From ceramic trees to retro wrapping paper, these festive decor touches will make you feel nostalgic for the good old (holi)days.
Vintage Christmas decorations are back in style—but did they ever really leave our hearts? Turning on a nostalgic holiday playlist, making a mug of hot cocoa, and breaking out classic Christmas decor is the best way to summon festive feelings and travel back in time to your coziest holiday memories.
Whether you’re looking for old-school strand lights for a twinkling tree, charming stockings to dangle from the mantel, or retro holiday cards to send to family and friends, Etsy is the ultimate source for the best vintage Christmas decorations to suit every space and style.
Vintage Christmas decor in this article:
- Vintage Christmas Cards
- Vintage Christmas Lights
- Vintage Aluminum Christmas Trees
- Vintage Ceramic Christmas Trees
- Vintage Christmas Ornaments
- Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper
- Vintage Christmas Stockings
- Vintage Christmas Blow Molds
- How do I find vintage holiday decor shops on Etsy?
- How do we pick the best vintage Christmas decorations?
Vintage Christmas cards
Sending holiday greetings to friends and family is a beloved tradition held by many, but the pressure to take the perfect family photo can sometimes be overwhelming. Enter: vintage Christmas cards. Adorned with beautiful designs and elegant touches, these cards will deliver the charm without a lot of the modern work.
A Christmas card set
SHOP: “Select-A-Note” Christmas cards from YourFoundItHereCo, $32 for a set of 16
These mid-century cards come in three designs—holly, poinsettia, or candles—with embossed silver labels bearing a message of your choice, including "Merry Christmas," "It's a Christmas Party," "Happy Holidays," and "Thank You!"
A Christmas bells and evergreen greeting card set
SHOP: Embossed Gibson Christmas cards from Happy Holidaze365, $84 for a box of 25
Ring in the holidays with these embossed greeting cards that feature a mid-century graphic design most likely from the 1950s. Adorned with evergreen branches, starbursts, and bells shimmering with gold foil, each card includes a warm greeting inside: “Merry Christmas and best wishes for every day of the new year.”
Vintage Christmas lights
When it comes to decorating your tree, the lights are arguably the most important part of setting the tone. From neutral white lights to flashing multi-colored lights, the options seem to be endless. But these vintage Christmas lights bring it back to the basics that are both functional and a little funny.
A box of elf Christmas lights
SHOP: A box of 20 Pixie Lites from CopperPotVintage66, $289
Whether decorating a tree or adorning a mantel, this impish strand of lights (likely from the 1960s) delivers the perfect dose of Christmas kitsch.
A set of colorful strand lights
SHOP: Vintage Christmas strand lights from The Shopping Basket, $40 for two strands with seven lights each
These strands of vibrant 1960s Yule Glo lights with big bulbs in magenta, red, orange, and yellow bring an instant boost of bright color.
Vintage aluminum Christmas trees
Vintage aluminum Christmas trees are one of the most iconic symbols of a throwback holiday. With their striking silver color resembling tinsel, ornaments of any color will pop to make the entire look a truly unique focal point.
A 4-foot aluminum Christmas tree with stand
SHOP: Evergleam aluminum Christmas tree with stand from Vintage Van Go, $640
With this lustrous showstopper, own a piece of aluminum Christmas tree history. Silver trees, like this one, represented a new and modern era and skyrocketed in popularity in the 1960s, eventually becoming a sterling mainstay of Americana kitsch.
A 6-foot aluminum Christmas tree with stand
SHOP: Mid-century aluminum Christmas tree with stand from CrazyMOD, $850
United States Silver Tree Co. made this tinsel tree in the 1950s, and its seasonal style gleams just as beautifully today. Decorate it with your favorite vintage Christmas ornaments for a thoroughly retro vibe.
Vintage ceramic Christmas trees
Vintage ceramic Christmas trees bring all the charm of the real thing without taking up too much space or any of the messy clean up. Available in numerous colors with subtle design details, these trees are the perfect touch to a coffee table, book shelf, mantel, or any other cozy nook.
A 1980s green ceramic Christmas tree
SHOP: 1980s ceramic Christmas tree from Draves Boutique, $200
Plug in this classic, 19-inch-tall ceramic Christmas tree and watch the tiny, jewel-tone bulbs twinkle and glow.
A white ceramic Christmas tree
SHOP: White vintage ceramic Christmas tree from Bella Marie Vintage, $150
For a more muted palette, choose this snow-white, 14-inch-tall vintage ceramic tree from Atlantic Mold Company—an enduring vintage favorite. The little lights come in red, green, and yellow, alongside festive touches of miniature holly berries and leaves.
Vintage Christmas ornaments
The best thing about vintage Christmas ornament styles is their tendency to last for decades due to the unmatched quality and craftsmanship. From whimsical colors to beaded details, these ornaments deserve to be front and center on any tree.
