40 Vintage Christmas Photos That Will Make You Merry

From aluminum Christmas trees to retro Santa costumes to vintage holiday dolls, these photos will take you back to a simpler time.

Like this gallery?Share it:

Flipboard

And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:

Santa Claus Figures From Around The World Who Don’t Always Bring Christmas Joy

Vintage Christmas Ads: Sexist, Offensive And Just Plain Weird

Florida Man Goes To A Christmas Festival To Scream ‘Santa Isn’t Real’ At Kids

1 of 41A young boy is moved to tears after receiving a Nintendo Entertainment System for Christmas in the 1980s.Reddit 2 of 41Marilyn Monroe poses in her stockings next to a Christmas wreath in 1951.Instagram 3 of 41A young boy grins through a window at Christmas ornaments in 1965.Instagram 4 of 41Two women decorate their 42-inch-long hair with Christmas decorations in 1961. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images 5 of 41Another joyful reaction to a Nintendo Entertainment System during the 1980s.Reddit 6 of 41Two cats cause Christmas mischief in this photo, dated by the old-fashioned television set and the TV trays next to it.Instagram 7 of 41Santa Claus stands in line with other customers for a cup of coffee in New York City in 1975.Instagram 8 of 41A crowd celebrates Christmas 1987 at Maude’s, a lesbian bar in San Francisco.San Francisco Public Library 9 of 41Gail Martin, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Nancy Sinatra perform during a Christmas special in December 1967.Twitter 10 of 41Actress Jayne Mansfield poses alongside a Christmas tree in the 1960s.Instagram 11 of 41Santa Claus at the North Pole. Circa 1987.Wikimedia Commons 12 of 41Employees of the Illinois Federal Savings and Loan Association exchange gifts in Chicago. Circa 1965. The Abbott Sengstacke Family Papers/Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images 13 of 41A large Christmas tree practically consumes this family’s living room in 1967.Reddit 14 of 41A young boy is transfixed with his Nintendo game after Christmas in 1992.Reddit 15 of 41Two men jauntily pose with a Christmas wreath during the holiday season.One Archives 16 of 41An elated girl with her Atari Christmas present in 1981.Reddit 17 of 41Children gather around their mother as she plays on a Game Boy after Christmas. 1989.Instagram 18 of 41First Lady Nancy Reagan sits on Mr. T’s lap and gives him a kiss on the forehead at the White House in 1983.Wikimedia Commons 19 of 41A mailman delivering Christmas presents during a snowstorm in Chicago. Circa 1929.Instagram 20 of 41A young Tupac Shakur celebrates Christmas morning in 1982.Facebook 21 of 41A woman lounges in a swimming pool filled with Christmas ornaments in this unconventional holiday photo from 1954.Instagram 22 of 41The Beatles pose around a Christmas tree in the 1960s.Facebook 23 of 41Two brothers are elated with their Nintendo Entertainment System gifts on Christmas 1990.Reddit 24 of 41Grace Kelly wrapping Christmas presents.Facebook 25 of 41Dr. Seuss sketching illustrations for How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 1957. Facebook 26 of 41President John F. Kennedy and his family celebrate Christmas at the White House in 1962.Facebook 27 of 41A woman wears a silver dress and stands next to an aluminum Christmas tree in this undated holiday photo.Instagram 28 of 41A woman sits near an aluminum Christmas tree and a pile of presents in the 1960s.Instagram 29 of 41Aluminum trees were once all the rage, thanks to their sleek style, affordable price, and the fact that they didn’t lose their needles.Instagram 30 of 41For Christmas 1969, this grandfather’s family gave him one thing — wine.Reddit 31 of 41A family enjoying a model train set on Christmas. Circa 1972. Lambert/Getty Images 32 of 41Women go Christmas shopping in Newark. Circa 1945.Instagram 33 of 41One child jumps with joy after he and his sibling were given an Atari gift for Christmas.Instagram 34 of 41A pensive-looking Santa Claus rides the New York City subway in 1976.Instagram 35 of 41A boy shows off his Christmas present in the 1960s.Reddit 36 of 41Three-year-old Marianne Abbott from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, pictured with Smokey the dog, dressed up as Santa.Ian Tyas/Keystone Features/Getty Images 37 of 41Child actor Dustin Diamond shows off his Christmas gift in 1985.Reddit 38 of 41Girls peer through a window at a doll around Christmastime in 1956.Instagram 39 of 41A father beats Super Mario Bros. in 1988 after giving the game to his children for Christmas.Reddit 40 of 41A worker at Macy’s cleans up a mess after a Christmas shopping rush. 1948.Instagram 41 of 41Like this gallery?Share it:

Flipboard

These 40 Vintage Christmas Images Will Make You Want To Break Out The Milk And Cookies For Santa View Gallery

Most Americans today celebrate Christmas in the same way. There’s a tree, ornaments, string lights, presents, and maybe a glass of eggnog with brandy, as seen in the vintage Christmas photos above. But many American holiday traditions are surprisingly modern.

