Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...
- The history and traditions of the holiday.
- The décor that filled our homes.
- The toys that defined each decade.
- The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
- The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).
Hope you are having a blessed Memorial Day weekend. It is cold and rainy here, but the garden can always use a boost from Mother Nature. Tuesday is supposed to be sunny and about 80 degrees, so we should see some nice growth after two days of rain.
If we look at the calendar, there are 214 days left until Christmas 2026. That is so crazy to me. Didn't we just take down our Christmas trees?
This week's Journey through Christmases Past honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation, like one of our former high school classmates, Captain John W. Maloney, by featuring the red, white, and blue Christmas palette that...
- Became popular during World Wars I and II,
- Inspired the rise of Americana decor throughout the 1940s - 1960s,
- Picked up again for the country's bicentennial in 1976,
- And still can be found in homes today.
As we mentioned in this post about the influence of World War II on Christmas decor, Christmas in America changed during wartime. Though Edward Hibberd Johnson first decorated his tree with electric red, white, and blue bulbs in the 1880s (see here), during wartime, decorating with these colors became a sign of patriotism for families at home. Families hung Service Flags in their windows. Paper garlands and flag-themed ribbons became popular.
Photo credit: The National WWI Museum and Memorial
The notion of peace, already connected with Christmas, took on new significance.
Photo credit: Getty Images
The government even encouraged citizens to shop early to boost the economy.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Though glass ornaments had typically been imported from Germany, during World Wars I and II, they were crafted by local artisans.
Post-World War II America continued to embrace patriotic displays for national holidays--Independence Day and Armistice Day (now known as Veterans Day). But blue lights, silver tinsel paired with red ornaments, and Shiny Bright ornaments in patriotic hues brought these colors into Christmas.
If you had any doubt that these colors worked for the Christmas holiday, check out this video of Jesse Rogers singing his 1952 single, "Red, White and Blue Christmas," with the Saddle Riders.
As we headed into the 1970s, America's Bicentennial was on the horizon. A thing Retro Renovation called "Bicentennial Chic" was popular, as seen in these photos of mid-70s Ethan Allen home furnishings and decor.
Hallmark released Bicentennial commemorative ornaments that year.
And the movie, Young Pioneers Christmas, written by Blanche Hanalis (Little House on the Prairie) and based on a novel by Rose Wilder Lane (daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder and influential American libertarian), aired in December.
Today, red, white, and blue continue to be seen at Christmastime. Home Depot and Walmart offer a slim Christmas tree in patriotic hues for sale. Etsy artisans, Target, and Amazon offer patriotic ornaments, and Farmhouse-inspired patriotic Christmas tree ideas are found online.
So, here's to the red, white, and blue!
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