Fascinating Vintage Pictures of Christmas Past

Not only does the holiday season always bring joy but somehow it also makes us all a little bit more nostalgic than the rest of the year. Whatever the case may be, there’s no denying that a look backward may help add another heartwarming glow to all the festivities.

From the aftermath of a holiday sale at Macy’s to people in Santa costumes handing out presents, travel back in time and take a look at celebrations and preparations from years past through these fascinating vintage pictures:

A young Santa Claus with Christmas toys on a sled drawn by white turkeys, circa 1909.

Christmas tree market, Berlin, 1899.

Children looking at Christmas toys in a shop window, New York, 1900s.

Christmas mail, ca. 1910.

Santa Claus in an airplane, 1921.

Under the mistletoe, 1937.

A Christmas party in an underground shelter during World War II, London, 1940.

A nurse feeding a patient with a spoonful of Christmas pudding at a naval hospital at Kingseat, Scotland, 1941.

A Santa Claus balloon collapsed during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, 1941.

A young boy carrying a Christmas tree home at Spitalfields Market, London, 1946. (Monty Fresco)

Macy's employee cleaning up piles of debris after the Christmas shopping rush, 1948. (Nina Leen)

A family decorating their Christmas tree in Yokohama, Japan, circa 1950.

Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and their son, Stephen, on Christmas Eve in 1951.

Vivian Vance, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz and William Frawley during the 'I Love Lucy Christmas Special', 1956.

Father and son shopping for Christmas, Milan, 1958.

Santa from outer space.

Two women display their holiday hairdos decorated with tinsel and ornaments, circa 1960.

Jayne Mansfield placing the angel topper on her Christmas tree, 1960.

People shopping at Saks Fifth Ave during the Christmas Season, 1962. (Yale Joel)

Santa Claus parachuting into Carol City Shopping Center, Florida, 1962. (Lynn Pelham)

The Kennedys on Christmas morning, 1962.

Couple looking at the Christmas tree from the bank of the frozen Alster, Hamburg, 1965. (H. Schmidt-Luchs)

A 'living' Christmas tree, 1971.