• LIFE

20 of the Most Joyful Christmas Photos of All Time

1 minute read

The holiday season is all about tidings of joy: a crackle in the fireplace, the twinkle of lights, perhaps one too many glasses of eggnog. And no matter the gravity of the stories in the news, LIFE captured that joy year in and year out. Most frequently, that process involved photographing some combination of children and Santa Claus, whether they tugged on his cotton-white beard or gaped in disbelief at some long-coveted doll. Here, as this year’s Christmas rolls around, are LIFE’s most joyful images of Christmases past.

Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk.

Children talking to Santa Claus, 1946.
Children talk to Santa Claus, 1946.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A young girl talking to Santa Claus on the telephone, 1947.
A young girl talks to Santa Claus on the telephone, 1947.Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Santa and Mrs. Claus" answering telephone calls in their workshop at F. A. O. Schwartz, 1947.
"Santa and Mrs. Claus" answer telephone calls in their workshop at F. A. O. Schwartz, 1947.Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Santa Claus with a young girl, 1948.
Santa Claus with a young girl, 1948.Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Santa Claus Convention and training course at Waldorf Astoria, 1948.
Santa Claus Convention and training course at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 1948.Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Man showing Christmas decorations to children, 1948.
A man shows Christmas decorations to children, 1948.Hank Walker—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Tana Centero sitting in front of a Christmas tree, Vermont, 1951.
Tana Centero sits in front of a Christmas tree, Vermont, 1951.Esther Bubley—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
A family celebrating Christmas, 1953.
A family celebrates Christmas, 1953.Robert W. Kelley—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Baby tasting a piece of metallic tinsel dangling from a Christmas tree, 1954.
A baby tastes a piece of tinsel dangling from a Christmas tree, 1954.Verner Reed—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty images
A little girl looking at doll through a window at Christmas time, 1955.
A little girl looks at a doll through a window at Christmas time, 1955.Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Mrs. George Sutton and her family decorating their Christmas tree at home, 1956.
Mrs. George Sutton and her family decorate their Christmas tree at home, 1956.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Preparations for Christmas pageant at Bryn Mawr Community Church, 1956.
Preparations for Christmas pageant at Bryn Mawr Community Church, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Scene from the "Trail to Christmas" adaptation of Charles Dicken's "Christmas Carol," 1957.
A scene from the "Trail to Christmas," an adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol," 1957.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Children's Christmas play, 1958.
Children's Christmas play, 1958.Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Young Santa Claus in a Christmas program at Elizabeth Morrow School, 1958.
Young Santa Claus in a Christmas program at Elizabeth Morrow School, 1958.Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Ken Berends and Bill Burslem practice a soft-shoe with faculty member Joy Merkel in Santa Claus training class at Santa Claus School, 1961.
Ken Berends and Bill Burslem practice a soft-shoe with faculty member Joy Merkel in a Santa Claus training class at Santa Claus School, 1961.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Tina Smith decorating a Christmas tree at Guantanamo Naval Base, where her dad, Lt. Commander Joe Smith is stationed, 1962.
Tina Smith decorates a Christmas tree at Guantanamo Naval Base, where her dad, Lt. Commander Joe Smith, is stationed, 1962.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Little girl giving Santa Claus a kiss, 1962.
A little girl gives Santa Claus a kiss, 1962.Donald Uhrbrock—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Young child visiting Santa Claus at a department store, 1970.
A young child visits Santa Claus at a department store, 1970.Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Raymond and Susie McFarland looking raptly at their new Airedale puppy, who's leaning towards them out of Christmas gift box, 1972.
Raymond and Susie McFarland look raptly at their new Airedale puppy, who's leaning towards them out of Christmas gift box, 1972.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com