Thomas Nast Christmas Illustrations

Thomas Nast is perhaps best remembered for his political cartoons but he had a hand in the popularization of Santa Claus. Before Nast's yearly Christmas illustrations, Santa was not as popular and was thin and looked quite different. Nast's illustrations and the poem The Night Before Christmas both helped change the look and popularity of Santa.

This magazine illustration is of Santa visiting union troops.

Not all of Nast's Christmas illustrations involved Santa. This one was about loved ones being separated during the Civil War at Christmastime.

1950's Christmas cards

I never thought of Santa as being a dirty old man but someone who made Christmas cards in the 1950's obviously did.

Clapsaddle cards Santa with children

1900 card

1907 card

not sure of date

These are vintage card images, several decades old but the kids are still cute.

Christmas cross stitch patterns

I have been collecting vintage Christmas graphics for awhile and I am putting some of them on this site, but I have also made cross stitch patterns out of some of them. There are links to the free patterns below.

Snowman with bird

Christmas Bells

Christmas Bunny with present

Poinsettia Merry Christmas

Dog with stocking

Christmas Bunny

Dog with present

Puppy in stocking

Christmas teddy bear

Christmas kitten with holly

small Christmas cross stitch patterns

Christmas mittens

Friendly snowman

Christmas magazine ads

A Vacuum cleaner for Christmas?

This woman is way too excited about this vacuum cleaner!