What was popular at Christmas throughout the years
Let's take a walk down memory lane
2016
On Christmas Day 2016, singer George Michael passed away due to heart failure.
PHOTO: AFP / Stringer
2015
Miley Cyrus kicked off the 2015 festivities at the New York premiere of "A Very Murray Christmas" where she gave a stunning performance of "Silent Night."
2014
Now more than ever people love dressing up their pets for the holidays — although some pups are less than enthused about it. You likely saw at least a few Christmas cards with Santa dogs in 2014.
2013
Released in theaters in late November (right before the holiday season!), Frozen captured the hearts of every kid under 5. Okay, some were slightly older. Like 40, but there's a good reason why — we could not "Let It Go"!
2012
Yes, it's a seamless part of our vocabulary now, but it was just a few years ago that Time named "selfie" one of the top buzzwords of 2012. We bet almost all of the holiday family photos you see now are taken with a smartphone.
2011
Move over Mariah Carey – Zooey Deschanel's duo She & Him went to the top of the Christmas charts with their rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
2010
Right before Christmas in 2010, people enjoyed a beautiful, total lunar eclipse (seen here in New York City). It was the first time since 1638 that an eclipse coincided with winter solstice, making it a historic event.
2009
There's always a must-have Christmas toy, and in 2009, it was Zhu Zhu Pets. They were so popular, stores couldn't keep the plush robotic hamsters on their shelves.
2008
With fuel prices on the rise, the word "staycation" gained traction this year as more people opted to stay home.
2007
With the start of the Great Recession, holiday shoppers would begin to feel a financial pinch for the next few years to come.
2006
Move aside, Xbox and Playstation. The Nintendo Wii became the cool console to get in 2006 thanks to its motion-sensing controller. Little did people know the futuristic technology might actually give them tennis elbow.
2005
Elf on the Shelf hit bookstores in 2005, prompting a slew of critics and increasingly creative ways to pose the accompanying doll all December long.
PHOTO: The Elf on the Shelf
2004
Back in the White House for her husband's second term, First Lady Laura Bush chose "A Season of Merriment and Melody" for the holiday theme.
2002
It was this year that the overtly sexy Bratz dolls took over the top spot in the doll market as tweens increasingly requested the "anti-Barbies."
2001
Long before Blue Ivy or even Jay-Z was in the picture, Beyonce and the rest of Destiny's Child performed at the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center on November 28.
2000
A California power crisis that year didn't stop residents, like this one, from decking the halls with holiday lights. Hopefully it wasn't too elaborate.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1999
In an effort to promote itself as a Christmas destination, Disneyland started festooning Main Street right after Halloween this year. Talk about Christmas creep.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1998
If you were a kid in 1998, you probably asked for a Furby for Christmas. The only problem is no one could ever understand what it was saying and it didn't stop making noise. Ever!
1996
Possibly one of the hottest toy crazes of all time, Tickle Me Elmo was 1996's must-have toy. Scalpers would resell the toy for up to $1,500.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1995
Whitney Houston's rendition of the holiday classic, "Do You Hear What I Hear?," was one of the late singer's best performances. Watch it live here, and get ready to get chills.
1994
Even though Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" just its holiday song top spot, it will always be one of our faves.
1993
Some people may want to file it under Halloween, but The Nightmare Before Christmas, which hit theaters on October 29, definitely made the holidays a little spookier.
1992
Charles Dickens probably never envisioned furry puppets reenacting his Christmas classic, but that's exactly what happened in The Muppets Christmas Carol, featuring Kermit as Bob Cratchit.
PHOTO: Disney
1991
Proving family comes above all, the first President Bush gathered up his grandkids for a cozy Christmas reading session in the White House. Do we spot a mini Jenna and Barbara Bush?
1989
The only thing better than a Christmas comedy is a Christmas comedy starring Chevy Chase and the rest of the Griswold family. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation showed us just how "perfect" the holidays can be.
PHOTO: Warner Bros.
1988
On the top of kids' Christmas lists this year were Pictionary and Nintendo Entertainment Systems.
1987
Back in 1987, Diana was our favorite princess (Kate who?) and Prince William wore this adorable coat to the Christmas Day service.
1986
A series of mishaps almost ruined their holiday, but the Golden Girls still managed to celebrate Christmas – and their three Emmy awards – in 1986.
1985
This Caldecott Medal-winning book first graced children's nightstands in 1985 and it's still ranked as one of the top picture books of all time. It was even made into a movie in 2004 starring Tom Hanks.
PHOTO: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
1983
It's now considered one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time. But surprisingly, A Christmas Story only had moderate success when it was released in 1983. And we can't figure out why? Everyone can relate to a kid who really wants a specific gift (a Red Ryder air rifle, in this case) and his quest to make it happen.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1982
Baby Prince William celebrated his very first Christmas in 1982! More than three decades later, he's expecting a third little one of his own.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1981
Harking back to their Old Hollywood past, First Lady Nancy Reagan brought a dash of glamour to her first Christmas in the White House.
1980
The Rubik's cube craze caught fire in the '80s, making it one of the world's best-selling toys to date and a perennial stocking stuffer.
1979
Elmo & Patsy's cheeky carol "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" was released in 1979.
PHOTO: Christmas LPs to CD
1978
Bill Murray is no stranger to making the holidays fun. As a regular cast member, he ushered in that festive time of the year with a Christmas skit on the third season of Saturday Night Live.
