By Emma Thom on 17 December 2013

Christmas scenes from our collection

Christmas is number one in the UK celebration calendar, so it's no wonder that festive photographs in our collection are as common as the Christmas jumper.

Here’s a selection of photographs from our collection showing some familiar (and not so familiar) Yuletide scenes. Happy holidays, everybody!

Father Christmas at Selfridge's after a day's work, 18 December 1964, C Smith © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — Father Christmas at Selfridge’s after a day’s work, 18 December 1964, C Smith © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

Children gaze at the Christmas tree, St Martin in the Fields, London, 19 December 1937, Reuben Saidman © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — Children gaze at the Christmas tree, St Martin in the Fields, London, 19 December 1937, Reuben Saidman © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

'Just out of bed - Christmas morning', 1897, unknown photographer © National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA — ‘Just out of bed – Christmas morning’, 1897, unknown photographer © Science Museum Group collection

Fred Smith aka Father Christmas on piano in charity sing-song, 20 December 1956, Planet News Ltd © National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — Fred Smith aka Father Christmas on piano in charity sing-song, 20 December 1956, Planet News Ltd © Science Museum Group collection

Young shopper, 22 December 1937, Edward George Malindine © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — Young shopper, 22 December 1937, Edward George Malindine © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

'Father Christmas with kiddies around an old-fashioned fireplace', 3 December 1932, James Jarché © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — ‘Father Christmas with kiddies around an old-fashioned fireplace’, 3 December 1932, James Jarché © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

Christmas carols in Trafalgar Square, 20 December 1950, F Greaves © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — Christmas carols in Trafalgar Square, 20 December 1950, F Greaves © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

Woman carrying Christmas crackers, 14 December 1932, George Woodbine © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — Woman carrying Christmas crackers, 14 December 1932, George Woodbine © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

Synthetic snowstorm in a lecture at the Royal Institution, 3 January 1933, James Jarché © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPLThe Royal Institution's annual Christmas lecture series for young people was founded by Michael Faraday in 1826. — Synthetic snowstorm in a lecture at the Royal Institution, 3 January 1933, James Jarché © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection
The Royal Institution’s annual Christmas lecture series for young people was founded by Michael Faraday in 1826.

'My Christmas Presents', 1866, Captain S Mortimer, The Royal Photographic Society Collection © National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — ‘My Christmas Presents’, 1866, Captain S Mortimer © The Royal Photographic Society Collection

Queen Elizabeth II makes her Christmas broadcast, December 1957 © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL1957 was the first year that the Queen's broadcast was fully televised — Queen Elizabeth II makes her Christmas broadcast, December 1957 © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection
1957 was the first year that the Queen’s broadcast was fully televised.

'Christmas is Coming', 7 December 1954, A Tanner © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — ‘Christmas is Coming’, 7 December 1954, A Tanner © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

Christmas home, San Francisco, 1971, Tony Ray-Jones © National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — Christmas home, San Francisco, 1971, Tony Ray-Jones © Science Museum Group collection

British troops cook their Christmas meal on the Western Front, c. 1917, London News Agency Photos © National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA — British troops cook their Christmas meal on the Western Front, c. 1917, London News Agency Photos © Science Museum Group collection

The drummer boy, unknown photographer © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — The drummer boy, unknown photographer © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

Welsh miners singing carols, 23 December 1943, Jack Esten © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — Welsh miners singing carols, 23 December 1943, Jack Esten © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

'Christmas shopping rush - one final glance in the window', 20 December 1933, James Jarché © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — ‘Christmas shopping rush—one final glance in the window’, 20 December 1933, James Jarché © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

Joan Jones with baby Doreen, 1921, George Davison © National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL. Creative Commons BY-NC-SADavison sent this contemporary nativity scene as a Christmas greeting in December 1921. — Joan Jones with baby Doreen, 1921, George Davison © Science Museum Group collection
Davison sent this contemporary nativity scene as a Christmas greeting in December 1921.

X-ray of a box of Christmas crackers, 1930, unknown photographer, The Royal Photographic Society Collection © National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA — X-ray of a box of Christmas crackers, 1930, unknown photographer © The Royal Photographic Society Collection

A carte-de-visite Christmas card of a little girl in a wicker hamper, c. 1875, unknown photographer © National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA — A carte-de-visite Christmas card of a little girl in a wicker hamper, c. 1875, unknown photographer © Science Museum Group collection

School children sorting the Christmas mail, 14 December 1942, Fox Photos Ltd © National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA — Schoolchildren sorting the Christmas mail, 14 December 1942, Fox Photos Ltd © Science Museum Group collection

'Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe arriving at Covent Garden, London', 18 December 1933, Harold Tomlin © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — ‘Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe arriving at Covent Garden, London’, 18 December 1933, Harold Tomlin © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

'Straighten up those beards, there...!', 12 December 1960, Terry Fincher © Daily Herald / National Media Museum, Bradford / SSPL — ‘Straighten up those beards, there…!’, 12 December 1960, Terry Fincher © Daily Herald / Science Museum Group collection

The Science and Society Picture Library have also made a selection of festive favourites and Christmas shopping scenes. Today is your last chance (for UK residents) to order your Christmas presents from our print store. Visit the SSPL print store to order online.

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