A Retro Christmas: Decorations from the 1950s & 60s You’ll Remember
Christmas in Britain during the 1950s and 60s was a little different from today’s LED-lit, inflatable-snowman extravaganzas. Back then, decorations had a certain magic — simple, colourful, and just a little bit fragile. If you grew up in this era (or heard stories from your parents and grandparents), you’ll remember some of these festive favourites.
Lametta Strands
"Traditionell geschmückter Weihnachtsbaum" by koelnblogging.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
If you’ve ever been told off for “chucking the tinsel on in clumps”, you might remember lametta — delicate metallic strands draped individually over the branches. Shiny, sparkly, and absolutely guaranteed to get everywhere, lametta was the finishing touch for a proper mid-century Christmas tree.
Glass Baubles
These weren’t the sturdy plastic baubles of today. No — one wrong move and they’d shatter across the carpet, leading to a stern “mind your feet!” from Mum. But their hand-painted patterns and jewel-like colours made every tree look magical.
Paper Chains
"Because the days getting longer is reason enough for me" by Saucy Salad is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Christmas decorating was often a family affair, with children sticking together endless paper chains from brightly coloured strips. By the time December 24th rolled around, the living room looked like it had been taken over by a carnival — and no one minded.
(If you’re putting together a memory box for a parent or grandparent, a 1950s pack makes a lovely extra — complete with the adverts they’d have seen while snipping and sticking those chains.)
Hand-Painted Wooden Figures
Imported from Europe and catching on in Britain, wooden angels, soldiers, and Father Christmases gave a charming handmade touch. Slightly wobbly painting only added to their appeal.
Fairy Lights with Chunky Bulbs
No Christmas tree was complete without fairy lights the size of your thumb, glowing in bright reds, blues, and greens. Sometimes one bulb going out meant the whole lot stopped working — cue Dad on the floor, muttering with the patience of a saint as he tried to fix them.
A Touch of Woolies Magic
Of course, many of these treasures came from the great British institution that was Woolworths. From glass baubles to paper chains, Woolies was the one-stop Christmas wonderland for families across the country. For a proper trip down memory lane, here’s a delightful video on Woolworths from the 1960s to the 1980s by Stuview TV:
🎄 Whether you’re old enough to remember them or just love a touch of retro charm, these decorations remind us that Christmas has always been about the same thing: a bit of sparkle, a bit of silliness, and making memories with family. And if you’re looking for a way to capture that spirit in a gift, our nostalgic gift collections are a wonderful way to bring Christmas past into the present.