took a few pics of the wonderful decorations in California Adventure...it was a thirties-style holiday in that park.  I will post about that later.  I feel bad that I haven't posted the houses that Deb from Garage Sale Gal  and made for each other in Erica's of Golden Egg Vintage Putz House Swap.  I have seen so many wonderful houses!  This swap was one of the most enjoyable I have participated in.

Deb's House!

When I saw this frosty house it was love at first sight!

The wreath is a vintage brooch...sigh!

It goes perfectly in my frosty winter vignette.

There was even a little potted tree to go along with it.

 

Deb knows my love of mushrooms...or toadstools if you prefer.

Perfect on my German office tree.

Isn't this gnome the jolliest ever?

He goes along with my polkadot hearts.

I nearly died when I found this wrapped in a tiny box.

The mushroom pin is only 1" by .75" in size!

Which means the tiny lady bug...incredibly detailed...is probably life-size!

Deb included many many vintage doo-dads and tasty salted caramels!

She even sent my beloved Circus Peanuts!

 

My House for Deb...

I stole this photo from Deb's blog...I forgot to take pictures of my gingerbread houses!

 

Thank you, Deb, for being such a wonderful swap partner!

And thanks to Erica for hosting this fun swap.

Swaps are a wonderful way to make new friends and get to know each other better.

I am so thankful for all the wonderful people I have met here this past year.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!