A set of pink and blue mercury glass ornaments
SHOP: Assorted mercury glass Christmas ornaments from Chanticleer Vintage, $80 for a set of eight
In a pretty pink palette with hand-painted details and touches of glitter, this assortment of eight ornaments, likely from the 1940s and '50s, sparkle and shine—making them a seamless match for a vintage aluminum Christmas tree.
A set of beaded satin ornaments
SHOP: Vintage beaded Christmas ornaments from Kitschy Christmas, $15 for a set of three
Trimmed with red velvet ribbon and gold braid, this trio of satin ornaments from the '70s shimmers with iridescent beads, faux pearls, and sequins.
Vintage Christmas wrapping paper
You spend a lot of time picking out the perfect gifts, so they deserve to be wrapped up in style! These vintage Christmas wrapping paper sets feature lovely throwback designs that are almost too good to rip (almost).
A set of ’70s Christmas wrapping paper
SHOP: Vintage Christmas wrapping paper from ThriftyGalifty, $25 for two rolls
Partridges in pear trees, holly, and poinsettias adorn this elegant, tapestry-inspired 1970s wrapping paper—a beautiful pick for making your presents look extra lovely under the tree.
An ’80s Christmas gift wrap set
SHOP: Santa’s Favorites vintage gift wrap set from Maisie Ellen’s, $34 for three rolls
To turn up the nostalgic charm, wrap your gifts in retro papers printed with gingerbread cookies, glowing candles, and jolly Santas.
A set of vintage Christmas wrapping paper
SHOP: Gibson's Touch of Elegance vintage Christmas wrapping paper from Morse Code Vintage, $72 for five rolls
There’s something for everyone in this set of ’80s wrapping papers. Spanning a range of styles, you’ll find a stately red-and-white print, classic holly with a lustrous gold background, and super cute puppies rocking Santa hats.
Vintage Christmas stockings
Hung by the chimney with care, stockings are a quintessential holiday decoration, and these vintage Christmas stockings feature hand-stitched details that were the hard work of someone from long ago.
A flannel Christmas stocking
SHOP: Vintage flannel Christmas stocking from Rowland Park Vintage, from $18
Hand stitched from printed flannel—likely 1950s “cut and sew” fabrics—these quintessential Christmas stockings are mantel-ready and full of holiday charm.
An appliquéd Christmas tree stocking
SHOP: Appliquéd Christmas tree stocking from Nellie and Jane, $24
With scalloped edging and contrasting red stitching, this cream-colored vintage felt stocking, embellished with sequins and beads, is irresistibly charming.
Vintage Christmas blow molds
Perfect as an outdoor lawn decoration or as a glowing indoor accent piece, these vintage Christmas blow molds will instantly transport you back in time in the best way.
A Santa and reindeer blow mold
SHOP: Plastic Santa and reindeer blow mold from Starr Road Retro, $150
This petite, hard plastic blow mold featuring Santa and one of his reindeer will deliver holiday joy to any space. Try displaying this jolly 1950s decoration on a windowsill or mantel, or as a tabletop centerpiece.
A vintage candle and lantern blow mold
SHOP: Vintage candle and lantern blow molds from Bygone Days Boutique, from $110
These oversized, plastic Noel candles from the 1980s—each measuring just over three feet—give off a radiant glow when plugged in. Try installing them in a cozy corner inside your home, or outside flanking the front door for a welcoming entryway.
How do I find vintage holiday decor shops on Etsy?
To help you find all the festive vintage gems your heart desires, here are a few tips to make your treasure hunting extra effective:
- Unlock keywords: If you're looking for a specific vintage style, object, or era, type terms that describe your preferences into the search bar, like “vintage ceramic Christmas tree” or “1950s mercury glass ornaments.” You can also add holiday-centric words like “snowman,” “sled,” or “candy cane” to your search, even if you don’t have a particular item in mind just yet. Then, refine the results with filters including Price, Color, Style, and Estimated Delivery Date. Adjust your filters as you go to broaden or narrow the results and surface vintage decor that matches your personal taste.
- Search for nearby sellers: To find a vintage Christmas decor shop in your area (and potentially save on global shipping fees), sort your search results using the Shop Location filter.
- Mix and match listings to complete a set: Say you find the perfect vintage Santa mugs but wish there were more, so everyone in your family can use one on Christmas morning. Try searching for the specific brand or style to see if other sellers are offering additional pieces that you can purchase to build a larger set.
How do we pick the best vintage Christmas decorations?
As Etsy Journal editors and contributors research and curate shopping guides for some of the best-loved items on Etsy, we thoughtfully consider the creativity, customization, and craftsmanship that go into each product. We also consider buyer reviews, item ratings, and customer service, and tap the expertise of our in-house merchandising and trends experts to uncover high-quality finds for every budget. You can find more information about each item in the seller’s listing details and can take a look at their individual shop policies and reviews, too.