Like this gallery?Share it:

Flipboard

And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:

Santa Claus Figures From Around The World Who Don’t Always Bring Christmas Joy

Vintage Christmas Ads: Sexist, Offensive And Just Plain Weird

Florida Man Goes To A Christmas Festival To Scream ‘Santa Isn’t Real’ At Kids

Flipboard

Like this gallery?Share it:

Flipboard

And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:

Santa Claus Figures From Around The World Who Don’t Always Bring Christmas Joy

Vintage Christmas Ads: Sexist, Offensive And Just Plain Weird

Florida Man Goes To A Christmas Festival To Scream ‘Santa Isn’t Real’ At Kids

Flipboard

Like this gallery?Share it:

Flipboard

And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:

Santa Claus Figures From Around The World Who Don’t Always Bring Christmas Joy

Vintage Christmas Ads: Sexist, Offensive And Just Plain Weird

Florida Man Goes To A Christmas Festival To Scream ‘Santa Isn’t Real’ At Kids

Flipboard

Share
Flipboard
Email

Flipboard

1 of 41A young boy is moved to tears after receiving a Nintendo Entertainment System for Christmas in the 1980s.Reddit

2 of 41Marilyn Monroe poses in her stockings next to a Christmas wreath in 1951.Instagram

3 of 41A young boy grins through a window at Christmas ornaments in 1965.Instagram

4 of 41Two women decorate their 42-inch-long hair with Christmas decorations in 1961. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

5 of 41Another joyful reaction to a Nintendo Entertainment System during the 1980s.Reddit

6 of 41Two cats cause Christmas mischief in this photo, dated by the old-fashioned television set and the TV trays next to it.Instagram

7 of 41Santa Claus stands in line with other customers for a cup of coffee in New York City in 1975.Instagram

8 of 41A crowd celebrates Christmas 1987 at Maude’s, a lesbian bar in San Francisco.San Francisco Public Library

9 of 41Gail Martin, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Nancy Sinatra perform during a Christmas special in December 1967.Twitter

10 of 41Actress Jayne Mansfield poses alongside a Christmas tree in the 1960s.Instagram

11 of 41Santa Claus at the North Pole. Circa 1987.Wikimedia Commons

12 of 41Employees of the Illinois Federal Savings and Loan Association exchange gifts in Chicago. Circa 1965. The Abbott Sengstacke Family Papers/Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images

13 of 41A large Christmas tree practically consumes this family’s living room in 1967.Reddit

14 of 41A young boy is transfixed with his Nintendo game after Christmas in 1992.Reddit

15 of 41Two men jauntily pose with a Christmas wreath during the holiday season.One Archives

16 of 41An elated girl with her Atari Christmas present in 1981.Reddit

17 of 41Children gather around their mother as she plays on a Game Boy after Christmas. 1989.Instagram

18 of 41First Lady Nancy Reagan sits on Mr. T’s lap and gives him a kiss on the forehead at the White House in 1983.Wikimedia Commons

19 of 41A mailman delivering Christmas presents during a snowstorm in Chicago. Circa 1929.Instagram

20 of 41A young Tupac Shakur celebrates Christmas morning in 1982.Facebook

21 of 41A woman lounges in a swimming pool filled with Christmas ornaments in this unconventional holiday photo from 1954.Instagram

22 of 41The Beatles pose around a Christmas tree in the 1960s.Facebook

23 of 41Two brothers are elated with their Nintendo Entertainment System gifts on Christmas 1990.Reddit

24 of 41Grace Kelly wrapping Christmas presents.Facebook

25 of 41Dr. Seuss sketching illustrations for How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 1957. Facebook

26 of 41President John F. Kennedy and his family celebrate Christmas at the White House in 1962.Facebook

27 of 41A woman wears a silver dress and stands next to an aluminum Christmas tree in this undated holiday photo.Instagram

28 of 41A woman sits near an aluminum Christmas tree and a pile of presents in the 1960s.Instagram

29 of 41Aluminum trees were once all the rage, thanks to their sleek style, affordable price, and the fact that they didn’t lose their needles.Instagram

30 of 41For Christmas 1969, this grandfather’s family gave him one thing — wine.Reddit

31 of 41A family enjoying a model train set on Christmas. Circa 1972. Lambert/Getty Images

32 of 41Women go Christmas shopping in Newark. Circa 1945.Instagram

33 of 41One child jumps with joy after he and his sibling were given an Atari gift for Christmas.Instagram

