Echoes of Yuletide: Reminiscing on American Holiday Traditions (America 250)

Since colonial times, many Americans have marked the winter season with evergreens, festive foods, and decorations that slowly grew into the cherished holiday traditions we know today. From kissing balls and early handmade ornaments to the arrival of imported decorations from abroad, the way families celebrated continued to evolve. Electric lights replaced candles and miniature villages (once glittered cardboard candy boxes) found a place beneath Christmas trees.

Join historian John Cilio for a journey into the nostalgic story of holidays past, exploring the trees, tinsel, ornaments, and lights that shaped generations of celebration.