Christmas constitutes one of the most important holidays in the Christian world. The date, which symbolizes the birth of Jesus, is celebrated globally and has been recognized as such since the early Middle Ages. Although primarily a religious holiday, over time, it’s become more of an occasion for family gatherings, exchanging presents, and putting up colorful decorations.
Celebrating Christmas in the Post-War Era
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In the United States, this image of Christmas was created in the years following the Second World War. The period of prosperity in the 1950s led to the mass production of products related to the holiday, such as ornaments and Christmas trees. The post-war period also introduced several artificial options to substitute bringing a live tree indoors, using new materials, such as aluminum and PVC plastic, which came in a range of colors. Artificial trees were in the spotlight in the late 1950s, for they fit nicely with the streamlined home decor of the emerging Space Age style. Toppers and stands also became increasingly popular, with a variety of them on the market. The most popular was the lit-from-within style, which provided additional lighting to the already shining mixture of lights and reflective ball ornaments.
It all added up to the merry and joyful image of Christmas as a family holiday, which became increasingly popular as a consumer holiday, as well. Malls were full for the shopping season, as people ...