Vintage Christmas

[Mojave Jack]

I probably should have been thinking about this earlier, but I was walking the dog and suddenly, unbidden, the thought of Christmas crackers popped into my mind.

That started me thinking along the lines of how to decorate in a traditional way. So I rushed in, did a search on Christmas crackers, then opened a second window and did a search here on the Lounge. There's probably more out there, but I didn't find a lot. Ada Veen's Homemade Christmas Decorations thread is a good start, as is Kitty Sheridan's Wartime Christmas thread. Thanks, ladies! What about some other Golden Era decorations and traditions?

Note: I started this thread primarily because I lack the skills to do anything homemade or baking/cooking-wise! lol

 

[katiemakeup]

I know you have crafty skills somewhere, Jack! lol

I usually make Katie Custer's super iced Christmas Cookies... which are basically 1 part sugar cookie and 10 parts icing.

 

[Mojave Jack]

I know you have crafty skills somewhere, Jack! lol

I usually make Katie Custer's super iced Christmas Cookies... which are basically 1 part sugar cookie and 10 parts icing.

Thanks! I have to admit, I can get fairly creative on frosting the sugar cookies. I'm much better at eating them, though.

 

[sweetfrancaise]

If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, they have a Gingerbread House kit for under $10 that looks really cute, and vintage! I know Michael's has them too, and they're all so much fun, especially when you buy your own candies.

 

[Diamondback]

Hmmm, can anyone else see the trouble one could get into picking one of those up and then swinging by a Sweet Factory-type candy shop?

 

[sweetfrancaise]

Hmmm, can anyone else see the trouble one could get into picking one of those up and then swinging by a Sweet Factory-type candy shop?

It's all part of that Christmas spirit. Didn't you know that you cannot gain weight at Christmastime. Proven fact. You gain it all the day after New Year's, instead. lol

 

[Diamondback]

Then I must be an anomaly, because I usually see a sharp weight-gain from mid-September to Thanksgiving, tapering down to a reduced rate but still measurable increase all the way through the winter.

But wouldn't it just be so much fun building one of these? Especially with a partner?

 

[Ada Veen]

It's all part of that Christmas spirit. Didn't you know that you cannot gain weight at Christmastime. Proven fact. You gain it all the day after New Year's, instead. lol

lol lol lol

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Anybody have a source for traditional Austrian or German Advent calendars? When I was a kid, one of my Mom's siblings sent us one every year, but they've all passed on.

 

[Diamondback]

Whole page of Google Shopping Search results for ya, if you're a Firefox user:
http://www.google.com/products?q=ge...US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wf

Might try these folks, they're the German bakery/deli/grocery I usually deal with.
http://hessbakery.com/
Advent calendars aren't listed on the site, but you can drop an email and ask 'em if they got 'em, or know somebody in your area...

 

[Mojave Jack]

Good idea, Tony! Dang! See? I knew I should have been thinking about this before now!

 

[sweetfrancaise]

Cost Plus World Market and Trader Joe's both have advent calendars with chocolates behind each date, if that's what you mean by traditional!

 

[katiemakeup]

... I'm much better at eating them, though.

Me too! It's ice 1 cookie, eat 5. repeat.