- 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).
1950s Dad — The Classic Christmas Commander
He wore a cardigan, carved the turkey with precision, and strung lights with military-level seriousness. He read the newspaper while the kids played with new toys and made sure the tree was perfectly centered in the picture window. His gift? Something practical, like slippers or a pipe, which he accepted with a proud nod.
While this dad was before my time, I can totally see Ward Cleaver from Leave It to Beaver at work here.
1960s Dad — The Cool, Calm, and Slightly Groovy One
He introduced color TV, insisted on tinsel one strand at a time, and played Christmas albums on the hi-fi. He might’ve assembled a bike or two, but only after “studying” the instructions with a cup of coffee. He loved a good gadget. Electric carving knife, anyone?
Do you recall the episode "Steve and the Computer" from My Three Sons? I totally see patriarch Steve Douglas in the above description.
1970s Dad — The DIY Holiday Hero
This was the dad who built toys, fixed toys, and occasionally broke toys while fixing them. He hung those giant C9 bulbs that could heat a small home and drove the family around in a wood-paneled station wagon to see the neighborhood lights. His Christmas morning uniform: plaid robe, slippers, and a mug of Folgers.
Minus the plaid robe, didn't you immediately think of Mike from The Brady Bunch here?
1980s Dad — The King of Christmas Morning Chaos
He was the master of assembling anything that required batteries, screws, or a PhD in engineering. He recorded Christmas on a giant camcorder that weighed as much as a toddler. He stayed up late wrapping gifts in paper featuring Garfield or He-Man and pretended not to hear the kids at 4:30 AM.
Steven Keaton from Family Ties, won't you please stand up and take a bow for being the dad we all wanted in the 80s.
1990s Dad — The Tech-Savvy (Sort Of) Holiday Innovator
He programmed the VCR to record every holiday special, even though half of them cut off early. He helped set up the Super Nintendo, installed the new cordless phone, and proudly handed out gifts in those shiny metallic gift bags that required zero wrapping. He loved a good mall Santa photo and a trip to Blockbuster after Christmas dinner.
There were a lot of great TV dads in the 90s: Philip Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Carl Winslow from Family Matters, and Tim Taylor from Home Improvement, but my favorite is Danny Tanner from Full House. I loved the 80s, but I think the 90s is my next favorite decade.
Photo from Mainlining Christmas
2000s Dad — The Digital Christmas Dad
He downloaded Christmas music onto the family computer, burned holiday CDs, and tried to figure out the new digital camera before the big day. He assembled Razor scooters, replaced AA batteries like a champ, and documented everything on early Facebook. His favorite gift? Anything with a power cord.
Hal Wilkerson was crazy on Malcom in the Middle, but he definitely loved his kids. Do you remember the episode where Reese turns Hal into a viral sensation by posting his father's embarrassing moments online? I think he deserved coal in his stocking for that one.
2010s Dad — The Pinterest-Project Participant
He helped hang the “rustic farmhouse” stockings, wrapped gifts with kraft paper and twine, and tried to recreate a Pinterest-worthy Christmas breakfast. He set up the Elf on the Shelf (sometimes creatively, sometimes at 11:59 PM). He FaceTimed relatives during gift opening and took 200 photos on his phone.
You have to admit that Andre "Dre" Johnson on Black-ish tries hard. He is still seeking Pops' approval. He has wild overreactions that are hilarious — like the time he set the Christmas tree on fire ("Just Christmas, Baby") and picked up his favorite daughter, then rushed off to safety, pushing one of his other kids out of the way. And he has a deep appreciation of Black history and culture, which he uses to educate his family. While he actually has a tough time navigating social media trends, that was a pretty nice tree he and his daughter put together before it burned down.
Here's to all the TV dads and real dads doing their best.
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