Because the décor of Christmas doesn’t change, one Christmas looks pretty much like any other. The only things that seems to change much are the gifts. And the advertisements.
The ads in this gallery show how much Christmas gifts, and advertising, have changed over the past century. Some gifts, such as warm socks or jewelry, have remained constant. Other gift ideas, such as giving your wife leisure or freedom in the form of a vacuum cleaner, show just how much Americans have changed in the past 100 years.
Get your boy a rifle–What could go wrong?
Oh goody! Santa brought us hand-shoes!
A timeless Christmas gift.
“The gift that insures shapely feet.” It’s too bad about his face, though.
This guy’s looking pretty stylish in 1923.
What says leisure like a vacuum cleaner?
Santa has a daughter?
This 1926 ad stresses utility over all else.
Silverware is a recurring gift idea for women in the early 20th century.
Nothing warms a girl’s heart like a good refrigerator.
Take a look at this colorful perfume ad from 1933.
“Let Frigidaire glorify her Christmas–and your judgment!”
This ad continues the trope of vacuums as leisure devices.
Give him some dignity!
What’s more timeless than warm socks?
Check out these men’s jackets from 1948.
Well, at least dad and the kids are having fun here.
Schick patented the first electric razor in 1928. This one’s from 1952.
Make no mistake: This dream pipe is no pipe dream.
Sears and Roy Rogers: Welcome to 1956.
Electric razors are a common gift idea for men. But what about women?
Nothing says 1958 like an appliance ad featuring Lucy and Desi.
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