Celebrations for Christmas in the past are recorded in archives of the Spencers Wood Local History Group.  In the nineteenth century there was a workhouse in Grazeley, where destitute men, women and children were housed in return for hard work with sparse food.  Before 1834, Christmas Day brought a treat when everyone was given a day off work and a special meal.  Each adult had roast beef, plum pudding, ‘best’ cheese and a pint of porter (dark beer).  In 1834, however, the Poor Law Union ruled that the inmates were not to have any ‘spiritous or fermented liquors’, unless for special health reasons.  Some workhouses disregarded this, especially after Queen Victoria married Prince Albert and new Christmas festivities were introduced into Britain.  Christmas trees and holly became traditional decorations, even in the workhouse.  It is not known how much conditions at Grazeley matched the sentiments of the Victorian poem: ‘It is Christmas Day in the workhouse and the cold, bare walls are bright, with garlands of green and holly and the place is a pleasant sight’.

Local schools seem to have always celebrated Christmas before breaking up for a few days’ holiday.  At the Sir Charles Russell School in Swallowfield, the Headmaster, his wife and some of their friends put on an ‘admirable’ concert in December 1896.  The Spencers Wood School (in the present Library building) generally arranged a treat for each child.  In 1891 they were given picture books, prayer books, or a picture card.  The next year, the children were sent out to run around the playground and when they came back indoors they were presented with bread and butter and cake to eat immediately.  Then they had to seek out some sweets, and were given a Christmas card, a pair of warm knitted cuffs and an orange to take home after they all sang a hymn.

The gifts would have been appreciated in the poor village homes that many of the children came from.  The Christmas gifts of clothing, some food, and toys for the ‘babies’ (5-year-olds) continued and by 1898 the celebrations also involved a Christmas party with singing, a flag drill and games before the Christmas tea.  The first Christmas tree was set up in the hall in 1903 and decorated with gifts.

The Sunday Schools at the churches and chapels always arranged Christmas gatherings as well as carol concerts.  In the 1930s it was usual for St Michael’s Sunday School to host parties for one hundred children in the Village Hall.

During World War Two (1939-45), special efforts were made to devise activities and entertainments for all the children including the evacuees who were away from their homes in London.  Staff of the village schools helped local residents to rehearse and present concerts, plays and special meetings to occupy the children.  It was noted that friendships developed and flourished because of these efforts.

After the war, the traditions continued.  Lambs Lane School performed a nativity play each year and a concert to which all parents were invited.  These were so popular that the audience was too large for the school hall, and in 1965 the concert was held in the Village Hall.

It was not only school children and their families who celebrated Christmas together.  In the 1970s and 80s, postmen who had worked long hours to deliver the mail from the Spencers Wood sorting office would have sherry and mince pies before going home on Christmas Eve.  Also, it was traditional for groups of carol singers to walk around the village visiting other families to greet them with ‘here we come a-wassailing…’, spreading goodwill at Christmas.

Margaret Bampton and Patricia Green