1977
Although released in May of that year, kids (and everyone else!) went gaga for the first Star Wars movie. Unfortunately, George Lucas didn't have enough time to manufacture action figures for the 1977 Christmas season. So what thousands of children opened instead was an "Early Bird Certificate Package" telling them about the toy they would receive in a few months. Whomp whomp!
1976
The Donny & Marie variety show debuted that year, and launched the Osmonds to mainstream success. Thankfully, that meant audiences would enjoy the sister-brother team's first-ever holiday special, which was a hoot.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1975
The Ford family – and their two pups Liberty and Misty – took a casual portrait to ring in Christmas 1975.
1974
Perry Como hosted a Christmas special every year from 1949 to 1994. His 1978 episode featured a guest appearance by the popular '70s sibling singing duo The Carpenters.
1973
Looking as glamorous as ever, Princess Grace of Monaco read the nativity story for a television special in 1973.
1972
Sadly, Americans who turned on their television sets on December 25, 1972 would have learned of the "Christmas Bombings" in North Vietnam.
1971
Combine the counterculture movement with holiday cheer and you'll get the 1971 Vietnam protest song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
1970
New on the radio in 1970 was not only Jackson 5's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," but also "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano.
1969
Even in the midst of the Vietnam War, American troops still felt the Christmas spirit.
1968
Apollo 8 's Christmas Eve television broadcast was the most watched TV program ever. The astronauts read from the first chapter of Genesis before wishing the world a "Merry Christmas."
1967
First Daughter Lynda Bird Johnson had a Christmas wedding at the White House in December 1967.
1964
Although a copywriter named Robert L. May invented the oddball reindeer in 1939 as a marketing gimmick, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer became a bonafide holiday character in 1964 with his own feature film.
PHOTO: NBC
1962
President John F. Kennedy spent Christmas 1962 in the White House with his family – including their dogs, of course.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1961
Legendary actress Brigitte Bardot turned some heads when she hosted the 1961 holiday television special, Happy New Year Brigitte.
1960
Girls unwrapped some of the first Chatty Cathy dolls in 1960 – and were promptly asked "Do you love me?" and "Please brush my hair!" thanks to a phonograph in the doll's stomach.
1959
Barbie was one of the first "adult" dolls after her debut in 1959, and she's still making Christmas morning appearances over half a century later.
1958
The high-pitched "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" hit the radio in 1958, and racked up three Grammy Awards the same year.
1957
Dr. Seuss criticized the increasing commercialization of Christmas in 1957 (if only he could see today...) through his new book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
1956
Dwight D. Eisenhower and his family showed off some Christmas presents in this 1956 family portrait.
1955
This year, Guys and Dolls (starring a pretty dapper Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra) was all the rage in theaters during the holidays.
1954
Although the song "White Christmas" was originally performed by Bing Crosby 13 years earlier, the eponymous movie made the track a favorite in 1954.
1952
Queen Elizabeth II made her first Christmas broadcast in 1952 after her accession to the throne.
1951
While most people wear a more modest ensemble while putting up Christmas decorations, Marilyn Monroe opted for a different look in this 1951 photo. She signed her first major acting contract with Fox that year.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1950
Gene Autry first recorded "Frosty the Snowman" 65 years ago, although we still aren't exactly sure what a corn cob pipe is.
1949
Wollman Rink in Central Park opened for the first time in 1949. Since then, thousands of New Yorkers and tourists have laced up their skates at the park.
1948
Irving Berlin, Jinx Falkenburg and Bob Hope spent Christmas 1948 overseas entertaining the troops – and got into some hijinks at the same time.
1947
Miracle on 34th Street made the world believe in Santa Claus thanks to Edmund Gwenn's convincing performance as Kris Kringle himself.
1946
It's A Wonderful Life was nominated for several Academy Awards after its premiere in 1946, including best picture.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1945
The Slinky got its big break during the Christmas shopping season of 1945, when the Gimbels department store let mechanical Engineer Richard James demonstrate his new creation.
1944
Judy Garland sang one of the most popular holiday songs of all time, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," for the first time in 1944's Meet Me in St. Louis.
1943
Soldiers serving in World War II celebrated the holiday with a GI Santa Claus back in 1943.
1942
We all started dreaming of a white Christmas – just like the ones we used to know – when Bing Crosby first crooned the infamous tune in 1942.
PHOTO: Rusolclothing
1941
Three days before December 25, 1941, President Roosevelt declared war against Germany and Italy.
1940
Children serenaded FDR with Christmas carols to bring in the 1940 holiday season.
1939
1939 marked the first year Thanksgiving would be the fourth Thursday in November (instead of the last Thursday), lengthening the Christmas shopping season.
1938
Made famous by the 1983 film A Christmas Story, the Red Ryder BB Gun was introduced in 1938. ($25, amazon.com)
PHOTO: Daisy
1937
Legendary entertainer Eddie Cantor dressed up as Santa for a 1937 CBS Radio program.
1936
Eleanor and the rest of the Roosevelt family lit the White House Christmas tree yet again after FDR's landslide reelection in 1936.
1935
More than likely, these children from 1935 were asking Santa for a Buck Rogers Rocket Pistol or a sock monkey.
