Vintage Christmas Ideas

The Snow Brigade. By Marian Loder. (A winter drill for a dozen boys—in overcoats, earcaps, bright-colored mufflers, mittens, etc. Each carries a big snow-shovel. The stage should be spread with sheets and loose cotton to represent snow. Boys come marching in single file, shovels over shoulder, singing to the tune, "See the Farmer in the [...]

A Christmas-bell Drill. By Ella M. Powers. (This drill may be given by eight little girls provided with wands. At the top of each wand are tacked three streamers of red, white, and blue ribbon or cambric. At the end of each streamer a little tinkling bell is sewed. The children sing, and wave wands [...]

Old Santa Claus. By M. Nora Boylan. (To be sung to the tune of "Yankee Doodle." The verses may be given by a single voice, with the chorus by the school, or selected voices on the platform.) Old Santa Claus is a jolly man Who brings us lots of toys, sir; And none are happier [...]

By M. Nora Boylan. (To be sung to the tune of " Ta-ra-ra, boom-de-ay.) Now's the time for Santa Claus; Christmas comes with loud huzzas. Hark! the bells! Oh, hear them ring! Ting-a-ling-ling ting-a-ling. Chorus.—Ting-a-ling-ling ting-a-ling, Ting-a-ling-ling ting-a-ling, Ting-a-ling-ling ting-a-ling, Ting-a-ling-ling ting-a-ling. See his prancing reindeer brave, Hear him tell them to behave— Dasher, Dancer, [...]

Only a perfect specimen of balsam fir will be worthy to bear upon its branches the fragile perfection of the straw figures that come to us from Sweden. Collecting figures and forms for such a tree would prove a delightful hobby the year round. In these works of art are contained sermons of the simplest [...]

Why not follow the custom of the ancients and make use of the design qualities of the Palmetto? For this highly stylized tree, take seven 4' lengths of Palmetto and cut the leaves with a sharp knife or scissors into an oval, spear, or free-form design. The stems can be manipulated into pleasing curves by [...]

Could there be a more suitable material to use for a Christmas tree than palm branches, which have symbolized victory and rejoicing from the time of Christ to the present day? This tree possesses a majesty which bears witness through its graceful branches to the dynamic rhythm of the Universe. Arrange the branches to resemble [...]

Why not create a smart gem of a tree based on the topiary art of orna­mental gardening where trees are trimmed into fancy shapes of a highly stylized design? Place a dowel stick 3/4" thick x 40" long in a small tub of sand. Sink to a depth of 5". Paint tub and stick chartreuse [...]

Image by Getty Images via @daylife The people of Norway and Sweden have for centuries observed the quaint custom of preparing a Christmas tree for the birds. It is made from a sheaf of choice grain which has been carefully stored from the time of the harvest. The day before Christmas, the grain is tied [...]

Tracing the Roots of Christmas It is a long road back to the first Christmas. The route is not direct, nor free from obsta­cles, nor is it clearly marked. Many will stand at the crossroads and beckon us down strange and confusing byways. Without looking back to the pages of legend and history, we are [...]