Watch Christmas Through the Decades

Christmas Through the Decades is a festive television show that aired on the History channel in 2015. The show is a one-hour special that takes the viewer on a journey through the most significant and memorable Christmases of the 20th century, exploring how this holiday has changed over the decades in America. The show is hosted by historian Matt Blake and comedian Bill Adler, who take us on a fascinating trip down memory lane.

The show is divided into different decades, from the 1920s to the 1990s, and each segment explores the customs, traditions, and cultural phenomena of that particular time. The show uses a combination of archival footage and present-day interviews with experts and celebrities to showcase the evolution of Christmas in America.

The program starts with the 1920s, a time when Christmas still had a strong religious connotation, and people celebrated the birth of Christ with solemnity and piety. The show explores the Christmas carols of the time, the gingerbread cookies, and the popular Santa Claus myth. But it also shows how the holiday became more consumer-driven as the decade progressed, with the emergence of the Macy's parade, the first commercials for Christmas gifts, and the arrival of the first artificial trees.

Then, the show jumps to the 1950s, a decade marked by post-war prosperity, housewives, and the rise of television. This segment showcases the Christmas specials that Hollywood started producing, such as "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Christmas Carol," and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Matt and Bill also highlight the importance of the "outdoor decorations" contest and the "tinsel" craze. The interviews with people who grew up in that era add a personal and emotional touch to the segment.

The next decade explored by the show is the 1970s. Christmas in this decade was marked by social change, political turmoil, and pop culture. Matt and Bill highlight how Christmas became more inclusive, with black Santas and Jewish holidays being acknowledged. They also explore how the environmental movement started to curb excesses, with the arrival of the ecological Christmas tree. The segment's interviewees discuss how Christmas in the 70s was more about "being together" than buying or receiving gifts.

The 1980s were a decade of excess, and the show captures this spirit perfectly. From the manic, commercialized Reagan-era Christmas to the bigger and crazier decorations, as well as the emergence of the video rental industry and '80s classic movies like "A Christmas Story". This segment covers a lot of territory; from the first Nintendo Entertainment System consoles to the advent of the cold war, and the emergence of a consumer culture that emphasized "staying home for the holidays."

Finally, the show ends with the 1990s, a decade marked by the internet, multiculturalism, and postmodernism. Matt and Bill showcase the emergence of the ironic Christmas, with popular sitcoms like "Seinfeld" and "The Simpsons" cashing in on the holiday's excesses. The influx of immigrant cultures into America is highlighted, as the nation's tapestry becomes more diverse. The interviewers also explore the emergence of online shopping and the beginning of the pre-Christmas sales season.

Overall, Christmas Through the Decades is an entertaining and enlightening program that offers the viewer an understanding of the history of Christmas as a cultural, social, and economic phenomenon. The show is a mix of nostalgia, history, and cultural criticism that delivers its message with humor and insightfulness. The viewer is left with a feeling of goodwill and appreciation for those who have celebrated the holiday before them.

Christmas Through the Decades is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between November 25, 2015 and on History