The countdown to Santa's arrival is now on, with kids on their best behaviour to ensure no last-minute faux-pas costs them something from their wish list.
With PlayStation 5s, iPads and even iPhones making appearances on letters to Santa, Christmas lists are, in some ways, lightyears apart from what they once were. But there are some undeniable classics beloved by previous generations of kids that are still being requested by the current generation.
From football jerseys to bikes to Barbies to LEGO sets and more, there are some things that seemingly won't ever disappear from Christmas lists - no matter how much technology advances. What Dubs used to go shopping for in the likes of the Soccer Shop, McHugh Himself or Hector Value are still being bought, now at the likes of Lifestyle Sports, Smyths, Argos and so on.
Read more: Last minute Christmas gifts you can get in Dublin
We decided to take a look back at what items Dublin kids had on their Christmas lists in the 60s and 70s. Take a walk down memory lane with the following toys and sports stuff.
Football gear
Not unlike a lot of Christmas lists today, soccer-related items made an appearance on the wish-list of football fans. Santa was asked for jerseys, kits or other supporter accessories of a kid's favourite Premier League club, as well as the likes of a shiny new pair of football boots for their own play.
Evel Knieval stunt cycle toy
The world's most famous stuntman was a hero to many young thrill-seekers, who were warned off attempting his acts at home. The Evel Knieval stunt cycle toy allowed 70s kids to participate in the action without the trips to A&E.
Baby dolls
Archaeological evidence points towards dolls being the world's oldest toy, with the earliest dating back to around 2,000 BC (wooden dolls found in Ancient Egyptian tombs) and dolls with moveable limbs dating back to at least 200 BC (from Ancient Greece). For centuries, young girls imitated motherhood through looking after dolls by pushing them in a pram or putting them to bed in a cot.
Dolls in the latter half of the 20th Century allowed for realistic play as they looked less like shrunken children and more like life-sized babies. Companies began developing baby dolls that could produce tears, dampen nappies and be fed, too.
Fashion & lifestyle dolls (and accessories)
The latter half of the 20th Century also gave rise to fashion and lifestyle dolls, with the likes of Barbie, Sindy and Action Girl being the most popular during the 60s and 70s. On top of playsets such as houses or vehicles, toy companies also produced changeable outfits and furniture that reflected the clothing and interior design trends of the time.
Action Man (and vehicles)
Introduced in 1966 by Palitoy, Action Man took cues from GI Joe as a "doll for boys" - though both were marketed as 'action figures'. Similar to fashion and lifestyle dolls, additional items could be collected, usually in the form of weapons, survival gear or vehicles.
Raleigh bikes
Wishing for a new bike at Christmas is a tale as old as bikes themselves. But Raleigh Choppers in particular were the it-bike of the 70s. Cycling on one of them while your pal lay on the road under a piece of wood as a makeshift ramp, you felt like Evel Knieval himself!
LEGO
While LEGO celebrated its 90th birthday this year, the LEGO brick the world knows and loves didn't appear until 1958, and the LEGO wheel wasn't introduced until 1962. The 60s and 70s therefore brought about the style of LEGO play we have today, with town playsets, vehicles and so on.
Meccano
Another one for those who loved to build, Meccano sets were popular in the 60s and particularly in the 70s, when electronic parts were introduced. Kids could put their construction hats on and get to work on putting together vehicles, robots or buildings with the reusable metal pieces.
Etch-A-Sketch
A new way to create art, the Etch-A-Sketch was introduced as a mechanical drawing toy during the baby boom of the 1960s. Shortly after its launch, it became the most popular drawing toy in the industry, and is still regarded as one of the most iconic toys of the 20th Century.
Old Dublin shop ads courtesy of Brand New Retro.
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