How has Christmas looked for Ipswich through the years?

Let's take a look back and see how things were different or the same for our town.

Before the world of online shopping, buying presents in shops would leave the high street even more rammed than it seems now.

Toy shopping in 1991 (Image: Newsquest)

Now we have the privilege of Amazon Prime, but in the 1990s, you had to be organised.

Our light-switch on has also changed over the years.

The light switch-on at the Cornhill this year (Image: Lucy Taylor)

The trees are different, every act differs from year to year, offering up different local talent each time.

In 1978, Ipswich was lucky enough to catch up with Father Christmas for an interview.

The light switch-on in 1978 and an interview with Father Christmas (Image: Newsquest)

We don't get as much snow, but sledging in Ipswich's parks will happen at the first sign of snowfall.

Sledging in the park in 1970 (Image: Newsquest)

Maybe you have a family tradition of venturing out to watch a Christmas play or pantomime each year.

In 1989, a drama workshop showed people how A Christmas Carol should be done.

In 1989, a drama workshop played A Christmas Carol (Image: Newsquest)

One thing that has remained is the Christmas Day dips.

Although we no longer have the Broomhill lido, dips take place along our coastline on Christmas Day and Boxing Day still.

One woman braved the cold at the lido in 1970 for her Christmas dip.

A Christmas Day dip in Broomhill pool in 1970 (Image: Newsquest)

Do you have memories of Christmas in Ipswich? Let me know: katie.drake@newsquest.co.uk