34 of 41A pensive-looking Santa Claus rides the New York City subway in 1976.Instagram

35 of 41A boy shows off his Christmas present in the 1960s.Reddit

36 of 41Three-year-old Marianne Abbott from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, pictured with Smokey the dog, dressed up as Santa.Ian Tyas/Keystone Features/Getty Images

37 of 41Child actor Dustin Diamond shows off his Christmas gift in 1985.Reddit

38 of 41Girls peer through a window at a doll around Christmastime in 1956.Instagram

39 of 41A father beats Super Mario Bros. in 1988 after giving the game to his children for Christmas.Reddit

40 of 41A worker at Macy’s cleans up a mess after a Christmas shopping rush. 1948.Instagram

41 of 41Like this gallery?Share it:

Flipboard

These 40 Vintage Christmas Images Will Make You Want To Break Out The Milk And Cookies For Santa View Gallery

These 40 Vintage Christmas Images Will Make You Want To Break Out The Milk And Cookies For Santa

View Gallery

Across the pond, Queen Victoria of England and her German-born husband Prince Albert started the Christmas tree trend in the 1840s, according to The Washington Post. But the holiday didn’t really catch on in the United States until the Civil War, which happened about 20 years later.

That conflict, which lasted from 1861 until 1865, wrought terrible tragedies for the country. At least 620,000 Americans died as countrymen from the North and the South fought and killed each other. And during those bloody battles, the once low-key holiday of Christmas took on a renewed importance.

As History reports, American media tried to maintain a light mood during those dreary days by publishing happy stories and illustrations about Christmas. From the carnage of the Civil War came the famous depiction of Santa Claus as a jolly and red-cheeked character, created largely by political cartoonist Thomas Nast, according to National Geographic.

Even after the war was over, American media continued to publish cheery stories about the holidays. And Americans, looking for something to celebrate after suffering for years, leaned into Christmas traditions. See some of the merriest vintage Christmas photos in the gallery above, and then learn more about the modern history of the holiday below.

The Modern History Of Christmas In America

Bettmann/Getty ImagesAn engraving by Thomas Nast of Santa Claus, waiting on the roof for children to fall asleep.

Christmas became a federal holiday in the United States in 1870, and American yuletide celebrations quickly evolved. Nast’s image of Santa Claus leaped from the page in the 1890s, when businessman James Edgar dressed up as Santa in Brockton, Massachusetts, to greet children at his department store. That same decade, History reports that the Salvation Army started enlisting volunteers dressed as Santa Claus to collect donations.

Other traditions, like Christmas lights and sending Christmas cards, soon blossomed as well. And Americans increasingly gave each other gifts for the holiday, though these gifts have changed mightily over the past century.

As the Wall Street Journal notes, the early 20th century saw a desire for simple Christmas gifts. Women might ask for a sewing machine, men might request a pocket watch, and children often asked for dolls or train sets. During the post-World War II boom, however, gift requests started becoming more extravagant. Women might ask for mink coats, men wanted radios and cameras, and children desired gifts like rollerskates and silly putty.

RedditA vintage Christmas photo of an excited child with Transformers toys in the 1980s.

In the decades that followed, the increasingly commercialized Christmas season often featured a “must-have” toy. In the 1980s, children begged Santa Claus for Cabbage Patch Kids, Transformers toys, and “Koosh balls.” By the end of the decade, the most coveted gift for many was a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) or a Game Boy, according to Insider.

The 1990s saw a demand for Barney dolls, Power Rangers toys, Furbies, Pokémon cards, and, of course, Beanie Babies. In the 2000s, American children desired toys like Razor scooters, Xbox 360s, and iPads. Since then, kids have asked for toys related to movies, like dolls from Frozen (2013), though Insider reports that 2016 saw a funny blast from the past when the re-released NES Classic became one of the year’s most popular presents.

Over the years, the gifts and traditions of Christmas in the United States have changed quite a bit. But the joyful spirit of the holiday has largely stayed the same. As the 40 vintage Christmas photos in the gallery above demonstrate, Christmas is a time for family, parties, and children so overwhelmed and excited by their gifts that they’re moved to tears.

After enjoying these vintage Christmas photos, look through some of the weirdest Christmas advertisements ever produced. Or, discover the story of the 1914 Christmas Truce, which briefly put World War I on hold.

From aluminum Christmas trees to retro Santa costumes to vintage holiday dolls, these photos will take you back to a simpler time.#

The Modern History Of Christmas In America#

From aluminum Christmas trees to retro Santa costumes to vintage holiday dolls, these photos will take you back to a simpler time.

The Modern History Of Christmas In America