ANY REALLY "YOUNG" FOLKS THAT REMEMBER THE SIXTIES AND FIFTIES?

[newfoundland]

I remember New years Eve from the 50s and 60s. We had a big party with the extended family and my uncle played old war time songs on the piano while the 'grown ups' sung along. Food was basic as I recall, Christmas left overs I suspect but we thought it awfully sophisticated to be drinking Coke, which was still a novelty in 1950s UK. During the evening, my father, being the darkest male, went out and returned with a lump of coal and some silver coins, where he would be ceremoniously admitted to the house as the dark 'stranger' who's gifts of coal and coins would bring good luck to the house and all assembled there. Then at midnight we would form a circle, cross and link hands to sing 'auld lang sine'. Still keep up these traditions in my family!

 

[drumstick diva]

So sorry to hear Phil Everly of the Everly brothers has passed away. I've read that some states banned "Wake Up Little Susie," because it was too racy for the times.

 

[sourland]

When we were dating, the Princess and I used to 'listen' to the Everly bros in her parents' parlor.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

The Everly Brothers. Elvis Presley. Paul Revere and the Raiders. Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Mr. Magoo in "A Christmas Carol" - actually a very good production played straight. The smell of the Christmas greens, the fire in the fireplace, and we really had stockings hung from the mantle, carefully made by each of us from little felt kits. Mine was pink with an angel on it. Keeping the cat from climbing the tree or the dog from eating it. Putting out suet, cranberries, and popcorn strings for the birds.

Driving around town to see the Christmas lights at the Pepsi plant, and then going to see the lights all over town. The Christmas tree light competition that ran for years, and then was shut down in the interests of "the environment." (The most miserable 17th Century Boston Puritan was an amateur at taking all of the fun out of life compared to the self-proclaimed environmentalists.)

 

[drumstick diva]

Sour, you rascal, I bet you were "listening," to the Everly Brothers.

 

[sourland]

Johnny Mathis too.

 

[drumstick diva]

Well I was listening - not doing anything - the story of MY life.

sigh

 

[TwoCrows]

Quote: I can remember having one day off school for a snow day. And that was when about 3 feet of snow fell. Schools never closed. We all just just trudged in late and that was that. Never were there school delays like there are now. Seems like a few flakes fall and the schools are all on a 2 hour delay now!

I also remember that not a store in the land was open for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years day. If you were traveling and didn't gas up the day before, and you needed gas, well you had better warm up your thumb. BUT.....there was nobody on the roads either!! So you might have to stand there quite a while if you needed a lift! I loved the peace and quiet on those holiday days. Now the entire population of the US is on the roads or in the skies on the holidays. Nothing is sacred anymore.

LOL...LOL

 

[Sjisty]

My senior year in high school in north Georgia it started snowing one day during English class. My teacher let us all go outside and play in the snow so he could get pictures for the yearbook.

 

[Bunnylady]

In upperstate New York where I grew up, whether they cancelled school due to snow depended on the conditions. 6" of snow falling on nearly bare ground wouldn't be a problem, of course - the buses would run as usual. But lake effect snow could result in snow piled up on either side of country roads so high that it nearly touched the power lines. Under those conditions, a couple of inches of snow with a little wind behind it could make drifts that nobody could get through. We lived in a rather small town, and almost half of the student body were "country kids." I can remember walking to school, and being told half an hour or so later that they had decided to cancel school because too many of the country kids couldn't be picked up.