A good number of Santa Claus postcards in my personal postcard collection and many I have sold, picture Santa Claus carrying a tree. Some trees were decorated, some not. So, I wondered what was up with all those trees on postcards.
Turns out it was a German custom to place an Evergreen tree at a house’s entrance as part of their midwinter holiday. Decorating them was part of a Christian New Year tradition initially designed to ward off the devil.
More recently, the Christmas tree came from a custom in western Germany called a Paradise Tree. The Paradise Tree was decorated with apples, cookies, and candles. The Santa Claus postcards below show such a tree. Since many antique and vintage postcards were printed or made in Germany, it makes sense that many Santa Claus postcards included trees.
German vintage Santa Claus postcard from my personal collection.
Silk antique Santa Claus postcard with undivided back.
Feel free to look at other Santa Claus, children in footed pajamas, and May Farini postcards from my personal collection on my web store’s gallery page.
** If you liked this blog post and want to share it, click on the bookmark button to the right.
