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IRISH BROADCASTING AND media production company Taller Stories put together a short video called Christmas In My Day, where they had a chat with some members of Ireland’s older generation about the differences between Christmas nowadays, and the Christmases of their youths in the 1940s and 1950s. 

There are some obvious differences. Namely the abundance of technology, which distracts many of us around this time of year. 

There was also a massive difference between the amount of money that was spent on kids back then compared to how much is spent now, but that probably won’t come as a surprise to you either. One woman spoke about not having a Christmas tree, but because she lived near the Phoenix Park, she made do by decorating the trees there.

Kids were also just as bold then as they are now. 79-year-old Irene recounted how she stole half of her mam’s Christmas pudding one year on the sly. 

When she made a pudding it used to take time to dry so forth, and I learn how I could get up on top of the wardrobe for the pudding and I used to kind of shave the end of it, nicely so she wouldn’t miss it and three days before Christmas she says, “I think I’ll have a bit of pudding.” And then of course, half of it was gone. 

At the end of the video, the grandparents were asked what they’d like for Christmas this year. 

Their answered ranged from extremely light-hearted:

What would I like for Christmas? To be here for next Christmas. Can ye arrange it?

I’d like me husband back… Maybe for two days. 

To downright heartbreaking:

For all the things that I have, I’d give everything back to have my grandson well. That’s the way I am. No matter what joy I have… No matter where I am… But I won’t finish on a sad note because I’m not sad. I’m just happy to be here.

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