December 21, 2015 9:00 AM EST
T he 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 Images A 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 Images Santa Claus with a young girl, 1948. Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Santa Claus Convention and training course at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 1948. Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images A man shows Christmas decorations to children, 1948. Hank Walker—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images Tana Centero sits in front of a Christmas tree, Vermont, 1951. Esther Bubley—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images A family celebrates Christmas, 1953. Robert W. Kelley—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images A baby tastes a piece of tinsel dangling from a Christmas tree, 1954. Verner Reed—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty images 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 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. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 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. Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 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 a Santa Claus training class at Santa Claus School, 1961. Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 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 A little girl gives Santa Claus a kiss, 1962. Donald Uhrbrock—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images A young child visits Santa Claus at a department store, 1970. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images 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 More Must-Reads from TIME Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You? The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision