Christmas is a time of year that is special and meaningful. As writers, we love to include Christmas celebrations in our work. Perhaps you’re writing a novel set during WWII and you wonder how to keep it authentic and real. Or maybe you’re just an enthusiastic history buff who takes every chance to learn about the days of yesteryear.

WWII is probably my favorite part of history to study. I adore studying every aspect of it, from clothing all the way to the nitty gritty details of weapons used by our soldiers and everything in between.

Christmas during the war years has always intrigued me. Today I thought I’d share three aspects of a World War Two Christmas.

Artificial Trees Took The Spotlight

Most people think of the “old” days as being times when live Christmas trees were the norm and everything was picture perfect in an old fashioned way. But the fact of the matter is, WWII brought a lot of challenges to the traditions of an American Christmas.

As more and more men began to be called to war, there was no one to chop down the trees that were sold around Christmas time. Not only was there not enough man power to supply Americans with trees, but every train and truck that could’ve transported the trees was needed for war effort purposes. This posed a problem that needed to be remedied somehow.

Stores began to sell American-made trees made out of a material known as visca, which was an artificial straw. This was the turning point for artificial Christmas trees. They gained popularity very quickly, replacing live trees.

The exception would’ve been those living in rural areas where they could cut down their own tree. But even then, so many husbands and fathers were overseas that many rural Americans opted for artificial trees as well.

It became popular to mix a cup of Lux soap powder with two cups of water to create a white mixture that would coat the branches and leave it looking as if it were snow-covered.

Christmas In…September?

American soldiers open Christmas packages from home.

You thought the delivery time for Christmas packages is bad now? UPS and FedEx ain’t got nothing on the Christmas package rush of WWII.

Imagine wanting to send your brother or husband a Christmas package to remind them of everyone back home and how much you love them. Shipping it out in early November ought to get it there in time, right?

Wrong.

American families were admonished to get their Christmas packages sent out to their soldiers as early as September! It took months for mail to arrive over seas. Often, by the time a package or letter reached the last known location a soldier had been, his unit would’ve already been moved elsewhere.

Families sending Christmas gifts to troops, sent them months early in hopes that they would reach their loved one in time for the holiday. Even when sent this early, many soldiers still received the packages late.

Sentimental Music Replaced Exuberant Carols

Soldiers from the 48th field hospital longing to go home for Christmas.

World War Two gave us some of today’s most beloved Christmas songs. In a time when thousands of American families had empty places at their Christmas dinner table, music was a way to express the sentimental hope that Christmases of days gone by would return.

Songs like “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” were written from the raw emotions that enveloped most of the country. It ministered to the homesick fervor that captured the soldiers and sailors who were away from their families during Christmas.

Even America’s most beloved Christmas song, “White Christmas“, was first performed for the public in 1941 and became one of the most popular songs among American troops fighting overseas.

These songs described perfectly the sentimental feelings of Americans on the Homefront as well as overseas. Many soldiers sang these songs in the lonely hedgerows of Europe and pillboxes of the Pacific.

---

Christmas during the war was quite different than it had been up until that point in our nation. But Americans all around the country made do with what they had and kept their heads high, in hope of future Christmases in a world at peace again. Many of the new traditions that formed as a result of the war remain today!

Do you prefer a live or artificial tree? Early Christmas shopping or last minute? Sentimental music or exuberant carols?

Let me know in the comments!

A. M. Watson

Hebrews 13:8