The Second World War may have seen a end to traditional Christmas festivities, with the menfolk away and rations in place, but families still found ways to make it a special time, as Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings reports.

THE tantalising aroma of the gently cooked pasty wafted across the kitchen, causing its occupants to go weak at the knees with anticipation. It was Christmas 1944 and it had been a long time since Wendy Peters and her family had tasted anything but dried egg and powdered milk. Somehow, Wendy's mother and aunt had managed to get their hands on some dried fruit and make a mint and currant pasty, a delicacy in their native Yorkshire and a sorely missed treat.

"Oh the aroma," recalls Wendy. "The pasty was left on the kitchen table to cool; later, when my mother and aunt went back into the kitchen, they discovered my aunt's rather large cat perched on top of it, enjoying the warmth.

"Needless to say the pasty was given a hasty dusting down and nothing was said as the rest of the family devoured it with a relish only years of deprivation could induce."

Such excitement over a tiny portion of dried fruit was only to be expected after families endured years of meagre rations. Ingenuity became the best gift to possess at Christmas, with toys and presents made from left over bits around the house and wartime recipes adapted for the British palate due to the lack of sugar, butter, milk and eggs in the diet.

By Christmas 1944, it was hardly surprising that the British public was becoming weary of 'make do and mend'. The Archbishop of York gave a positive Christmas message in 1944, talking of the danger of invasion being past, the worst of the air raids being over, and the end being in sight. But after the success of the advance through France there was grim news just before Christmas of a German breakthrough in the Ardennes. By Christmas Eve, enemy troops had penetrated a distance of some 59 miles into Belgium.

The Germans continued their attack on Britain using V-weapons. But the threat from conventional aircraft, as flown by the German Luftwaffe, had ended and with it the need for black-out restrictions. The Christmas inland churches were allowed to light up their stained glass windows for the first time since the outbreak of war.

The Ministry of Food announced treats for the Christmas period, so there was an extra lb of sugar, lb of margarine, lb of sweets for children and extra meat rations. As an alternative to the rare sight of a chicken or turkey, the ministry came up with a recipe for Braised Stuffed Veal Bird made from two to three pounds of fillet or breast of veal, an ounce of fat for frying and mixed root vegetables. The ministry also gave other suggestions for party food, including orange flavoured whip using 1lb of stewed bottle plums, dried milk, and sweet marmalade. When jelly was unavailable, it advised women to mix gelatine with the sweetened juice from bottled or tinned fruit.

Housewife Dorothy Aldcock recalls: "I remember tasting jellies made with fruit squash and so solid it had to be chewed."

As well as the shortage of goods on the shelves, even homemade gifts were difficult as raw materials were in short supply. Clothing had been rationed since 1941 but items made from old cast-offs, such as tea cosies and rag dolls, were still popular. Old jumpers were unwound and turned into gloves, slippers, bedsocks and hats. Woman's Weekly suggested sending a bow of lavender or a mascot made of wool to pin to the lapel. The Guider magazine advised readers to make gas mask cases for grown ups. "A gas mask is not a very Christmassy object but it can be far more cheerful if it is in a pretty case," said one article. Popular gifts for children during the early war years also included uniforms, such as those of nurses, pilots and naval officers. Presents sent by loved ones serving abroad provided a highlight to festivities. Soldiers visiting Paris sent back perfume, lipsticks, rayon stockings and silk scarves.

Ingenuity was also the name of the game for those making Christmas trees and their decorations. Broken light bulbs painted with old silver paint suddenly became handy baubles and old milk bottle tops made sparkling additions to Christmas trees. "A Christmas sparkle is easy to obtain using sprigs of holly or evergreen for use on puddings. Dip your greenery in a strong solution of Epsom salts. When dry it will be beautifully frosted," wrote the ministry.

In 1939 you could see Cinderella, with Joan and Doris Emney, at the London Coliseum and Puss in Boots, with George Clark, at the Newcastle Empire. The pantos were livened up with songs such as 'We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line' and 'They can't black out the moon'. Often, at the start of the shows, the manager would go out to the front and announce that, should the air raid warning be sounded, the audience could either stay and watch the rest of the act or go to the shelter.

Throughout the years they suffered with the lack of men, leading to a shortage of stagehands, musicians, set designers, and actors. But as the people of Britain proved, the show usually went on.

* Christmas on the Home Front by Mike Brown (Sutton Publishing, £14.99

* The Home Front, about a modern family who relive Christmas 1944, is on UKTV history daily at 10pm from December 13.

Published: 14/12/2004