WHAT’S your favourite Christmas tradition?

We've put together a compilation of some of our favourites, many of which are still going strong today, while others have fallen by the wayside.

Let us know your favourites by commenting below, or email any pictures to darren.slade@bournemouthecho.co.uk

Grateful thanks to readers who have submitted these pictures over the years.

Christmas parades

Christmas parades, traditionally associated with Bournemouth’s department store Beales, were a fixture in the town for many years. This picture shows a replica of the Queen’s golden coach in the parade in Silver Jubilee year, 1977. Submitted by Edna Travis.

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A visit to Father Christmas

 A minute with the man himself gives a child the chance to request the year’s ‘must have toy’.

Here are Pam Armstrong with sons Peter and Ken meeting Father Christmas in Beales, 1957. Submitted by Pamela Armstrong of Parkstone.

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The workplace Christmas party for staff 

The corporate booze-up or dinner-dance might still be with us, but how many employers still host a Christmas party on this scale? This is a party at the GPO’s Winton sorting office in 1953 – at 6.30am! It was submitted in 2006 by Robert Edge, whose mother was the only woman working there at the time.

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The Christmas party for staff’s children 

Remember when many big employers threw a party especially for the children of their staff?

Here’s Sammy Sunshine entertaining the children of staff at Hurn's Vickers Armstrong at the Pavilion in Bournemouth in the 1960s. Submitted by Sammy Sunshine.

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The school nativity

Fortunately, this tradition is very much still with us. These shepherds were part of the nativity story in Swanage Middle School’s Christmas concert in 1980.

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The pantomime 

Whether it’s the amateur kind or professional, the panto is an irresistible part of the festive season. Pictured are Sue Pollard as Aladdin and Matthew Kelly as Widow Twanky at the Pavilion, Bournemouth, in 1990.

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The hospital visit 

Hospitals don’t keep any more children in at Christmas than they need to, but staff have always done their best for those who have to spend the festive period on a ward. This picture shows Ward Two at Royal Victoria Hospital in Boscombe, Christmas 1952/53. Submitted by Mrs Carole Olding (nee Brake), who is the little girl standing in the cot underneath the clock.

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The Snow Queen 

Not so many places appoint a Snow Queen these days. This picture shows Poole’s Snow Queen procession in 1965. Submitted by Lorraine Race (nee Shannon), the girl with long dark hair waving from the back of the cart.

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The extravagant window display 

Fortunately, many retailers still put on their best displays at Christmas. This photo shows the display at Bernards of Boscombe in 1932. Submitted by Helen Jellett of Poole, whose father Bill Riggs is on the right, aged around 16.

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