Every culture, country or family that celebrates Christmas does it differently. While many seasonal traditions and habits remain the same, it is inevitable that generational tweaks will cause changes over time. The Redcliffe Herald gives us a glimpse into the way that some things about Christmas may have changed in the past 65 or so years.
Not trusting us to remember that Christmas is coming, many retailers today feel obliged to prompt us early, with festive merchandise and advertising making an appearance in September. By contrast, in our grandparents’ day, very few Redcliffe businesses advertised before October. Among the earliest was the Jetty Newsagency with an ad in the Redcliffe Herald on 1 October advising customers that it was “Time To Think of Christmas”. Given the early postal requirements (parcels for Europe no later than 31 October) this was timely advice.
Shopkeepers promoting more costly items advertised a month or two in advance so that customers could get a jump on paying off expensive gifts. Roy Gripske of Scarborough – “every Santa should read this!” – advocated the wisdom of laying-by a new Speedwell bicycle “to give years of fun this Christmas”.
Gift Ideas From a Bygone Era
Advertising highlights other differences between Christmas then and now, particularly the notion of what constituted a suitable present, the paper itself proposing that the perfect gift for those far away would be a subscription to the Redcliffe Herald because that would provide the lucky recipient with a “weekly reminder of friends and relatives here in Redcliffe” – truly the gift that keeps on giving.
For the man of the house, Redcliffe Hardware Supplies offered Black and Decker power tool kits “22 Gifts in One!” while the festive message of Max Coogan and Co “to the housewife” was “have your lounge suite repaired or upholstered for Christmas”. Another merchant recommended, as “an Xmas gift for the whole family!”, a new “Westinghouse Wonder Wringer Clothes Washer”. Or you could spread yuletide cheer to the entire neighbourhood by giving your child music lessons, “the ideal gift for Christmas”, at the Redcliffe Accordion School.
If the reupholstered lounge suite or new washing machine did little to engender bottomless Christmas joy, there was the option of the Pier cinema’s “Christmas Day Midnight Horror Programme” – a double fright line-up featuring Stranglers of Bombay and The Mummy. Or, at worst, you could find something to cheer you up at the Filmer’s hotel “bottlearium”.
Whatever your taste in gifts, whether a domestic appliance or something a little more frivolous, may it be given in good spirit and received with good cheer. Merry Christmas!
[With thanks to MBRC]
Read more stories from our Redcliffe Guide print magazine here:
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- What’s Hot Around Town
- Podcast Review:Christmas Past
- New Netflix Christmas Classics
- Bookworm
- Brad’s Business Tips
- A Year Ends, and Purpose Begins
- Steam Through History on Christmas Twilight Train
- Jungle Perch Kuhlia rupestris
- Beach Safety Tips For Safe Summer Days Ahead
- A Christmas Whirlwind
- Pet Care with a Difference at The Exotics Vet
- Deck the Halls with Festive Wreath Making
- Local Medium Connects Souls at Seaside Gallery Event
- Mousetrap Launches 2026 with Fun, Music and Mystery
- Roll Out the Red Carpet This New Year’s Eve
- Peninsula Pimpernel
- Pyjama Angels Making a Lasting Impact on Kids in Care
- Electric Light Orchestra Tribute Coming to Redcliffe
- Creative Activities Light Up School Holidays
- Tribe Drive Helps Youth Steer A New Path Forward
