5 Iconic Vintage Christmas Decor Items

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Updated For The 2025 Holiday Season

This post was originally published in December 2018. It's been recently updated to include 2025 shopping links and additional information on my vintage holiday obsessions. The year may have changed, but my love of vintage has not.

Santa Mugs

There ain't no party like a Santa mug party!

They're cute, they remind you of cookies and milk at your granny's house (even if Cousin Susie is drinking out of your favorite Santa mug as we speak), and some of the reproductions out there are spot on.

Where To Buy Reproductions:

Pottery Barn has a wonderful traditional set of 4 Santa mugs that look just like the vintage ones. Seriously, it's hard to tell them apart from the original version.

You could fill the jolly mugs with Tom & Jerry drinks. The holiday drink, not the cat and mouse. (I have a recipe showing you how to make traditional Tom & Jerry drinks HERE).

They also have little mini Santa mugs. Shot glasses, if you ask me. But hey, I'm not judging what you drink out of Santa's head.

Shiny Brite Ornaments

Nothing says nostalgic Christmas more than a Christmas tree filled to the brim with Shiny Brite ornaments. Most of the ones on this white tree were from my mom's house, but I have found quite a few at estate sales and thrift stores also.

This tree also has some handmade pipe cleaner ornaments I created to look like the 1940s originals. I have instructions and downloadable faces to make this super easy craft in my post titled Chenille Pipe Cleaner Christmas Craft.

Where To Buy Reproductions:

Amazon is my go-to place for all things Shiny Brite if I can't find them out in the wild.

And I've also found boxes of Shiny Brites and Shiny Brite tree toppers sold at HomeGoods, but that's sort of a crap shoot since each store has different items in stock at different times.

(Can you say crap and Santa in the same article?)

Vintage Ornament Wreath

I've been wanting to make my own for a few years now, but I just haven't gotten up the nerve to glue a bunch of my Shiny Brites onto a wreath yet.

But if you aren't squeamish like me, having a vintage ornament wreath is a great way to show off your love of vintage Christmas decor all in one space. It definitely makes a statement!

Where To Buy Reproductions:

Wayfair carries this retro-styled ornament wreath this year. The ornaments are shatterproof, which is a good thing in my house, so you get the look of vintage without the fragility of vintage.

Grandin Road has an interesting take on this type of wreath by using mixed greens, lots of colorful ornaments and battery-powered lights. It all combines for a fun look!

Of course, Etsy is a GREAT place to find these types of wreaths using ORIGINAL vintage ornaments. One of my favorite sellers is Kitschmas Wonderland whose wreaths are jam-packed with both new and vintage ornaments and a whole lot of whimsy.

Blow Molds

Blow molds are one of those retro Christmas items that I didn't think would ever make a comeback, but come back they did! In all their glorious plastic luminosity!

Like the candles I have on my front porch or the Santa I put out every year.

Where To Buy Reproductions:

I purchased this cute snowman at Michael's a few years ago (I just checked, he's not available for 2025!), but I did find some similar snowmen for you. Ace Hardware has a 40" very vintage-looking Union Products snowman version. It's based on an original blow mold from the original Union Products company, so they tend to have that same very old-style look. Ace Hardware also carries a fun 3 ½ foot Santa blow mold for the porch, also made from the original Union Products molds.

Menard's always carries a surprising variety of blow molds. I always enjoy walking through their forest of fake trees and outdoor decor. Or you can find all sorts of Santas, candles, toy soldiers and such on Amazon.

Traditional blow mold Christmas porch candles are always a fun way to decorate the porch for the holidays! Or you can't go wrong with a Toy Soldier beside your fireplace.

Walmart had this adorable 24" vintage-style reindeer blow mold a few years ago! Doesn't she look like Clarice in the Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Movie?

I had to buy this cutie for myself a few years ago. Not really based on a vintage blow mold,  but very retro-looking!

Update for 2025: Walmart no longer sells this exact reindeer, but they do have a two-pack of vintage-inspired reindeer. One is standing, one is resting and they both have red ribbons on them. They are slightly more realistic than my friend Clarice.

Ceramic Christmas Trees

I think other than the blow molds becoming popular again this year, the one that really surprised me was ceramic Christmas trees! They are all over the place!

Where To Buy Reproductions:

Where CAN'T you buy them should be the question!

Of course, Etsy and eBay are great if you want authentically vintage ones.

I've seen the new battery-operated LED ones that have the same look without the cord at various stores this season and Amazon sells corded versions.

All mine are corded, but I can see where the battery-operated ones would be convenient for a mantel or dining table.

Psst - You there. The ceramic Christmas tree lover. Yeah, you! - You have to check out Ariel at PMQ For Two's lineup of ceramic trees on her sideboard! Stunning!

Speaking of ceramic Christmas trees, I picked up the little guy in the photo above at a local antique store. It's cute at just 10 ½" tall and oh-so colorful!

What's your favorite vintage-inspired item to collect for Christmas?