1934
Who can we blame for the first holiday toy madness? Cute, little Shirley Temple. After her breakout film Bright Eyes, Shirley prompted the release of the first celebrity-driven doll. About $45 million worth were sold in seven years.
1933
The first Radio Christmas Spectacular opened in 1933, and the Rockettes have performed "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" in every edition of the show since.
1932
Newcomer Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the 1932 presidential election, raising hopes for better times (and Christmases) ahead.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1931
Up until 1931, Santa wore a variety of colorful suits through the years — including red, blue, white and green — but an ad campaign created by Coca-Cola popularized the version we know today.
PHOTO: Apic
1930
The first Mickey Mouse doll was commissioned in 1930, becoming an instant holiday must-have for children across the country.
1929
After a series of stock market crashes, Christmas 1929 marked the end of the Roaring Twenties.
1928
Children who grew up in the 1920s would have been the first to see toys like yo-yos, Radio Flyer wagons ($137, amazon.com) and wooden dolls underneath their tree.
1927
The introduction of the Ford Model-A in December 1927 meant a lot of families would be getting a new car for Christmas. Ford sold over one million by February of the following year.
1926
Candy canes had already existed for centuries, but American confectioner Bob McCormack popularized the sweet treat in the middle of the decade.
1925
Prima ballerina Anna Pavlova was the picture of Christmas in 1925.
1924
Macy's flagship store on 34th Street held its first Thanksgiving day parade in 1924, complete with floats, professional bands, live animals from the Central Park Zoo and (of course) Santa Claus.
1923
President Calvin Coolidge lit the first National Christmas Tree in 1923. The 48-foot balsam fir tree was decorated with 2,500 electric bulbs in red, white and green.
1922
In spite of the Prohibition (or really, because of it) Christmas parties in 1922 featured new cocktails like martinis, sidecars and highballs.
1921
Composer Peter J. Wilhousky set English lyrics to the classic "Carol of the Bells" in 1921.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1920
Starting in 1920, there would be no more (legal) wine at Christmas dinner – at least until the Prohibition was repealed in 1933.
1919
On Boxing Day of 1919, the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to their rival the New York Yankees. You might even call it the unluckiest act of re-gifting of all time.
1918
With the end of World War I in November, Christmas in 1918 felt a little more special.
1917
Soldiers in World War I had to spend the holidays without their families, but still found a way to celebrate in the trenches.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1916
John Lloyd Wright, son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, invented Lincoln Logs ($36, amazon.com) in 1916, creating a Christmas favorite for a century to come.
PHOTO: Lincoln Logs
1915
Overseas, the famed "Christmas Truce" showed the world what the holiday is really about. German and British troops called a temporary cessation in 1915 so the troops of World War I could celebrate together.
1914
Teddy bears were a popular present in 1914, even though they were a recent invention back then. The term "teddy bear" was coined in 1905 when Theodore Roosevelt was out hunting and refused to kill a tortured bear, deeming it "unsportsmanlike."
1912
The Rockefeller Tree Lighting is known by all, but what you may not know is that it was actually Madison Square Park that hosted the nation's first public tree lighting.
1911
Sending Christmas postcards to loved ones was a big part of celebrations back in 1911, when it only cost a cent or two to mail one.
1910
One of the earliest adaptations of A Christmas Carol was released in 1910. J. Searle Dawley directed the silent film for Edison and it starred Marc McDermott and Charles S. Ogle. To this day adaptations of the movie still remain a Christmas classic.
2016
On Christmas Day 2016, singer George Michael passed away due to heart failure.
PHOTO: AFP / Stringer
2015
Miley Cyrus kicked off the 2015 festivities at the New York premiere of "A Very Murray Christmas" where she gave a stunning performance of "Silent Night."
2014
Now more than ever people love dressing up their pets for the holidays — although some pups are less than enthused about it. You likely saw at least a few Christmas cards with Santa dogs in 2014.
2013
Released in theaters in late November (right before the holiday season!), Frozen captured the hearts of every kid under 5. Okay, some were slightly older. Like 40, but there's a good reason why — we could not "Let It Go"!
2012
Yes, it's a seamless part of our vocabulary now, but it was just a few years ago that Time named "selfie" one of the top buzzwords of 2012. We bet almost all of the holiday family photos you see now are taken with a smartphone.
2011
Move over Mariah Carey – Zooey Deschanel's duo She & Him went to the top of the Christmas charts with their rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
2010
Right before Christmas in 2010, people enjoyed a beautiful, total lunar eclipse (seen here in New York City). It was the first time since 1638 that an eclipse coincided with winter solstice, making it a historic event.
2009
There's always a must-have Christmas toy, and in 2009, it was Zhu Zhu Pets. They were so popular, stores couldn't keep the plush robotic hamsters on their shelves.
2008
With fuel prices on the rise, the word "staycation" gained traction this year as more people opted to stay home.
2007
With the start of the Great Recession, holiday shoppers would begin to feel a financial pinch for the next few years to come.
2006
Move aside, Xbox and Playstation. The Nintendo Wii became the cool console to get in 2006 thanks to its motion-sensing controller. Little did people know the futuristic technology might actually give them tennis elbow.
2005
Elf on the Shelf hit bookstores in 2005, prompting a slew of critics and increasingly creative ways to pose the accompanying doll all December long.
