NSYNC’s “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” blaring from the radio. “Jack Frost” with Michael Keaton playing on the TV. Furbies and Tamagotchi Pets under the tree.
In case you couldn’t tell, we’re feeling nostalgic for the Christmases of our childhood. If you, like us, find yourself dreaming of holiday seasons gone by, the RetailMeNot editorial team is here to help.
We’ve rounded up throwback holiday ornament ideas, digging deep and pulling ideas from our childhood as well as Christmases of the ’70s, ’60s, ’50s and beyond. And bonus? Traditional vintage Christmas decorations tend to be timeless and meaningful, so you’ll be able to use these decor pieces for years to come.
Ready to ring in the holidays — old-school style? Travel back in time with these vintage Christmas decorations:
Note: Products reflect the price and availability at the time of publication.
NOMA Bubble-Lites
NOMA Bubble Lites remind us of Christmases in the ’70s — back when Atari VCS was the hottest toy under the tree and tiny sausage Christmas trees were considered the height of holiday culinary sophistication.
Much like sausage Christmas trees, these twinkling globe-shaped bulbs have since fallen out of fashion — but you can purchase modern replicas of the bona fide NOMA Bubble-Lites on (where else?) Amazon. Like the originals, these Bubble-Lites feature glittery clear liquid that bubbles gently when plugged in. String them around your Christmas tree for an effect that is totally mesmerizing.
Price: $38.08 at Amazon.com
Christmas Icicle Tinsel
Legend has it that the practice of putting tinsel on your Christmas tree originated in Germany in the 1600s when tinsel was made of thin strands of real silver. By the ’50s and ’60s, silver tinsel was replaced by tinsel made of lead — which came with the advantage of being affordable but the disadvantage of being toxic.
Modern-day tinsel is often made of polyvinyl chloride, a type of plastic that is safe, affordable, but — unfortunately — non-recyclable. We love this option from Amazon because it’s made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a clear, strong lightweight package that is both reusable and recyclable. The package includes 14,000 tiny silver tinsel foils that measure around 20 inches long and come in a choice of classic silver or red and green.
Price: $13.92 at Amazon.com
Aluminum Vintage Christmas Tree
Fun fact: Some historians credit the decline of the aluminum Christmas tree with the release of 1965’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” In the movie, Lucy tells Charlie Brown to buy “the biggest aluminum tree you can find …. maybe painted pink!” Charlie ultimately selects a natural, small tree because it better reflects the non-consumer spirit of Christmas.
However, in the last decade or so, aluminum trees have witnessed a revival. After all, they come with the benefit of being nostalgic and eco-friendly. Some, like this aluminum vintage Christmas tree from Target, even come pre-strung with sparkling lights.
Price: $289.99 at Target.com
Vintage Snow Globe Carousel
Snow globes are mini, shakable worlds that have captured the hearts and imaginations of Christmas revelers since 1900 when the first ones were invented in Austria. Since then, the basic idea has remained the same: Glass domes encasing a miniaturized scene that magically unleashes a flurry of winter snow when shaken.
Etsy is a treasure trove of artisanal and vintage-style snow globes — like this handmade globe with a gleaming gold carousel and shimmery snow. The snow globe can be customized with your choice of song, including Christmas classics like the “Nutcracker Suite,” “Let It Snow” and “Silent Night.”
Price: $63.74 at Etsy.com
Vintage Christmas Ornaments Collection
The tricky thing about genuine vintage Christmas ornaments? They tend to break before they make it to 2023. However, you can also find traditional, vintage-inspired ornaments online. We love this 12-piece set of old-fashioned glass ornaments from The Vermont Country Store, which includes classics like a spry Santa Claus, a rustic candlelit lamp and a cheerful little house.
Price: $34.95 at VermontCountryStore.com
Light-Up Blow Mold Christmas Decor
Blow molds — hollow plastic light-up lawn figures shaped like reindeer, gingerbread men and other Christmas characters — have been around since the 1950s. The leading manufacturer of blow molds, Union Products, has gone out of business, but other companies have acquired their molds and begun reproducing modern-day versions of these vintage outdoor Christmas decorations.
Today, the original models are rare and sell for a pretty penny, but you can find new iterations at Wayfair, Ace Hardware, Walmart and beyond. We love this dog-wearing-antlers blow mold from Big Lots (for obvious reasons). The classic blow mold illuminates from within and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Price: $59.99 at BigLots.com
Traditional Soldier Christmas Nutcracker Figure
Tools that crack nuts have been around since ancient times, but the earliest versions of the distinctive wooden soldier dolls we know today didn’t appear until the 17th century. That’s when German woodworkers in the Erzgebirge region began crafting the strong-jawed, lever-mouthed dolls.
Today, German folk art has blossomed into a hugely popular U.S. Christmas tradition — thanks largely to the beloved ballet of the same name. You can find collectible vintage nutcrackers for thousands of dollars, but budget-friendly versions like this Nutcracker from Target do the job just fine. The guy stands 14 inches tall and is for decoration only — so don’t count on him to crack open any chestnuts or do anything but stand around and look cute.
Price: $12 at Target.com
Yellow Power Rangers Ornament
We promised you Christmas decorations from our childhood, didn’t we? This Yellow Power Rangers ornament takes us back to Christmas 1994 when the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Alpha’s Magical Christmas Special” aired, and we still believed in Santa. Just don’t call it “vintage” because it makes us feel old, OK?
Price: $12.95 at CallistersChristmas.com
Bunny Chorus Vintage Christmas Tree Skirt
The tradition of using Christmas tree skirts began for a practical reason: Back when people used to decorate their trees with real candles, Christmas tree skirts protected floors from falling wax.
Thanks to the advent of safer electrical Christmas lights, the tradition of decorating flammable trees with candles has (thankfully) been discontinued — but Christmas tree skirts continue to serve the purpose of catching fallen pine needles and covering the unsightly stand. Dress up your tree in this plush red velvet skirt, which measures 48 inches in diameter and is decorated with gold embroidery.
Price: $23.99 at Amazon.com
Vintage Christmas Train Set
Call us old-fashioned, but a vintage Christmas tree isn’t complete without ornaments, lights, tinsel, a tree skirt — and a motorized train chugging along in a loop around it all. The tradition of Christmas tree trains is thought to have started in the early 1900s when the first electric trains hit the market.
Christmas train sets may have dwindled in popularity in the last few years, but you can still honor the time-honored tradition with a modern replica of an old-fashioned model train set like this one from Amazon. The set includes 159 inches of easy-to-assemble tracks, plus a steam engine that goes “choo choo!”
Price: $39.99 at Amazon.com
The post Travel Back in Time With These Vintage Christmas Decorations appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
