From sermons to holiday charity appeals, Christmas was and still is a time to get a message across!

Rival Claims: Christmas in the City and the Country (Godey's, 1860)

Christmas Heralds, by Cuthbert Bede (Leisure Hour, 1868)

The signs that indicate Christmas is coming, from holiday advertisements in the newspaper to the village mistletoe-gatherers.

A Visit from St. Nicholas (St. Nicholas, 1875)

A facsimile of the original handwritten poem by Clement Moore, with a brief explanation.

Christmas (Demorest, 1879)

A brief editorial on keeping the holiday spirit.

Christmas (Demorest, 1880)

Another look at ways to keep Christmas in the right spirit.

Christmas, by His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

A Christmas sermon.

How to Prepare for and Keep Christmas, by Ruth Lamb (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

The author particularly takes exception to those teachers who insist upon giving their students "just a little work to do" during their holiday, and advises boys and girls to have fun.

A Word About Christmas, by Susan Anna Brown (Century Magazine, 1884A)

Suggestions on ensuring that what should be a pleasure does not become a burden.

Christmas with Our Poets, by T.F. Thiselton Dyer (Girl's Own Paper, 1885)

How poets have written about Christmas.

An Appeal (Girl's Own Paper, 1887-1892)

An ongoing appeal for donations to schools and missions in India, with letters detailing how cards and gifts were received.

Christmas Charity (Harper's Monthly, 1889)

An editorial look at Christmas and charity in America.

Editor's Easy Chair, by Charles Dudley Warner (Harper's Monthly, 1891A)

A Victorian look at the question of materialism vs. Puritanism at Christmas.

A Vision of St. Nicholas, by C.C. Moore (The Strand, 1891B)

A charming presentation of the classic poem.

At Home with the Editor, by Edward W. Bok (Ladies' Home Journal, 1893)

Some thoughts on celebrating the meaning of Christmas.

Letters to Santa Claus, by Mary Davis (The Strand, 1897)

More than 100 years ago, children were in the habit of writing to St. Nick to express their wishes for the holidays - even though they weren't always quite certain where he lived!

The Author of "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clarence Cook (Century Magazine, 1898A)

How the Queen Spends Christmas, by the Marquis of Lorne (The Youth's Companion, 1898)

Our Christmas Plum-Puddings, by Ernest Williams (Windsor Magazine, 1898A)

Figures on costs and quantities of the imports of the various ingredients in a typical British plum-pudding.

What Children Ask of Santa Claus, by Patti Lyle Collins (Ladies Home Journal, 1898)

Facsimiles of children's letters to Santa.

About Santa Claus (St. Nicholas, 1900)

Charming editorial on the nature of the magazine's namesake.

The Children's Christmas, As Depicted by Famous Black-and-White Artists, by A.B. Cooper (Sunday Strand, 1902)

A charming selection of paintings of children, rich and poor, celebrating Christmas.

Christmas with the Black-and-White Artists, by F. Klickmann (Windsor Magazine, 1902A)

A marvelous selection of holiday images.

The Humour of Christmas, by James Walter Smith (The Strand, 1902)

A look at Christmas in contemporary cartoons.