PHOTO: The Elf on the Shelf
2004
Back in the White House for her husband's second term, First Lady Laura Bush chose "A Season of Merriment and Melody" for the holiday theme.
2002
It was this year that the overtly sexy Bratz dolls took over the top spot in the doll market as tweens increasingly requested the "anti-Barbies."
2001
Long before Blue Ivy or even Jay-Z was in the picture, Beyonce and the rest of Destiny's Child performed at the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center on November 28.
2000
A California power crisis that year didn't stop residents, like this one, from decking the halls with holiday lights. Hopefully it wasn't too elaborate.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1999
In an effort to promote itself as a Christmas destination, Disneyland started festooning Main Street right after Halloween this year. Talk about Christmas creep.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1998
If you were a kid in 1998, you probably asked for a Furby for Christmas. The only problem is no one could ever understand what it was saying and it didn't stop making noise. Ever!
1997
Nineties kids were hot for new Beanie Babies to add to their growing collections.
1996
Possibly one of the hottest toy crazes of all time, Tickle Me Elmo was 1996's must-have toy. Scalpers would resell the toy for up to $1,500.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1995
Whitney Houston's rendition of the holiday classic, "Do You Hear What I Hear?," was one of the late singer's best performances. Watch it live here, and get ready to get chills.
1994
Even though Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" just its holiday song top spot, it will always be one of our faves.
1993
Some people may want to file it under Halloween, but The Nightmare Before Christmas, which hit theaters on October 29, definitely made the holidays a little spookier.
1992
Charles Dickens probably never envisioned furry puppets reenacting his Christmas classic, but that's exactly what happened in The Muppets Christmas Carol, featuring Kermit as Bob Cratchit.
PHOTO: Disney
1991
Proving family comes above all, the first President Bush gathered up his grandkids for a cozy Christmas reading session in the White House. Do we spot a mini Jenna and Barbara Bush?
1989
The only thing better than a Christmas comedy is a Christmas comedy starring Chevy Chase and the rest of the Griswold family. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation showed us just how "perfect" the holidays can be.
PHOTO: Warner Bros.
1988
On the top of kids' Christmas lists this year were Pictionary and Nintendo Entertainment Systems.
1987
Back in 1987, Diana was our favorite princess (Kate who?) and Prince William wore this adorable coat to the Christmas Day service.
1986
A series of mishaps almost ruined their holiday, but the Golden Girls still managed to celebrate Christmas – and their three Emmy awards – in 1986.
1985
This Caldecott Medal-winning book first graced children's nightstands in 1985 and it's still ranked as one of the top picture books of all time. It was even made into a movie in 2004 starring Tom Hanks.
PHOTO: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
1983
It's now considered one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time. But surprisingly, A Christmas Story only had moderate success when it was released in 1983. And we can't figure out why? Everyone can relate to a kid who really wants a specific gift (a Red Ryder air rifle, in this case) and his quest to make it happen.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1982
Baby Prince William celebrated his very first Christmas in 1982! More than three decades later, he's expecting a third little one of his own.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1981
Harking back to their Old Hollywood past, First Lady Nancy Reagan brought a dash of glamour to her first Christmas in the White House.
1980
The Rubik's cube craze caught fire in the '80s, making it one of the world's best-selling toys to date and a perennial stocking stuffer.
1979
Elmo & Patsy's cheeky carol "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" was released in 1979.
PHOTO: Christmas LPs to CD
1978
Bill Murray is no stranger to making the holidays fun. As a regular cast member, he ushered in that festive time of the year with a Christmas skit on the third season of Saturday Night Live.
1977
Although released in May of that year, kids (and everyone else!) went gaga for the first Star Wars movie. Unfortunately, George Lucas didn't have enough time to manufacture action figures for the 1977 Christmas season. So what thousands of children opened instead was an "Early Bird Certificate Package" telling them about the toy they would receive in a few months. Whomp whomp!
1976
The Donny & Marie variety show debuted that year, and launched the Osmonds to mainstream success. Thankfully, that meant audiences would enjoy the sister-brother team's first-ever holiday special, which was a hoot.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1975
The Ford family – and their two pups Liberty and Misty – took a casual portrait to ring in Christmas 1975.
1974
Perry Como hosted a Christmas special every year from 1949 to 1994. His 1978 episode featured a guest appearance by the popular '70s sibling singing duo The Carpenters.
1973
Looking as glamorous as ever, Princess Grace of Monaco read the nativity story for a television special in 1973.
1972
Sadly, Americans who turned on their television sets on December 25, 1972 would have learned of the "Christmas Bombings" in North Vietnam.
1971
Combine the counterculture movement with holiday cheer and you'll get the 1971 Vietnam protest song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
1970
New on the radio in 1970 was not only Jackson 5's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," but also "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano.
1969
Even in the midst of the Vietnam War, American troops still felt the Christmas spirit.
1968
Apollo 8 's Christmas Eve television broadcast was the most watched TV program ever. The astronauts read from the first chapter of Genesis before wishing the world a "Merry Christmas."
1967
First Daughter Lynda Bird Johnson had a Christmas wedding at the White House in December 1967.
1964
Although a copywriter named Robert L. May invented the oddball reindeer in 1939 as a marketing gimmick, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer became a bonafide holiday character in 1964 with his own feature film.
