A Totally Awesome 80s Christmas

Ah, the 80s...when Polaroid cameras were still high tech (no one had smart phones to get instant photos!), mullets and big hair were in fashion, and the Commodore computer what a hot Christmas gift! But does it "Clap on, clap off?"

Yes, you can quite often find old vintage Clappers available on eBay. Couldn't you sometimes still use one today?

A 2014 survey in the U.K. found that the 80s were voted the "best decade" for Christmas music. So it seems I'm not alone in being fond of the holiday music of that time, produced by some of the top pop-rock acts of the decade.

Today you'll find many great cd collections of 80s Christmas music to enjoy, perfect for a themed holiday party...or just to enjoy a dose of nostalgia.

Band Aid was formed in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Their resulting song and video is a pure trip back to the 80s for me, featuring nearly all of my favorite UK singers and musicians from the era: Sting, Boy George, George Michael, Simon Le Bon, Paul Young, Phil Collins, Holly Johnson...truly totally awesome! In fact I remember resenting it a bit in 1985 when USA for Africa got more play and press in the States for (in my humble opinion) the much inferior and sappier "We Are The World".

Delight the 80s fan in your life with one of these vintage 80s toys and games this Christmas - still available today! I remember when these were HOT and every kid had to have one under the Christmas tree...

Did you know? The Rubik's Cube was first invented in 1974 and developed for sale in Hungary as the "Magic Cube". But it was licensed and released worldwide in 1980 as the Rubik's Cube, after which it became an international sensation. Although it was most popular in the 80s, there are still "speedcubers" who practice and compete today in solving various puzzles. 

The stress-relief fun ball that's still perfect for the office. It was first developed by Scott Stillinger in 1986, who created it as a ball easy for his young children to hold and throw. In 1988 it was one of the year's most popular Christmas toys. 

The Cabbage Patch Kids created an absolute frenzy when they first became widely available in the early 1980s. If you recall, the dolls were "born" at Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia, a converted medical clinic which creator Xavier Roberts used to first sell his dolls. The origin story continued even after the dolls were licensed out to Coleco in 1982. 

• 100 Popular Toys From the 80s - How many did you own?

  If you grew up in the 80s, you've probably owned many of these classic toys. Lite Brite, Micro Machines, Simon Says, Mr. Potato Head

• Top 20 Totally Awesome Toys from the 80s

  Whether you were a toddler, teen, or parent, reminiscing about these years is always fun. What better way to celebrate the 80s than to go back down memory lane with a list of the 20 Most Popular Toys from the 80s!

• 25 Toys Of The '80s That Are Worth An Absolute Fortune Now

  BRB, eBaying my childhood...

Just like today, video games were hot in the 1980s - the only difference was in the technology! We all craved the hottest systems of the time and the newest game cartridges, be they the Atari 2600, 5200 or 7800; the Intellivision; the ColecoVision, the Sega Master System or Vectrex.

Want to go back in time to the 80s? Then check eBay for classic game consoles and cartridges. A fun gift idea for someone who loves classic games, or maybe even fun to set up for an 80s themed Christmas party.

Many of the lots up for sale on eBay come with an assortment of original game cartridges, too, making them an especially great and fun deal. 

You can't celebrate a totally awesome Christmas without some awesome Christmas movies. The 80s certainly produced some films which are now considered classics of the season, from  humorous favorites like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation to A Christmas Story. Which one is your favorite?

Of course, if you're going all out with an 80s Christmas then you have to get some themed/vintage ornaments for your tree. Think about the popular movie and other characters of the time; toys and games that we all loved; fashions and other nostalgic elements that immediately take you back in time. Just as a few examples...

Do you remember the excitement when Return of the Jedi first came out in 1983? I do! While this ornament isn't vintage (it was released by Hallmark in 2008), it still brings back memories of when fans first got to watch this much anticipated confrontation between the Dark Side and the Light Side of the Force.

I mentioned Cabbage Patch Kids earlier, well...did you know you can get them as Christmas ornaments, too? If you don't want one of those big dolls around, you can still bring back the 80s frenzy with a Christmas ornament (or set of them!) recalling these always recognizable toys.

No matter what you think of the 80s, I hope you have a great holiday season! Thanks for checking out my page and feel free to leave any comments or feedback here.