Today, more than three billion Christmas cards are sent worldwide every holiday season. In this Vintage photo from 1922, we see stacks and stacks of Christmas cards ready to be delivered from London's Paddington Station. In 1922, card sending was extraordinarily popular because:

• Telephones were less common
• Long-distance communication was expensive
• Printed Christmas cards had become affordable thanks to mass printing
• Sending cards was considered a major social ritual

By the 1920s, families often mailed dozens of cards each season, and department stores displayed Christmas cards like tiny paper art galleries. The custom had exploded after the late 1800s introduction of commercial cards in America by Louis Prang and others. The U.S. Postal Service was flooded with holiday mail each season and temporary workers were hired just for December with “Mail Early” campaigns becoming a yearly ritual. Some cards looked like miniature theater sets when opened. Others had moving parts or pop-up elements decades before modern pop-up cards became trendy again. Earlier Victorian Santas could appear tall, thin, eerie, or dressed in many colors. By 1922, the “department store Santa” aesthetic was taking over. Families often displayed cards across mantels, piano tops, mirrors, and ribbons strung across walls. In many homes, cards became part of the Christmas décor itself. A well-stocked mantel meant you were socially connected and remembered. Earlier cards leaned heavily on painted illustrations. By the 1920s, photographic printing techniques improved, and real photographs started appearing on cards, especially snowy landscapes and children posed in winter scenes.

Decorative Christmas seals exploded in popularity during the 1920s. Many were sold to raise money for charities, especially tuberculosis campaigns. Envelopes often looked delightfully over-accessorized, like tiny paper Christmas trees wearing jewelry. In 1922, mail arrived multiple times per day in many cities. Children and adults genuinely waited for the postman during the holidays. Opening Christmas cards carried some of the same anticipation people now associate with social media notifications, except these were wrapped in pine branches and postage stamps.

Go to our "Vintage Christmas" archive to see all our vintage holiday photos.

“Keegan’s Christmas” by Marcy Playground is one of those hidden holiday songs that sneaks up on you. It's quiet and nostalgic. Released in the late 1990s and later included on the compilation album Alternative Rock X-Mas, the song showcased a softer, more whimsical side of the band best known for their 1997 hit “Sex and Candy.” Written by frontman John Wozniak, the track leans into childhood wonder instead of irony or commercial holiday bombast. The song captures the restless excitement of a child counting down the final days before Christmas morning. Its lyrics follow a young narrator who cannot sleep because Santa seems to be stomping across the roof already, while parents insist bedtime is still mandatory. The arrangement is simple and melodic, fitting naturally alongside the band’s signature blend of alternative rock, folk influences, and lullaby-like songwriting. One retrospective holiday music review called it “a simple tune” whose childlike anticipation “is wonderful.”

Over the years, “Keegan’s Christmas” has developed a small cult following among fans searching for lesser-known holiday music outside the usual playlists of Mariah Carey and Bing Crosby. On Reddit and holiday music forums, listeners regularly mention the song as an underrated seasonal gem that deserves wider recognition. This one always makes the cut for my annual holiday song playlist. Take a listen!

Listen to all our seasonal recommendations
by clicking here: Holiday Song Spotlight archive!

Hallmark and Disney wrap production on 2026 holiday movie!

This year’s 2026 holiday entertainment season is getting a splash of pixie dust with Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, an all-new original movie produced by the Hallmark Channel in collaboration with Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Announced late in 2025, this marks a historic partnership between Hallmark — the home of cozy holiday romance films — and Disney, bringing a Christmas-themed story to life in The Most Magical Place on Earth.

The story centers on Lindsey — played by Hallmark favorite Lacey Chabert — who brings her extended family to Walt Disney World for a perfect holiday getaway. However, her idyllic vacation hits a snag when she discovers that her hotel room is next door to Philip, portrayed by Travis Van Winkle, a man she once had a disastrous first date with. As they navigate snow-topped parks, jolly events, and unexpected encounters across the resort, what starts as awkward turns into something warm, heartfelt, and brimming with Christmas spirit.

Behind the scenes, the production has already made headlines of its own. Filming began in early December 2025 and — by late February 2026 — crews wrapped up shooting after approximately three months on location throughout Walt Disney World. This extended filming schedule is longer than the typical Hallmark production, underscoring the scope and ambition of capturing real holiday magic amid the parks’ iconic settings.

The cast extends beyond its two leads, featuring familiar faces such as Richard Kind and Christy Carlson Romano, with additional support from Bryce Durfee, Taegen Burns, and Asher Alexander, plus a cameo from Patrick Renna. Disney Parks shared production updates and behind-the-scenes moments on social media, giving fans early glimpses of filming during the curtain-raiser of the park’s own holiday season.

While Hallmark and Disney have yet to announce an exact air date, Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True is slated to debut as part of the Hallmark Channel’s 2026 Countdown to Christmas programming block — which traditionally runs from October through December. Given the buzz from fans and the fresh reunion of Hallmark stars in a Disney landscape, many are already predicting this will become a seasonal favorite for viewers craving nostalgic cheer and theme-park charm.

Go to our Holiday Highlights section to all our spotlights.

Thomas Nast’s illustrations firmly placed Santa at the North Pole for the first time, complete with a workshop—an idea that became a permanent part of Christmas lore. He created dozens of Christmas-themed illustrations over nearly 30 years for Harper’s Weekly magazine. His cozy scenes of family, gift-giving, and winter warmth helped define what a “traditional American Christmas” looks like even today.

Go to our "Did you know" archive to see all our fun facts!

Our latest review!

Deck the Halls stars Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito in a movie that received overwhelmingly negative reviews when it was released in 2006, with critics criticizing its broad humor, thin plot, and uneven tone. The film centers on a suburban rivalry between Broderick’s tightly wound Christmas enthusiast and DeVito’s attention-seeking neighbor, who creates an enormous holiday light display designed to outshine the entire neighborhood.

Read the full review of this movie and soundtrack as well as all our mini movie and soundtrack reviews, by clicking here!

In Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells, and Silent Nights, author Ronald D. Lankford Jr. explores how popular Christmas songs became a soundtrack for the modern American holiday experience.

Learn more about Ronald Lankford's Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells and Silent Nights, as well as all our featured Christmas books, by clicking here!