PHOTO: NBC
1962
President John F. Kennedy spent Christmas 1962 in the White House with his family – including their dogs, of course.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1961
Legendary actress Brigitte Bardot turned some heads when she hosted the 1961 holiday television special, Happy New Year Brigitte.
1960
Girls unwrapped some of the first Chatty Cathy dolls in 1960 – and were promptly asked "Do you love me?" and "Please brush my hair!" thanks to a phonograph in the doll's stomach.
1959
Barbie was one of the first "adult" dolls after her debut in 1959, and she's still making Christmas morning appearances over half a century later.
1958
The high-pitched "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" hit the radio in 1958, and racked up three Grammy Awards the same year.
1957
Dr. Seuss criticized the increasing commercialization of Christmas in 1957 (if only he could see today...) through his new book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
1956
Dwight D. Eisenhower and his family showed off some Christmas presents in this 1956 family portrait.
1955
This year, Guys and Dolls (starring a pretty dapper Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra) was all the rage in theaters during the holidays.
1954
Although the song "White Christmas" was originally performed by Bing Crosby 13 years earlier, the eponymous movie made the track a favorite in 1954.
1952
Queen Elizabeth II made her first Christmas broadcast in 1952 after her accession to the throne.
1951
While most people wear a more modest ensemble while putting up Christmas decorations, Marilyn Monroe opted for a different look in this 1951 photo. She signed her first major acting contract with Fox that year.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1950
Gene Autry first recorded "Frosty the Snowman" 65 years ago, although we still aren't exactly sure what a corn cob pipe is.
1949
Wollman Rink in Central Park opened for the first time in 1949. Since then, thousands of New Yorkers and tourists have laced up their skates at the park.
1948
Irving Berlin, Jinx Falkenburg and Bob Hope spent Christmas 1948 overseas entertaining the troops – and got into some hijinks at the same time.
1947
Miracle on 34th Street made the world believe in Santa Claus thanks to Edmund Gwenn's convincing performance as Kris Kringle himself.
1946
It's A Wonderful Life was nominated for several Academy Awards after its premiere in 1946, including best picture.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1945
The Slinky got its big break during the Christmas shopping season of 1945, when the Gimbels department store let mechanical Engineer Richard James demonstrate his new creation.
1944
Judy Garland sang one of the most popular holiday songs of all time, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," for the first time in 1944's Meet Me in St. Louis.
1943
Soldiers serving in World War II celebrated the holiday with a GI Santa Claus back in 1943.
1942
We all started dreaming of a white Christmas – just like the ones we used to know – when Bing Crosby first crooned the infamous tune in 1942.
PHOTO: Rusolclothing
1941
Three days before December 25, 1941, President Roosevelt declared war against Germany and Italy.
1940
Children serenaded FDR with Christmas carols to bring in the 1940 holiday season.
1939
1939 marked the first year Thanksgiving would be the fourth Thursday in November (instead of the last Thursday), lengthening the Christmas shopping season.
1938
Made famous by the 1983 film A Christmas Story, the Red Ryder BB Gun was introduced in 1938. ($25, amazon.com)
PHOTO: Daisy
1937
Legendary entertainer Eddie Cantor dressed up as Santa for a 1937 CBS Radio program.
1936
Eleanor and the rest of the Roosevelt family lit the White House Christmas tree yet again after FDR's landslide reelection in 1936.
1935
More than likely, these children from 1935 were asking Santa for a Buck Rogers Rocket Pistol or a sock monkey.
1934
Who can we blame for the first holiday toy madness? Cute, little Shirley Temple. After her breakout film Bright Eyes, Shirley prompted the release of the first celebrity-driven doll. About $45 million worth were sold in seven years.
1933
The first Radio Christmas Spectacular opened in 1933, and the Rockettes have performed "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" in every edition of the show since.
1932
Newcomer Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the 1932 presidential election, raising hopes for better times (and Christmases) ahead.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1931
Up until 1931, Santa wore a variety of colorful suits through the years — including red, blue, white and green — but an ad campaign created by Coca-Cola popularized the version we know today.
PHOTO: Apic
1930
The first Mickey Mouse doll was commissioned in 1930, becoming an instant holiday must-have for children across the country.
1929
After a series of stock market crashes, Christmas 1929 marked the end of the Roaring Twenties.
1928
Children who grew up in the 1920s would have been the first to see toys like yo-yos, Radio Flyer wagons ($137, amazon.com) and wooden dolls underneath their tree.
1927
The introduction of the Ford Model-A in December 1927 meant a lot of families would be getting a new car for Christmas. Ford sold over one million by February of the following year.
1926
Candy canes had already existed for centuries, but American confectioner Bob McCormack popularized the sweet treat in the middle of the decade.
1925
Prima ballerina Anna Pavlova was the picture of Christmas in 1925.
1924
Macy's flagship store on 34th Street held its first Thanksgiving day parade in 1924, complete with floats, professional bands, live animals from the Central Park Zoo and (of course) Santa Claus.
1923
President Calvin Coolidge lit the first National Christmas Tree in 1923. The 48-foot balsam fir tree was decorated with 2,500 electric bulbs in red, white and green.
1922
In spite of the Prohibition (or really, because of it) Christmas parties in 1922 featured new cocktails like martinis, sidecars and highballs.
