Monday, December 22, 2008

Christmas in the fifties


My parents gave me the best Christmases any kid ever had. Although we were in Church three times a week, we never celebrated Christmas at Church. I was taught that we didn't really know when Jesus was born, and that the Bible didn't mention anything about Christmas.

Oh, but we had Christmas at home! We had a Christmas tree every year, and presents and lights and decorations. Mother made fruitcake and divinity and brown sugar fudge. She bought hard ribbon candy.


She supplied nuts, with a nutcracker handy, in each room of the house.

It wasn't just Mama. My sister and brother and their families helped make the season bright each year. What an exciting time it was!


One year Mother and I went to the nearby Methodist Church on Christmas Eve to watch the children's Christmas play; when we returned home, Daddy was asleep on the couch and Santa had come to fill my stocking and leave my toys. I couldn't believe Daddy slept through Santa's visit!


I remember many of the gifts I received throughout the years: a sled; a farm set; a doll. I never got that pony I prayed for, but my husband fulfilled that wish in later years.

A
bove all those things, I remember bubble lights! I recall how difficult it was to get those magical lights to stand up on the limbs, because they had a strange way of falling so they'd be upside-down when I awoke each morning. All Christmas tree lights were big, back then, and really weighed down the limbs of the tree.

When the lights were plugged in, I'd stand there and wait until those bubble lights got warm enough to "perk"; I thought they were the most beautiful things I'd ever seen.
I still do.

When I was working at Kohl's, a co-worker told me she'd bought a single bubble light that you could plug into an electrical outlet. I searched in vain, but never found one. Oh, I wanted one so badly!


If you know where I could purchase that particular memory from my sheltered childhood, please let me know. It would make every Christmas from here on out just a wee bit happier. Because after all, Christmas is as much about memories as anything else.


A single bubble light would be the best Christmas present ever.

16 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:52 PM

    www.bizrate.com/homedecor1/products__keyword--bubble+lights.html

    Check this site out.....might be what you are looking for

    Leslee
    woodslj@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  2. There ya go. Someone beat me to it! Also, bubble light nightlights are real big. You can find them lots of places. I hope you find one!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I remember those lights! My grandfather had some on their tree... I personally love the LED ones I found for our tree. They slowly fade in and out changing colors on each fade... I can watch them forever LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous12:17 AM

    hey i read your blog all the time but never comment. you can also buy bubble lights from the gooseberry patch. they have all kinds of different characters with the bubble lights. merry christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey, Donna! I too am a HUGE bubble lights fan. My mom insisted on them when I was little and the fascination with them passed down to me. It's just not Christmas without them!

    I found some at Sears (after a long and desperate search) about 5 years ago. I don't know if they still have them, but it's worth a shot. I was really sad when I discovered one of them broke this year and had no idea where to find a replacement. I'll check out some of the sites above. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What wonderful memories. I hope you find your bubble light. Let us know if you are able to. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  7. hey donna i hope you find your lights ...growing up i thought that the people with those special lights were rich!! lol
    loopy

    ReplyDelete
  8. I remember those bubble lights. I don't think we ever had any though. Helen

    ReplyDelete
  9. My Son and his wife that just hosted Christmas this year had one plugged in their kitchen outlet. Hope you get one!!! It is the little things that make a difference. 'On Ya'-ma

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hope you find one. I've never seen one.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes, I remember those lights :) They are a fond childhood memory of mine also. Mama loved those lights. I wonder if she kept them even though I remember the liquid was gone out of some of them after so many years. I will have to ask her. I hope you can find some! We didnt go to church on Christmas either. It was spent at home, always.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous11:41 AM

    Dee from Tennessee

    vermontcountrystore.com

    probably has them. They have a treasure of seasonal and nonseasonal items. I found my mother some angels there last year that we had always had. Merry Christmas from Tennessee.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Bubble lights were the first set of lights we had. Yes lots of memories.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Donna, Anything you want always shows up on eBay. There are about 30 up for sale right now.

    ReplyDelete
  15. DONNA, THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE THE BUBBLE LIGHTS, I REMEMBER THAT BACK IN THE FIFTIES, DADDY DID HAVE A LINE OF PLASTIC SNOWMEN LIGHTS. I THINK HE HAD SANTA ONES TOO...BUT I AM SURE OF THE SNOW MEN ONES.I TOO HAVE LOOK EVERYWHERE FOR THEM BUT CAN NOT FIND THEM EITHER. HOPE YOU FIND YOUR BUBBLE LIGHTS.
    LOVE,
    CARLENE

    ReplyDelete
  16. My husband and I read your blog and saw that you were wanting bubble lights. He saw them in Hobby Lobby before Christmas and thought of you. Well a few days ago we were in Hobby Lobby and they had one box of bubble lights left and they were on clearance. He bought them to send to you. We just need to get your address and we will put them in the mail. We both really enjoy reading about all of your adventures. I have a blog called Maple Lane and a website at www.jcarrelloriginals.com. You will be able to send me a message with your mailing address by going to the feedback page on my website.

    ReplyDelete

I love comments!