How Christmas was celebrated during the Second World War

As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, we thought we’d take a look back at how Christmas was celebrated after the war.

During the Second World War many Christmas celebrations and traditions had to be scaled down as shortages took their toll and many families would have to spend Christmas apart from loved ones, as many men were held as prisoners of war or fighting abroad.

Many children were evacuees and spent Christmas away from home and their families.  By the end of the war many family members had died either from enemy bombing or in action.

Due to the lack of paper it was difficult to keep Christmas gifts a surprise. Singing songs, performing pantomimes and plays helped keep many families occupied and happy during the festive season.

A special BBC Christmas radio programme was broadcast from 1939 and many people looked forward to listening to King George’s Christmas speech, which became so popular with listeners that it became an annual ritual.