1921
Composer Peter J. Wilhousky set English lyrics to the classic "Carol of the Bells" in 1921.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1920
Starting in 1920, there would be no more (legal) wine at Christmas dinner – at least until the Prohibition was repealed in 1933.
1919
On Boxing Day of 1919, the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to their rival the New York Yankees. You might even call it the unluckiest act of re-gifting of all time.
1918
With the end of World War I in November, Christmas in 1918 felt a little more special.
1917
Soldiers in World War I had to spend the holidays without their families, but still found a way to celebrate in the trenches.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1916
John Lloyd Wright, son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, invented Lincoln Logs ($36, amazon.com) in 1916, creating a Christmas favorite for a century to come.
PHOTO: Lincoln Logs
1915
Overseas, the famed "Christmas Truce" showed the world what the holiday is really about. German and British troops called a temporary cessation in 1915 so the troops of World War I could celebrate together.
1914
Teddy bears were a popular present in 1914, even though they were a recent invention back then. The term "teddy bear" was coined in 1905 when Theodore Roosevelt was out hunting and refused to kill a tortured bear, deeming it "unsportsmanlike."
1912
The Rockefeller Tree Lighting is known by all, but what you may not know is that it was actually Madison Square Park that hosted the nation's first public tree lighting.
1911
Sending Christmas postcards to loved ones was a big part of celebrations back in 1911, when it only cost a cent or two to mail one.
1910
One of the earliest adaptations of A Christmas Carol was released in 1910. J. Searle Dawley directed the silent film for Edison and it starred Marc McDermott and Charles S. Ogle. To this day adaptations of the movie still remain a Christmas classic.
2016
On Christmas Day 2016, singer George Michael passed away due to heart failure.
PHOTO: AFP / Stringer
2015
Miley Cyrus kicked off the 2015 festivities at the New York premiere of "A Very Murray Christmas" where she gave a stunning performance of "Silent Night."
2014
Now more than ever people love dressing up their pets for the holidays — although some pups are less than enthused about it. You likely saw at least a few Christmas cards with Santa dogs in 2014.
2013
Released in theaters in late November (right before the holiday season!), Frozen captured the hearts of every kid under 5. Okay, some were slightly older. Like 40, but there's a good reason why — we could not "Let It Go"!
2012
Yes, it's a seamless part of our vocabulary now, but it was just a few years ago that Time named "selfie" one of the top buzzwords of 2012. We bet almost all of the holiday family photos you see now are taken with a smartphone.
2011
Move over Mariah Carey – Zooey Deschanel's duo She & Him went to the top of the Christmas charts with their rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
2010
Right before Christmas in 2010, people enjoyed a beautiful, total lunar eclipse (seen here in New York City). It was the first time since 1638 that an eclipse coincided with winter solstice, making it a historic event.
2009
There's always a must-have Christmas toy, and in 2009, it was Zhu Zhu Pets. They were so popular, stores couldn't keep the plush robotic hamsters on their shelves.
2008
With fuel prices on the rise, the word "staycation" gained traction this year as more people opted to stay home.
2007
With the start of the Great Recession, holiday shoppers would begin to feel a financial pinch for the next few years to come.
2006
Move aside, Xbox and Playstation. The Nintendo Wii became the cool console to get in 2006 thanks to its motion-sensing controller. Little did people know the futuristic technology might actually give them tennis elbow.
2005
Elf on the Shelf hit bookstores in 2005, prompting a slew of critics and increasingly creative ways to pose the accompanying doll all December long.
PHOTO: The Elf on the Shelf
2004
Back in the White House for her husband's second term, First Lady Laura Bush chose "A Season of Merriment and Melody" for the holiday theme.
2002
It was this year that the overtly sexy Bratz dolls took over the top spot in the doll market as tweens increasingly requested the "anti-Barbies."
2001
Long before Blue Ivy or even Jay-Z was in the picture, Beyonce and the rest of Destiny's Child performed at the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center on November 28.
2000
A California power crisis that year didn't stop residents, like this one, from decking the halls with holiday lights. Hopefully it wasn't too elaborate.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1999
In an effort to promote itself as a Christmas destination, Disneyland started festooning Main Street right after Halloween this year. Talk about Christmas creep.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1998
If you were a kid in 1998, you probably asked for a Furby for Christmas. The only problem is no one could ever understand what it was saying and it didn't stop making noise. Ever!
1997
Nineties kids were hot for new Beanie Babies to add to their growing collections.
1996
Possibly one of the hottest toy crazes of all time, Tickle Me Elmo was 1996's must-have toy. Scalpers would resell the toy for up to $1,500.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1995
Whitney Houston's rendition of the holiday classic, "Do You Hear What I Hear?," was one of the late singer's best performances. Watch it live here, and get ready to get chills.
1994
Even though Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" just its holiday song top spot, it will always be one of our faves.
1993
Some people may want to file it under Halloween, but The Nightmare Before Christmas, which hit theaters on October 29, definitely made the holidays a little spookier.
1992
Charles Dickens probably never envisioned furry puppets reenacting his Christmas classic, but that's exactly what happened in The Muppets Christmas Carol, featuring Kermit as Bob Cratchit.
PHOTO: Disney
1991
Proving family comes above all, the first President Bush gathered up his grandkids for a cozy Christmas reading session in the White House. Do we spot a mini Jenna and Barbara Bush?
