18 Photos That Show What Christmas Looked Like 100 Years Ago
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but would you recognize what Christmas looked like a century ago?
Seriously, Santa, is that you?
This 1919 Father Christmas was even scarier than the one in 1917, which seems a bit odd given that by the turn of the century, most depictions of Santa Claus were jolly, red-cheeked, and not scary at all. Here are some more interesting facts about the holiday season you may not know.
She’s skirting the issue
This illustration from 1921 is poking fun at gender politics from the mid-Victorian era: whereas the young man leans forward hoping to obtain a kiss from the woman, her dress is so very wide, he has no hope. And presumably, she has nothing to fear!
Gift inequality
In this 1918 illustration of a family opening gifts on Christmas morning, it appears that a lucky boy has received a pony, while his sister plays with a new doll.
Unattended children
This illustration of two children bringing home a barrow-load full of Christmas firewood is almost impossible to imagine nowadays when few parents would want it to be known that they send their children out for firewood unattended.
Families with lots of children
We count seven children, one cat, and one dog around this Christmas tree. When this photo of a “typical American family” was taken, in 1923, it wasn’t all that uncommon for families to have that many children (or even more). These 12 old-fashioned Christmas towns will leave you feeling like you stepped back in time.
Awww, thank you honey!
In a 1926 advertisement that would hardly fly today, Electrolux tells American men that a vacuum cleaner would make the perfect Christmas present for the wife. Um, no. May we suggest one of these 60 Amazon Prime gifts? There’s something for everyone on your list.