Christmas preparations start earlier and earlier each year but for many Irish people the real start of the Christmas buzz is the Late Late Toy Show. It has become an institution in itself and is much loved in the majority of houses for many years. In my younger days (I’m not going to count the years!!) we loved the Late Late Toy Show with Gay Byrne. It was a special night even though the decorations were still in the attic, it was a reminder that Christmas wasn’t too far away, and that meant Santa Claus was heading our way. We would fight for room on the sofa and being the youngest I got the cushion on the floor, but it didn’t matter because we each had our sweetie bag.
I had a bar of chocolate, usually a dairy milk golden crisp or tiffin, a pack of Tayto cheese and onion and some penny sweets accompanied with a can of Cidona. That was our treat for the night in front of the fire watching Gaybo in his Christmas jumper playing with all of the fabulous toys. That was our Late Late Show Toy Treat Box…. Now I’m still making Toy Show Treat Boxes for my own family and lots and lots of others too. The kids love having their own box and trading the sweets with their brothers and sisters or keeping them all for themselves in a box just for them. And it’s not just for kids! Who doesn’t love a Late Late Toy Show Treat Box…