1989
The only thing better than a Christmas comedy is a Christmas comedy starring Chevy Chase and the rest of the Griswold family. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation showed us just how "perfect" the holidays can be.
PHOTO: Warner Bros.
1988
On the top of kids' Christmas lists this year were Pictionary and Nintendo Entertainment Systems.
1987
Back in 1987, Diana was our favorite princess (Kate who?) and Prince William wore this adorable coat to the Christmas Day service.
1986
A series of mishaps almost ruined their holiday, but the Golden Girls still managed to celebrate Christmas – and their three Emmy awards – in 1986.
1985
This Caldecott Medal-winning book first graced children's nightstands in 1985 and it's still ranked as one of the top picture books of all time. It was even made into a movie in 2004 starring Tom Hanks.
PHOTO: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
1983
It's now considered one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time. But surprisingly, A Christmas Story only had moderate success when it was released in 1983. And we can't figure out why? Everyone can relate to a kid who really wants a specific gift (a Red Ryder air rifle, in this case) and his quest to make it happen.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1982
Baby Prince William celebrated his very first Christmas in 1982! More than three decades later, he's expecting a third little one of his own.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1981
Harking back to their Old Hollywood past, First Lady Nancy Reagan brought a dash of glamour to her first Christmas in the White House.
1980
The Rubik's cube craze caught fire in the '80s, making it one of the world's best-selling toys to date and a perennial stocking stuffer.
1979
Elmo & Patsy's cheeky carol "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" was released in 1979.
PHOTO: Christmas LPs to CD
1978
Bill Murray is no stranger to making the holidays fun. As a regular cast member, he ushered in that festive time of the year with a Christmas skit on the third season of Saturday Night Live.
1977
Although released in May of that year, kids (and everyone else!) went gaga for the first Star Wars movie. Unfortunately, George Lucas didn't have enough time to manufacture action figures for the 1977 Christmas season. So what thousands of children opened instead was an "Early Bird Certificate Package" telling them about the toy they would receive in a few months. Whomp whomp!
1976
The Donny & Marie variety show debuted that year, and launched the Osmonds to mainstream success. Thankfully, that meant audiences would enjoy the sister-brother team's first-ever holiday special, which was a hoot.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1975
The Ford family – and their two pups Liberty and Misty – took a casual portrait to ring in Christmas 1975.
1974
Perry Como hosted a Christmas special every year from 1949 to 1994. His 1978 episode featured a guest appearance by the popular '70s sibling singing duo The Carpenters.
1973
Looking as glamorous as ever, Princess Grace of Monaco read the nativity story for a television special in 1973.
1972
Sadly, Americans who turned on their television sets on December 25, 1972 would have learned of the "Christmas Bombings" in North Vietnam.
1971
Combine the counterculture movement with holiday cheer and you'll get the 1971 Vietnam protest song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
1970
New on the radio in 1970 was not only Jackson 5's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," but also "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano.
1969
Even in the midst of the Vietnam War, American troops still felt the Christmas spirit.
1968
Apollo 8 's Christmas Eve television broadcast was the most watched TV program ever. The astronauts read from the first chapter of Genesis before wishing the world a "Merry Christmas."
1967
First Daughter Lynda Bird Johnson had a Christmas wedding at the White House in December 1967.
1964
Although a copywriter named Robert L. May invented the oddball reindeer in 1939 as a marketing gimmick, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer became a bonafide holiday character in 1964 with his own feature film.
PHOTO: NBC
1962
President John F. Kennedy spent Christmas 1962 in the White House with his family – including their dogs, of course.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1961
Legendary actress Brigitte Bardot turned some heads when she hosted the 1961 holiday television special, Happy New Year Brigitte.
1960
Girls unwrapped some of the first Chatty Cathy dolls in 1960 – and were promptly asked "Do you love me?" and "Please brush my hair!" thanks to a phonograph in the doll's stomach.
1959
Barbie was one of the first "adult" dolls after her debut in 1959, and she's still making Christmas morning appearances over half a century later.
1958
The high-pitched "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" hit the radio in 1958, and racked up three Grammy Awards the same year.
1957
Dr. Seuss criticized the increasing commercialization of Christmas in 1957 (if only he could see today...) through his new book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
1956
Dwight D. Eisenhower and his family showed off some Christmas presents in this 1956 family portrait.
1955
This year, Guys and Dolls (starring a pretty dapper Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra) was all the rage in theaters during the holidays.
1954
Although the song "White Christmas" was originally performed by Bing Crosby 13 years earlier, the eponymous movie made the track a favorite in 1954.
1952
Queen Elizabeth II made her first Christmas broadcast in 1952 after her accession to the throne.
1951
While most people wear a more modest ensemble while putting up Christmas decorations, Marilyn Monroe opted for a different look in this 1951 photo. She signed her first major acting contract with Fox that year.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1950
Gene Autry first recorded "Frosty the Snowman" 65 years ago, although we still aren't exactly sure what a corn cob pipe is.
1949
Wollman Rink in Central Park opened for the first time in 1949. Since then, thousands of New Yorkers and tourists have laced up their skates at the park.
1948
Irving Berlin, Jinx Falkenburg and Bob Hope spent Christmas 1948 overseas entertaining the troops – and got into some hijinks at the same time.
