AA-2026-5A9718
On the image
The poinsettia was the unchallenged monarch of Christmas decoration in the 1970s, its vibrant red bracts serving as a reliable splash of colour against whatever muted domestic palette was currently in vogue. It usually came wrapped in crinkled green foil, a material chosen for its festive appearance and its ability to loudly announce any attempts at rearrangement.
Flanking this floral centrepiece are two black twisted candles, seated in small ceramic Santa Claus heads that appear to be simultaneously smiling and judging. This specific combination of holiday cheer and slightly ominous candle choice was perfectly acceptable in the era, suggesting a broader definition of festive than is typically applied today.
The overall arrangement speaks to an earnest, calculated effort to bring warmth and festivity into the home, even if the individual components, taken separately, suggest the decorating committee might have been under budget and slightly confused.
The historian's note
This image captures a typical domestic holiday decoration setup from the 1970s, centred around a poinsettia plant. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) were, and remain, a popular seasonal plant for Christmas decoration in North America, widely cultivated and sold in the weeks leading up to the holiday season.
The use of decorative foil wraps for potted plants was common, as were kitschy ceramic candle holders featuring holiday figures like Santa Claus. The choice of black candles, whilst less common in contemporary Christmas decor, reflects a different aesthetic sensibility prevalent in the 1970s, which often incorporated bolder, less traditional colour schemes into holiday themes. This scene exemplifies the popular, mass-market holiday decorating trends of the decade.
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1970s Poinsettia and Kitsch Holiday Decor. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-5A9718. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/1970s-poinsettia-and-kitsch-holiday-decor.
@misc{aaAA20265A9718,
title = {1970s Poinsettia and Kitsch Holiday Decor},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-5A9718},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/1970s-poinsettia-and-kitsch-holiday-decor}
}TY - ART TI - 1970s Poinsettia and Kitsch Holiday Decor PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-5A9718 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/1970s-poinsettia-and-kitsch-holiday-decor ER -
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