Christmas may have been well and truly over, but that was no excuse not to hold a party to celebrate it.

Many organisations thought the pre-Christmas period was too crowded, so delayed party time until well into the New Year.

It was certainly a time for youngsters to enjoy themselves, as these pictures show.

Picture 1 was taken at East Oxford Liberal Club in 1970 as children scrambled for food to make sure they didn’t miss out.

Oxford Mail:

The party was delayed because builders were still working on the premises in Crown Street until the last few days before Christmas.

All 160 children enjoyed themselves – for them, the Christmas spirit was as strong as ever. As well as food and entertainment, every child went home with two shillings (10p), an apple, an orange and a bag of sweets.

Children of staff at Littlemore Hospital in Picture 2 looked memorised as they watched a film show at their party in 1978.

Oxford Mail:

There were plenty of smiles at a party for children of Southern Gas employees at the company’s sports and social club in Whitehouse Road, Oxford, in 1981.

Sharon Davies and Elizabeth Wooloff, both 12, and their friend, 11-year-old Susan Brewer, in Picture 3, were among 80 who attended.

Oxford Mail:

There was also plenty of fun at a party organised by Post Office workers at St James’s Hall, Cowley, in 1970.

Nicholas Gannon, Susan Fleming and Jane Bustin, in Picture 4, were among 125 children who enjoyed a film show, games and music.

Oxford Mail:

A late Christmas party at Rhodes House, Oxford, in 1959 took a different form, with children in fancy dress.

The children in Picture 5 – left to right, Anne Bradley, seven, Janet Thomas, seven, and Peter Bradley, three – posed as painters, with fake cigarettes!

Oxford Mail:

Three post-Christmas parties were held at Long Wittenham in 1984. Four-year-olds Christopher Edwards, left, and Stuart Harrison are seen in Picture 6.

Oxford Mail: