1. “Diet Away the Holiday Guilt!”
Weight-loss products have a long history of intrusive and inappropriate advertising, but vintage ads were especially aggressive. Some encouraged women to shed “unsightly holiday pounds” using everything from dubious diet pills to laxatives. They often framed these products as necessary for being desirable or loved, particularly during the holidays. While diet culture still persists in some forms, modern audiences are more critical of fat-shaming and unrealistic beauty standards. Such messaging today would spark an immediate backlash for its insensitivity and health risks.
2. Cigarettes as the Perfect Holiday Gift
Imagine unwrapping a pack of cigarettes under the Christmas tree. It’s wild, but back in the mid-’50s, cigarette companies like Lucky Strike ran holiday ads showcasing Santa himself puffing away or presenting cartons of smokes as the ideal gift for loved ones. These ads were all about glamour and sophistication, ignoring the growing health concerns about smoking. Today, with our heightened awareness of the dangers of tobacco, such ads would be deemed not just inappropriate but outright dangerous. The idea of marketing cigarettes with festive cheer now feels unsettling, showing how much our perceptions have evolved.
3. “For the Woman Who Does It All… a New Vacuum!”
Ads from the ’50s and ’60s frequently played into gender roles, and holiday commercials were no exception. One popular trope was gifting women household appliances like vacuums, irons, or even ovens to thank them for their hard work. These ads framed domestic duties as a woman’s ultimate joy, often showing beaming wives excited about their new “toy.” Today, these would come off as tone-deaf and sexist, completely out of touch with the shared responsibilities modern families strive for. It’s a reminder of how advertising reflected—and perpetuated—narrow gender norms.
4. “Feed Your Kids Lard!”
Believe it or not, lard was marketed as a wholesome holiday cooking ingredient for families back in the day. Ads featured jolly kids diving into treats prepared with generous helpings of pure animal fat, with taglines like “Nothing says love like lard!” At the time, it was seen as a versatile and affordable kitchen staple. However, with today’s focus on nutrition and health, suggesting that families base their holiday meals around lard would raise plenty of eyebrows. It’s a testament to how much our understanding of diet and wellness has shifted.
5. Alcohol for Every Member of the Family
Holiday liquor ads from the ’30s and ’40s often depicted alcohol as a gift suitable for anyone—including moms, dads, and even younger adults. Some ads suggested keeping the home stocked with spirits to ensure a festive mood for guests. While gifting wine or whiskey is still popular, the blatant messaging that alcohol is a cure-all for holiday stress wouldn’t fly today, especially with the increased awareness of addiction and responsible drinking. Those ads might make you chuckle now, but they also reveal a more cavalier attitude toward alcohol consumption in the past.
6. Caricatures in Holiday Cheer
Sadly, many vintage holiday ads leaned on racial stereotypes to sell products. From Black caricatures used to promote baking goods to Asian stereotypes in toy advertisements, these ads were incredibly offensive, even in their time. Companies often depicted minorities in demeaning or exaggerated ways, reinforcing harmful biases. Today, these would be swiftly condemned, and rightly so. It’s a sobering reminder of the work still needed to ensure inclusivity and sensitivity in media.
7. Guns as the Ultimate Stocking Stuffer
It might sound shocking now, but mid-20th-century ads often marketed firearms as perfect holiday gifts for kids and teens. One infamous campaign showed a young boy joyfully unwrapping a rifle under the tree, with slogans like “Teach responsibility this Christmas!” In an era of ongoing debates about gun safety and control, these ads feel especially alarming. Today, such imagery would face strong opposition, particularly from those advocating for safer firearm regulations.
8. “Doctor-Approved Sugary Cereals”
Vintage holiday ads for cereals like Frosted Flakes or Cocoa Puffs often featured smiling doctors or health experts endorsing these sugar-laden products. The message? They were “nutritious” ways to keep kids happy and energized during the holidays. Modern audiences, armed with knowledge about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption, would balk at such blatant misinformation. These ads reflect how easily authority figures were used to sell products without accountability.
9. Sexy Santa Marketing Gimmicks
Santa suits got a risqué makeover in the ’70s and ’80s as companies used scantily clad models dressed as “Mrs. Claus” or sultry versions of Santa himself to sell everything from cars to beer. While eye-catching, these ads often felt exploitative and out of place for family-friendly holidays. Today, they’d likely be criticized for objectifying women or turning a beloved figure like Santa into a bizarre marketing tool. It’s a far cry from the wholesome image most of us associate with the season.
10. Hazardous Toys for Happy Holidays
Some retro ads marketed toys that would never pass today’s safety standards—think lead-painted dollhouses, flammable costumes, or chemistry sets with actual radioactive materials. These ads celebrated innovation and fun, often downplaying the obvious risks. Modern regulations prioritize child safety, and such products would face immediate recalls today. Looking back, it’s astonishing how casually dangerous items were sold, all wrapped up in cheerful holiday packaging.