How Christmas has Changed over the Years by Ashtyn O'Neill
Christmas trends and traditions have changed tremendously over the years. Whether it's switching from window shopping to shopping online, or switching from candles on the tree to using tons of colorful lights, the way Christmas has been altered throughout the decades is extraordinary. This article will go through each decade starting from the 1950’s up to now and describe the customs and traditions from each decade.
The 1950s was a very monumental time in the history of Christmas traditions. The 1950’s was the first time the mass production of Christmas ornaments happened. Prior to this, people had to get hand-blown ornaments that were very expensive. The mass production of ornaments made them cheap and easily accessible. This was also the decade where “aluminum” or “tinsel” trees were popular. As for gifts, popular ones during this time were Legos, toy soldiers, Mr. Potato Head, Silly putty, and Slinkies.
In the 1960’s aluminum trees were still very popular; they would be found in homes often uniformly decorated in ornaments all of one color. The 60’s was a time when a lot of popular toys were created. This includes Barbie, Etch A Sketch, the Easy Bake Oven, and many more. This is also where we get a lot of classic Christmas artists from. Some of these are as follows: Bing Cosby, Judy Garland, Andy Williams, and Nat King Cole. Christmas television specials also started to pop up more frequently, and A Charlie Brown Christmas came out in 1965.
During the 1970’s, the most popular gifts were Star Wars action figures, the first video game system called the PONG, and many more. Stores like Sears were most popular during this time and they made shopping catalogs in which people would circle the items they wanted. Christmas trees were still covered in tinsel; however, ornaments were more unique during this time. Instead of the simple circular ornaments, they started to make more fun shapes and colors.
In the 1980’s Christmas trees were predominantly real trees. If they were fake, they were green, natural looking ones. While tinsel was still in the picture for a lot of decorating, garland was also becoming popular during the 80’s. Overall, more homemade decorations were used during these years, such as paper chains and homemade ornaments and garlands. Some popular gifts were Rubix cubes, Care Bears, and Cabbage Patch Kids.
In the 90’s, Christmas trees were primarily green with big colorful ornaments; this tree aesthetic remains for a while and doesn’t really change too much over the next couple of years. Smaller ceramic trees were very popular during this decade. Some of the most popular gifts during this time were Furbies, Beanie Babies, Bop-It, Moon Shoes, and many more.
In the 2000’s, Christmas trees remained pretty similar to what a traditional Christmas tree would look like. Real trees were the most popular during this time. A lot of popular Christmas movies came out in the 2000’s including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, Polar Express, and Santa Buddies. The most popular gifts were the Playstation 2, Bratz Dolls, Guitar Hero, and iPods.
The 2010’s also consisted of the traditional Christmas tree look. A lot of people were also using more gold accents in their Christmas decorations. Popular gifts were iPads, iPhones, Hatchimals, Wii’s, Xbox’s, and many more gifts.
Nowadays, Christmas decorations are less traditional. While some people still prefer to go for the traditional Christmas tree look, untraditional decorations are also becoming more popular. For example,a pink and gold color scheme has become popularized, rather than a traditional green and red color scheme. Popular gifts are Airpods, iPhones, Video Games/Consoles, and Ugg shoes.
Christmas traditions, decorations, and gifts have all changed very much over the past few decades. Even with all the change, it's still the same holiday that it was before and is meant to be celebrated with family.
The 1950s was a very monumental time in the history of Christmas traditions. The 1950’s was the first time the mass production of Christmas ornaments happened. Prior to this, people had to get hand-blown ornaments that were very expensive. The mass production of ornaments made them cheap and easily accessible. This was also the decade where “aluminum” or “tinsel” trees were popular. As for gifts, popular ones during this time were Legos, toy soldiers, Mr. Potato Head, Silly putty, and Slinkies.
In the 1960’s aluminum trees were still very popular; they would be found in homes often uniformly decorated in ornaments all of one color. The 60’s was a time when a lot of popular toys were created. This includes Barbie, Etch A Sketch, the Easy Bake Oven, and many more. This is also where we get a lot of classic Christmas artists from. Some of these are as follows: Bing Cosby, Judy Garland, Andy Williams, and Nat King Cole. Christmas television specials also started to pop up more frequently, and A Charlie Brown Christmas came out in 1965.
During the 1970’s, the most popular gifts were Star Wars action figures, the first video game system called the PONG, and many more. Stores like Sears were most popular during this time and they made shopping catalogs in which people would circle the items they wanted. Christmas trees were still covered in tinsel; however, ornaments were more unique during this time. Instead of the simple circular ornaments, they started to make more fun shapes and colors.
In the 1980’s Christmas trees were predominantly real trees. If they were fake, they were green, natural looking ones. While tinsel was still in the picture for a lot of decorating, garland was also becoming popular during the 80’s. Overall, more homemade decorations were used during these years, such as paper chains and homemade ornaments and garlands. Some popular gifts were Rubix cubes, Care Bears, and Cabbage Patch Kids.
In the 90’s, Christmas trees were primarily green with big colorful ornaments; this tree aesthetic remains for a while and doesn’t really change too much over the next couple of years. Smaller ceramic trees were very popular during this decade. Some of the most popular gifts during this time were Furbies, Beanie Babies, Bop-It, Moon Shoes, and many more.
In the 2000’s, Christmas trees remained pretty similar to what a traditional Christmas tree would look like. Real trees were the most popular during this time. A lot of popular Christmas movies came out in the 2000’s including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, Polar Express, and Santa Buddies. The most popular gifts were the Playstation 2, Bratz Dolls, Guitar Hero, and iPods.
The 2010’s also consisted of the traditional Christmas tree look. A lot of people were also using more gold accents in their Christmas decorations. Popular gifts were iPads, iPhones, Hatchimals, Wii’s, Xbox’s, and many more gifts.
Nowadays, Christmas decorations are less traditional. While some people still prefer to go for the traditional Christmas tree look, untraditional decorations are also becoming more popular. For example,a pink and gold color scheme has become popularized, rather than a traditional green and red color scheme. Popular gifts are Airpods, iPhones, Video Games/Consoles, and Ugg shoes.
Christmas traditions, decorations, and gifts have all changed very much over the past few decades. Even with all the change, it's still the same holiday that it was before and is meant to be celebrated with family.