The Christmas season is a time for traditions, and for many of us in the UK, those traditions include the unforgettable holiday treats that filled our stockings and our hearts in the 70s and 80s. These sweets weren’t just for snacking; they were part of the magic that made Christmas feel like the most wonderful time of the year.

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A Rainbow of Festive Treats
What’s Christmas without a splash of colour? Fruit Pastilles, Black Jacks, and Fruit Salads added vibrance and flavour to our holiday bowls. Each candy brought a burst of fruity sweetness, filling the house with a rainbow of festive cheer. Who could resist the thrill of unwrapping a Black Jack or the tang of a Fruit Salad on a winter’s day?

The Chocolate Tin Tradition
Every family had its tin of Quality Street, Roses, or Heroes. The unwrapping, the careful selection, and sometimes a little family “negotiation” over the last caramel or strawberry cream – these tins were a treasure trove of flavours that we’d wait all year to enjoy.

Find out more about the history of Quality Street and why they are individually wrapped on Wikipedia.
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The Zesty Appeal of Terry’s Chocolate Orange
No holiday was complete without the ritual of “tap,  and unwrap” a Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Each slice of orange-flavoured chocolate offered a bit of Christmas magic, its zesty flavour bringing a unique and unmistakable twist to the season.

Last year, I created chocolate orange covers in the shape of Christmas Puddings and Gnomes.

You can read more about the history of the chocolate orange here on Wikipedia.

The Sophisticated Side of Christmas
Some chocolates, like Ferrero Rocher, Elizabeth Shaw mints, and Matchstick chocolates, felt a bit more grown-up. Whether as a gift or saved for after-dinner treats, these sweets brought an extra touch of elegance to the holiday, making us feel like Christmas was, indeed, a time for a bit of indulgence.

Who can forget the ambassador's party and the Ferrero Rocher?

Lost but Not Forgotten: Meltis Fruit Jellies, Artful Chocolate Boxes, and Chocolate Liqueurs
And then, there were the rare delights: beautifully soft and sugar-coated Meltis Fruit Jellies, chocolates in boxes adorned with classic art, and memorable chocolate liqueurs filled with a splash of spirits.

​These treats were more than just a taste; they were a visual and sensory experience, adding a touch of elegance and mystery to the holiday spread.

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But behind the random acts of kindness in Saint Nicolas of Myra's history, we now have a Father Christmas or Santa Claus who has lists of naughty or nice children where those on the bad list get lumps of coal.

For me, I like to think of a few years ago when I helped to wrap up presents at the local Salvation Army.  These were being given to families who really have nothing at Christmas.  All said that they were from Father Christmas. 

​For those children who have nothing, a present that their parents didn't have to worry about affording, was literally a God send.

Whilst Christmas has become commercialised, so has Father Christmas.  

A Visit from St. Nicolas by Clement Clarke Moore, published in the early 1820s, brings us the idea of reindeer and also names them. And as this idea of the personification of Merry Christmas merged with the man in the red suit, so he starts to appear in commercials.

By1931, Coca-Cola commissioned ilustration Haddon Sundblom to paint Sanata for Christmas adverts and the trend was born.

In 1939, Montgomery Ward, a Chicago based department store commissioned ad man Robert L. May to create a colouring book as an instore holiday giveaway.  The book; Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer inspired the Jonny Marks song of the say name.  May was Mark's brother-in-law.

In the same article that I've linked about Montgomery Ward, the author suggests you search Santa and cigarette ads on google.  Don't.  You will be horrified to see the number of times Santa was used to promote smoking.

Amongst all the commercialism, I'm reminded of a couple of years ago when I went to the local Salvation Army and wrapped up presents for families who literally had nothing at Christmas.

These gifts, for their children, were marked as from Father Christmas and embodied the real spirit of Saint Nicolas, giving secretly to people who need it.

This year's present for my Brother (and Sister In Law) and Sister (and Brother in Law) was a book pillow.

Book pillows are very on trend this year, but I first saw them late last year.  The concept is easy; a pillow with a pocket at the front which is designed to hold the book you are reading.  They also often have a loop at the top to act as a handle, so that you can carry them from one cosy place to another.  

I had been wandering over on Spoonflower.  It's a fantastic site where people can upload their drawings and illustrations to create print on demand fabric, wallpaper, bedding and other fabric-based items.  You can order fabric on different materials and anything from a 20x20cm swatch, a fat quarter or by the metre.

We have an in-family joke regarding Jane Austen.  We are distantly related to her on our paternal side. She is our 2nd cousin 6x removed.  So, when I have the opportunity, I include something Janite related.

I found two fabrics that I particularly liked.  One was covered in quotes and the other was filled with drawings of book covers.  At the time of writing, a metre of cotton poplin is just under £20.  I decided to order a metre of each. The fabric takes around 8 - 10 days to be printed and is 106cm wide.  I ordered on 2nd October and it was delivered just 11 days later on 13th.  Shipping for the two metres was just over £5.  

I was happy to pay for the print on demand fabric as I would make the cushions unique.  Add to this that I got the back panels as ready made (with the zips already inserted) in the closing down sale at Colemans, earlier in the year, I felt it was worth being a little indulgent for the main fabric.

I used a good quality quilting calico as the lining for the pocket to give some weight to the pocket and hopefully stop it from sagging over time.

In all, it took longer to iron the fabric pieces, once cut out, than it did to sew them all up.

I found a great tutorial on the 'Hello Sewing' blog with a guide to fabric sizes.  I made the pocket a little shorter than recommended, but that was just a personal preference.  There is also a video tutorial by the same blogger.