Morgan Williams
The traditions of Christmas were ad hoc in my house growing up. We usually managed a decorated tree which usually appeared a few days before Santa and lasted for several months after the big day. We didn’t have Xmas clutter to adorn shelves, or nativity scenes in the front window like some houses. One year we somehow ended up with a can of spray snow though. I enthusiastically covered every window not realising how hard it would be to remove or see through. It stubbornly remained for many years.
The first time I came across Christmas art was a friend’s mother who took season’s cheer so seriously she replaced all the art in their entire house especially for the occasion. There were more than a dozen specially framed paintings and prints of various sizes featuring religious scenes, pictures of snowmen, cute cottages with glowing lights and winter scapes with decorated trees everywhere. Special lamp shades, napkins, tea towels and bowls of treats everywhere. They must have had a large cupboard dedicated to storing all these annual festivities. It made our lone tree seem a little lacking.
The big tradition in our house growing up was making Christmas cards. Mum and I would spend hours hand crafting our designs and discussing family and friends near and far. The cards didn’t necessarily look traditional but somehow had a festive feel to them. One year I got old sponges, cut them into tree shapes, decorated them and stuck them onto cards. There seemed to be no end to the fun we could have with our Christmas Art. Being in the graphic design business meant I used to have clients contacting us months before Christmas for annual designs. One client made chocolate blowflies, so we covered their card with flies in the shape of a tree. There seemed to be no end to the silly things we could do in the name of Christmas!
Slowly these hand crafted creations have given way to electronic messages. Current statistics show a continual steady decline in the sending of annual cards, down around 25% in the past decade. I don’t think it would occur to either of my Gen Z kids to send a Christmas card, or a letter for that matter. Interestingly the first recorded Christmas card was sent to King James I in 1611 with a season greeting covered in roses. The first commercially produced card was by John Calcott in 1843 depicting a family celebrating their holidays. Things really took off in the 19th century with much of the imagery we now associate with Christmas attributed to Coca-Cola ads from the 1930s. Inspired by the Dutch tradition of St Nicolas, Santa grew into a rotund fella sporting a bright red outfit that tied it back to Coke’s brand.
Regardless of faith or consumer sentiments the desire to celebrate and acknowledge the annual passing of time is strong for most of us. Whether you like to express creatively via art or cooking or gift making during summer solstice or religious traditions or family gatherings, enjoy the summer ahead. Catch you all next year for more artful discussion, reflections and events at Radius, the home of art in Hepburn.
