We are deep into the Holiday season right now and now that I’m not stuck in bed with the cold, I can finish my shopping and get some presents wrapped (thank goodness, I was so far behind).

For today’s post I wanted to share with my readers images of  what the Christmas season looked like in Toronto in years gone by, particularly 1960s and older.

vintage Christmas TTC Ad
Vintage TTC Ad. Source: Blog TO

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Vintage Images Of Toronto Christmas Seasons

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Christmas Fleet 1956 outside of the CNE Prince’s Gates.

1950s Vintage Photo: T.T.C. Christmas Fleet, G.M.C. TDH 4512 buses and 1 Can-Car trolley coach. Photo taken at C.N.E. Prince's Gates, [Toronto, Ont.] Dec. 16, 1956.
Source: Archives Canada

The hustle and bustle of the season at shopping malls is not just a modern-day issue. This image from downtown Toronto in 1935 shows you the traffic jams that have been going on for days leading up to Christmas.

Looking south on Yonge St, opposite centre line of Trinity Square; like this from Queen St, to Dundas, every afternoon for days before Christmas; 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 24, 1935, (Traffic Study Department)
Source: Toronto Archives

1920s St. Lawrence Market building all decked out for Christmas.

1920s vintage photo of St. Lawrence Market building all decked out for Christmas.
Source: Toronto Archives

City Hall Christmas Tree in the 1950s (now called ‘Old City Hall’). Residents of Toronto will notice the ‘Eaton store’ in the background. This is now a mall called ‘Toronto Eaton Center’ but no longer holds an Eaton store.

1950s vintage photo: City Hall Christmas Tree in the 1950s (now called 'Old City Hall'). Residents of Toronto will notice the 'Eaton store' in the background
Source: Toronto Archives

Christmas light tour circa 1950s.

1950s vintage photo Toronto christmas lights tour featuring a 1950s bus taking people to look at lights.
Source: Toronto Archives

Toronto annual Santa Claus Parade (see Blog post HERE).

1950s vintage photo of a float in the Toronto Santa Claus parade in 1956. The float features ladies on sleds with snowman and the queen or princess of the parade.
Source: Toronto Archives

December 23rd, 1930-Childrens Christmas Party via the Lions Club. Can someone explain why there are kids dressed as clowns in the crowd?

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of Christmas Parties

1930s Vintage Photo: December 23rd, 1930-Childrens Christmas Party via the Lions Club.
Source: Toronto Archives

Snapshot of what was under the Christmas Tree at Miss Marjorie Lang’s home in 1930s Toronto.

1930s vintage photo: Snapshot of what was under the Christmas Tree at Miss Marjorie Lang's home in 1930s Toronto.
Source: Toronto Archives

Christmas windows at one of the big department stores in Toronto (either Simpsons, or Eatons. I believe Simpsons).

Vintage image of people looking at a Christmas window display at either Simpsons or Eatons.

Christmas Carols for everyone! Wanting to make sure that everyone remembered their carols, the Toronto Telegram inserted the below leaflet into their paper for their readers to have (circa 1960s).

1960s christmas carols vintage paper insert Toronto
Source: Etsy-UNSC2

Santa’s helpers are everywhere, like on airplanes (Trans Canada Airlines to be exact) taking the first consignment airmail from Toronto to Winnipeg in 1939.

1930s vintage photo: First consignment of airmail flown by Trans-Canada Air Lines from Toronto to Winnipeg with Santa making the delivery.
Source: Archives Canada

Family in Toronto unwrapping their Christmas presents in 1953 (notice the vintage Archies and Krazy Kat comics? ohhh want!).

1950s vintage photo: Family in Toronto unwrapping their Christmas presents in 1953 (notice the vintage Archies and Krazy Kat comics?
Source: Flickr-pjs_deceased

And there you have a snapshot into what Toronto looked like during Christmas of times gone by. I hope you enjoyed taking a peek into another view of the city I live in.

Further Reading:

Liz 🙂