20 of the Most Joyful Christmas Photos of All Time
20 of the Most Joyful Christmas Photos of All Time
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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
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 talk to Santa Claus, 1946.Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA young girl talks to Santa Claus on the telephone, 1947.Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images"Santa and Mrs. Claus" answer telephone calls in their workshop at F. A. O. Schwartz, 1947.Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesSanta Claus with a young girl, 1948.Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesSanta Claus Convention and training course at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 1948.Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA man shows Christmas decorations to children, 1948.Hank Walker—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesTana Centero sits in front of a Christmas tree, Vermont, 1951.Esther Bubley—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesA family celebrates Christmas, 1953.Robert W. Kelley—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA baby tastes a piece of tinsel dangling from a Christmas tree, 1954.Verner Reed—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty imagesA little girl looks at a doll through a window at Christmas time, 1955.Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesMrs. George Sutton and her family decorate their Christmas tree at home, 1956.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPreparations for Christmas pageant at Bryn Mawr Community Church, 1956.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA scene from the "Trail to Christmas," an adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol," 1957.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesChildren's Christmas play, 1958.Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesYoung Santa Claus in a Christmas program at Elizabeth Morrow School, 1958.Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesKen 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 ImagesTina 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 ImagesA little girl gives Santa Claus a kiss, 1962.Donald Uhrbrock—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesA young child visits Santa Claus at a department store, 1970.Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesRaymond 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
