I was raised on a hard scrabble farm during the depression. But I didn't know we were poor because everyone was in the same boat. Don't remember much about decorating, but on Christmas I was declared big enough to make the snow ice cream all by myself. I had to choose a big bowl and spoon, go out and dig in a clean high place and fill the bowl tightly with pure new snow. Then I could put in a cup of cream from our cow, sugar and vanilla. Then mix like crazy and then run and get the bowls that were chilling on the outside steps and fill them quickly and serve them.
That ice cream tasted like nectar!! And I'd made it all by myself! As for presents, at about age 10 I wanted desperately to get a 22 so I could go hunting with my aunt, but all I got was a stupid doll, while my boy cousin got the 22. Don't know what happened to that doll, never wanted to look at it again.