1947
Miracle on 34th Street made the world believe in Santa Claus thanks to Edmund Gwenn's convincing performance as Kris Kringle himself.
1946
It's A Wonderful Life was nominated for several Academy Awards after its premiere in 1946, including best picture.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1945
The Slinky got its big break during the Christmas shopping season of 1945, when the Gimbels department store let mechanical Engineer Richard James demonstrate his new creation.
1944
Judy Garland sang one of the most popular holiday songs of all time, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," for the first time in 1944's Meet Me in St. Louis.
1943
Soldiers serving in World War II celebrated the holiday with a GI Santa Claus back in 1943.
1942
We all started dreaming of a white Christmas – just like the ones we used to know – when Bing Crosby first crooned the infamous tune in 1942.
PHOTO: Rusolclothing
1941
Three days before December 25, 1941, President Roosevelt declared war against Germany and Italy.
1940
Children serenaded FDR with Christmas carols to bring in the 1940 holiday season.
1939
1939 marked the first year Thanksgiving would be the fourth Thursday in November (instead of the last Thursday), lengthening the Christmas shopping season.
1938
Made famous by the 1983 film A Christmas Story, the Red Ryder BB Gun was introduced in 1938. ($25, amazon.com)
PHOTO: Daisy
1937
Legendary entertainer Eddie Cantor dressed up as Santa for a 1937 CBS Radio program.
1936
Eleanor and the rest of the Roosevelt family lit the White House Christmas tree yet again after FDR's landslide reelection in 1936.
1935
More than likely, these children from 1935 were asking Santa for a Buck Rogers Rocket Pistol or a sock monkey.
1934
Who can we blame for the first holiday toy madness? Cute, little Shirley Temple. After her breakout film Bright Eyes, Shirley prompted the release of the first celebrity-driven doll. About $45 million worth were sold in seven years.
1933
The first Radio Christmas Spectacular opened in 1933, and the Rockettes have performed "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" in every edition of the show since.
1932
Newcomer Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the 1932 presidential election, raising hopes for better times (and Christmases) ahead.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1931
Up until 1931, Santa wore a variety of colorful suits through the years — including red, blue, white and green — but an ad campaign created by Coca-Cola popularized the version we know today.
PHOTO: Apic
1930
The first Mickey Mouse doll was commissioned in 1930, becoming an instant holiday must-have for children across the country.
1929
After a series of stock market crashes, Christmas 1929 marked the end of the Roaring Twenties.
1928
Children who grew up in the 1920s would have been the first to see toys like yo-yos, Radio Flyer wagons ($137, amazon.com) and wooden dolls underneath their tree.
1927
The introduction of the Ford Model-A in December 1927 meant a lot of families would be getting a new car for Christmas. Ford sold over one million by February of the following year.
1926
Candy canes had already existed for centuries, but American confectioner Bob McCormack popularized the sweet treat in the middle of the decade.
1925
Prima ballerina Anna Pavlova was the picture of Christmas in 1925.
1924
Macy's flagship store on 34th Street held its first Thanksgiving day parade in 1924, complete with floats, professional bands, live animals from the Central Park Zoo and (of course) Santa Claus.
1923
President Calvin Coolidge lit the first National Christmas Tree in 1923. The 48-foot balsam fir tree was decorated with 2,500 electric bulbs in red, white and green.
1922
In spite of the Prohibition (or really, because of it) Christmas parties in 1922 featured new cocktails like martinis, sidecars and highballs.
1921
Composer Peter J. Wilhousky set English lyrics to the classic "Carol of the Bells" in 1921.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1920
Starting in 1920, there would be no more (legal) wine at Christmas dinner – at least until the Prohibition was repealed in 1933.
1919
On Boxing Day of 1919, the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to their rival the New York Yankees. You might even call it the unluckiest act of re-gifting of all time.
1918
With the end of World War I in November, Christmas in 1918 felt a little more special.
1917
Soldiers in World War I had to spend the holidays without their families, but still found a way to celebrate in the trenches.
PHOTO: Getty Images
1916
John Lloyd Wright, son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, invented Lincoln Logs ($36, amazon.com) in 1916, creating a Christmas favorite for a century to come.
PHOTO: Lincoln Logs
1915
Overseas, the famed "Christmas Truce" showed the world what the holiday is really about. German and British troops called a temporary cessation in 1915 so the troops of World War I could celebrate together.
1914
Teddy bears were a popular present in 1914, even though they were a recent invention back then. The term "teddy bear" was coined in 1905 when Theodore Roosevelt was out hunting and refused to kill a tortured bear, deeming it "unsportsmanlike."
1912
The Rockefeller Tree Lighting is known by all, but what you may not know is that it was actually Madison Square Park that hosted the nation's first public tree lighting.
1911
Sending Christmas postcards to loved ones was a big part of celebrations back in 1911, when it only cost a cent or two to mail one.
1910
One of the earliest adaptations of A Christmas Carol was released in 1910. J. Searle Dawley directed the silent film for Edison and it starred Marc McDermott and Charles S. Ogle. To this day adaptations of the movie still remain a Christmas classic.
Let's take a walk down memory lane
Like everything else in life, Christmas has definitely changed over the years. Many aspects of the holiday, especially when it comes to gift giving and decorating, have become much more elaborate. But if you miss the simpler times like we do, take a walk down holiday memory lane with us as we explore over 100 years of Christmas.