When Did We Start Wrapping Christmas Presents?

[Tilly2]

When I was a child in the fifties, none of my Christmas presents were wrapped. When I got up on Christmas day, all my presents were draped over the couch and none of them were wrapped. The dolls pram was in one place and the microscope was in another.

When did we start buying wrapping paper and ribbon and ribbony flower things and gift tags to adorn our presents? I can't remember the transition from one to the other.

[-Talbot-]

The dolls pram was in one place and the microscope was in another.


Get you ... my orange was in one place and my apple was non existent. :0/

[ubasses]

My Christmas presents were always wrapped, it was in the 50's.

[douglas9401]

My presents were never wrapped because they were still in the toy shop.
I was allowed to keep as much soot as I could scrape from the inside of the chimneys on my way up though.

[Mamyalynne]

Modern gift wrap began around 1917 in USA though the practice of wrapping gifts goes back to ancient times.

I always had wrapped gifts apart from very large items, like my handmade doll's house which had a green blanket over it on Christmas morning.

[Tilly2]

Perhaps my parents weren't into wrapping things up. I had assumed that it was common practice not to wrap things, in the fifties.

[Patsy33]

I remember as little girls, myself and younger sister woke up to a pillowcase each, stacked with toys. I remember them being wrapped either...

[Patsy33]

I can't ..remember them being wrapped!

[waterboatman]

On a slightly different track, I'm still waiting for the train set I was promised for my ninth birthday. Do you think I should give up now?

[Tilly2]

Obviously, my parents could not afford wrapping paper.....


The reason I'm asking this is because I hate wrapping presents!

[Tilly2]

Waterboatman, that train has left the station, sorry.

[Smowball]

Don't know but I'll never forget my parents disgust when they for some random reason bough me a guitar for Xmas when I was 12 and I sold it o my brother on Boxing Day for a tenner!

[waterboatman]

I think you're right Tilly, especially since the old git died in the 80,s! :-)

[Tilly2]

It's hard to wrap a guitar, Smow.

Boaty, your train will come in some day.

[waterboatman]

I doubt it Tilly. Beeching's axe chopped the Dursley donkey along with all the other wee lines.

[Tilly2]

Aw!

[Tilly2]

Well, I don't do all that fancy ribbonny curly, whirly stuff. I just wrap them and put a gift tag on.

The thing is, I have a hatred of sellotape. Sellotape and I just do not get on. I have tried various forms but I still end up with gritted teeth.

[waterboatman]

Such is life my lovely.

Gotta go, the cooker is ready for me to blanch and freeze some purple Brussels sprouts.

See you anon xxx

[Tilly2]

Bye, Boaty. Happy sprout blanching. x

[jennyjoan]

well the stuff here in my computer/bedroom belonging to my neighbour would need realms and realms of the stuff.

Can't believe this year - 15, 13, 11 - I asked neighbour what is all this - they're clothes but they are already clothed for Christmas Eve, day and boxing day - yes I know but these clothes are "surprises".

that's clothes for a week. tickle me not.

[Prudie]

My presents were always wrapped but the things in my stocking (which was my favourite part of Christmas opening that at 5am) were never wrapped.