Times Group history experts PERCY REBOUL and JOHN HEATHFIELD look back to the Forties

It is tempting to suggest that our modern Christmases, with their expensive over-indulgence and blatant commercialism, seem to be no more joyful than in wartime with shortages of just about everything, plus air raids to boot.

Apart from the religious aspect, the main difference is that for most wartime families, friends and loved ones were absent on war duties.

Even worse for the refugees from Europe, now living in our borough, was trying to come to terms with the ways of a strange country and not knowing the fate of those they had left behind.

There was, however, in the interests of winning the war, a determination by all to make do with what was available and some satisfaction that it was in a good cause and a shared burden.

Food was strictly rationed but no-one starved.

In 1941, for example, an amendment was made to the rationing orders permitting extra food, including butter, margarine and cooking fats to be supplied for "any function held for a charitable or philanthropic object such as church fetes" for one week only from December 21 to 28.

Newspapers and magazines of the time were filled with strange recipes which featured substitutes for the real thing.

The recipe for eggless Christmas pudding, for example, included ingredients such as a cupful of grated raw carrot and a cupful of grated potato.

Spirits and cigarettes had long since gone 'under the counter', but were easily obtainable from the so-called 'black market' if you had the money.

The cinema (there was no television) was an important way of keeping morale high.

In 1941, for example, many cinemas opened at 2.45pm on Christmas Day featuring famous stars such as Betty Grable.

The Golders Green Hippodrome's pantomime was Cinderella and featured a 'wonderful illuminated coach drawn by four tiny white ponies'.

Did any of our readers see the show, I wonder? Prices ranged from 1/3d (8p) to five shillings (25p).

The Arcadia Hall, Finchley, had a Christmas Eve dance (servicemen in uniform free) and on Boxing Day reverted to a skating rink.

As today, charitable acts abounded.

The Air Raid Wardens in the four posts of 'F' district, making good use of the time when nothing was happening, made and displayed dolls, engines, toy prams, model ships and books in the hall behind their post in Argyle Road, Finchley.

The toys were then donated to six children's homes in the district.

The common element in both eras is the Christmas message, which still survives amid all the changes.

The school nativity play, beloved of both parents and children alike, retains its magic.

December 17, 2001 14:06