7 Old-Fashioned Holiday Decorations For a Very Vintage Christmas

Creating a vintage Christmas is one of my favorite things! And of course, I have favorite traditional Christmas decorations that I remember from my grandparents’ houses when I was little. In fact, I’ve even inherited some of those items, and I use them every year. But, I also like to get a few new-old traditional decorations every year. Here are some of my favorites.

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This is an Advent binder for the vintage housewife. Each day includes a vintage Christmas poem or story, a housewife activity of the day from the Betty Crocker Busy Days of December countdowns, a 1950s decorating project for the day, and a vintage holiday recipe.

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1. Ceramic Lighted Christmas Trees

These little trees, dotted with brightly colored bulbs, are quintessentially midcentury. Growing up, we didn’t have one, but I want one now! Reproductions are available through Amazon, but I like the vintage ones on eBay, or the Vermont Country store reproductions. And, If you want something that DOESN’T glow, there are some beautiful Mosser glass trees at Vermont Country Store, also!

I usually display them with my Putz houses for pretty Christmas village scenes.

2. Christmas Figurines

I’ve always loved collecting ceramic figurines. I used to buy little Dutch girls and suchlike at the dollar stores in the 1990s. And there are so many fun figurines you can get for Christmas.

Another “figured” favorite of mine are Gurley candles. Shaped like carolers, snowmen, and Santas, Gurley candles are pure vintage Christmas magic. My mom had a snowman family that was part of our Christmas display year after year. After Gurley stopped making the candles, the Vermont Country Store bought the original molds and now make their own versions. You can also get them on eBay.

I set up little vignettes with my handmade angels and carolers, candles, and figurines, nestled into various brass-and-greenery displays.

3. Christmas Glass and China

There are some areas of my life where I buy new rather than collect old. I refuse to give up my vintage books due to lead concerns, so I sacrifice on things for food, and I usually buy new versions of old favorites. We eat 3 times a day plus snacks, so I prefer to collect new heirlooms for my children to receive.

I love Mosser Glass. It is still made in the USA, so I don’t have to worry about lead. They make modern Jadite, red, cobalt, and amber glass tableware and decorative items that are just beautiful! I also love Spode and Lenox, new and old. I do still have all the heirloom silver, though. It’s tested fine.

I like to use the sleigh as a holiday candy dish. I get tins filled with candy or other treats, decant the treats into the sleigh dish, and use the tins!

4. English Greens and Candles

Greens and candles are classic, pre-Victorian Christmas with an incredible amount of Medieval meaning. And they are just beautiful.

At the beginning of Advent, we do a Hanging of the Greens: we gather pine, cedar, holly, and ivy and make them into garlands, swags, and wreaths. We use red ribbons or tartan fabric with them.

We use brass candleholders with plain white tapers all year round, but for Advent, we polish them and put them everywhere. We usually try to turn off all the overhead lights and most of the lamps after dinner, and light candles instead. I also have other brass items that I use: hunting horns, brass pots, lanterns.

Beginning on Christmas Eve, when we decorate the tree, we replace the white taper candles with red or bayberry candles (the only scented, plant-wax candles I will ever use). We also replace the Advent wreath with fresh greenery centerpieces and red candles.

When we bring in the tree, we also hang the kissing balls — but they are only for the 12 Days of Christmas!

5. Italian Nativity Scenes

I LOVE Old World nativity scenes. I have one that I sewed from a 1990s fabric panel. And I am saving up for a real handcarved creche. There are so many beautiful pieces of art out there.

I also use it to tell the story of Las Posadas and as a reminder of what Advent is for. The empty stable goes up on the First of Advent. Mary and Joseph arrive on Christmas Eve (they get closer and closer during the O Antiphon nights)

I always make sure to have at least 1 nativity out that kids can handle. They like to act the Christmas Story, too!

6. German Nutcrackers and Candle Towers

English, Italian, and now German. My husband loves real German wooden holiday things. He insists on using the wooden nutcrackers to crack nuts, so we must get working ones. And the candle towers are another German wooden marvel. (One of these days, I really do want a cuckoo clock.)

7. Christmas Linens

And here is where the Irish in me comes into play!

I love switching out household linens for the seasons. Percale sheets for summer, flannel sheet-blankets for winter. Extra blankets, thicker towels, down comforters, and plenty of throws to cuddle in.

And, I like to switch up my everyday table linens as well. I still use a formal white damask cloth for fancy dinners, but for at-home family dinners, I prefer “homespun”, and for breakfast and lunch I like “gay holiday motifs”.

I also like to switch to seasonal, Christmas-y Irish lace and doilies for decoration. White lace looks lovely with the green foliage, red ribbons and candles, and gleaming brass.

I hope you enjoyed this foray into my Christmas decorations!

This is an Advent binder for the vintage housewife. Each day includes a vintage Christmas poem or story, a housewife activity of the day from the Betty Crocker Busy Days of December countdowns, a 1950s decorating project for the day, and a vintage holiday recipe.

Get It Now!