[BITList] Sunday blues: Growing up in an ultra-strict church | Lifeand style | The Guardian

[HUGH]

Mike,

Christmasses where I was brought up - West of Scotland, Lower Clyde - were rather low key affairs.  We sang carols in school and in Sunday School, and decorated the classroom with home-made paper chains.  "Christmas" cards usually said "Season's Greetings".  The only tree I recall seeing was in a church hall (Church of Scotland) children's party.  Gifts were few and often home-made.  One got "a" Christmas gift, singular.  I recall a book, and a wooden tommy gun.  Christmas only became a Statutory Holiday in Scotland in the 1970s, though firms did give workers a holiday regardless.

Hogmanay and Ne'erday were strictly observed.  People stayed sober till midnight on Hogmanay - house cleaned and polished, fire unlit but ready, table laid but covered, cold meal ready beforehand, glasses upside down and bottles firmly corked.  None of your mass pissups in Edinburgh, etc.  Midnight was when the ships on the river sounded, like an out-of-tune choir. The town clocks (4 of them) were too far away from us to be of any use. They didn't chime, and still don't.

As children we went a variety of missions and churches - I don't remember any ultra strict stuff being preached.

Hugh.


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