While the ‘90s were only a few decades ago, the way we celebrate Christmas has changed quite a bit. Back then, holiday cheer was measured by circling toys in catalogs, picking up holiday movies from Blockbuster, and finding a Game Boy under the tree. Not to mention the joy of hearing “All I Want for Christmas Is You” for the first time and hurriedly going to the mall to see it all lit up and decked out for the occasion.

Does that sound familiar? If so, this list might just be for you. We at Bored Panda have collected some of the most nostalgia-inducing memorabilia that made Christmas in the ‘90s. To keep the holiday spirit going, let’s all scroll through the pictures that perfectly capture what festivities were like just over three decades ago.

#1 Still The Best Christmas Movie

Image credits: TheMuppets

#2 It Was Christmas Morning December 25, 1998. My Brothers And I Had Just Ripped Open Our Presents, And Low And Behold A Brand New N64 And The Legend Of Zelda Ocarina Of Time

Image credits: ArtOk6196

#3 I Officially Own All My Grandparents’ Ceramic Christmas Trees

Image credits: King_Baboon

For those who weren’t born in this decade, the ‘90s was a time when our obsession with Kevin McCallister started and kids were fighting over what to watch on TV—Muppet Christmas Carol or Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas.

Many iconic films came from this decade that we still tune into today. Some of them include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jingle All the Way, and Jack Frost.

#4 These Christmas LifeSavers “Books” Were Guaranteed To Be In My Stocking Every Year

#5 Feeling Captivated By The Computer Animation In The Coca-Cola Polar Bears Commercials

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#6 Those Big Cans Of Flavored Popcorn That Always Showed Up Around Christmas Time

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Interestingly, despite the cheerful associations with Christmas movies from this time, in retrospect, they aren’t that really joyful.

In the 1990s and 1994 in particular, holiday movies were quite dark. For example, a story like The Santa Claus was defined by divorce; Miracle on 34th Street was about a court procedure; and in the famous Home Alone, a boy was abandoned by his family and attacked by robbers.

#7 Christmas Morning, 1992

Image credits: daniellrob

#8 1993: I Put My Talkboy Out Every Year For Christmas And It Still Has Original Content That I Made

Today was the first time I’ve listened to it since 1993. My Beavis and Butthead impressions could use some work. I also hated my sister back then.

Image credits: I_play_high420

#9 A Home Alone Christmas

This film makes me nostalgic for a warm ’90s Christmas: a large decorated cozy house, lots of family, a crackling fireplace, and the most delicious pizza ever captured on film!

Image credits: GumboCrab

However, these films aimed to show people that holidays can’t fix a broken marriage or that some adults tend to disappoint their kids. And that makes sense for the era, as the mid-’90s saw the rise of grunge, with people resisting the status quo and fighting for cultural changes.

#10 Wanting Rubber Stamps So That You Could Decorate Your “Christmas Cards” With Them

Image credits: etsy.com

#11 Sipping Hot Cocoa From Mugs With Festive Country Christmas Geese

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#12 My Christmas List, 1999

Image credits: TuesdayTwo

Back then, upcoming holiday films were published in TV magazines like Radio Times, which included the best recommendations for everything shown over the festive period. People would flick through the magazine, pick, and circle the best movies that were a must-watch. It might seem weird to us that people would organize what to watch weeks in advance, but that’s how it was done without the magic of rewinding.

#13 Your Grandmother Decorating Her Home For The Holidays Using Christmas Scene Plates From Either Thomas Kinkade Or Franklin Mint

Image credits: etsy.com

#14 The M&M Commercial That’s Been Playing Every Christmas For As Long As I Can Remember

Image credits: noconnostalgia

#15 The Muppet Christmas Carol – Still Genuinely Holds Up As One Of The Best Christmas Movies Of All Time

Image credits: Two-HeadedAndroid

Over the years, different trends, films, and television have influenced the must-have Christmas toys of the year. In the ’90s, many kids circled them (a lot of circling was done) while flicking through the Toys R Us or Argos catalog to add to their wish list for Santa. Now, we couldn’t imagine children playing with them or parents queueing up at 6 a.m. to get their hands on them. The latter most likely looked like something from the movie Jingle All the Way.

#16 These Satin Thread Christmas Ball Ornaments

Image credits: Sno0pyBo0

#17 Every Parents’ Regrettable Christmas Present: A Loud Aiwa Multi-CD Player Shelf System

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#18 The 1993 JCPenney Christmas Catalog Gaming Section

Image credits: Slovejoy

This decade saw the arrival of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Game Boy, and, of course, Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear. You may also have found Power Rangers, a Furby, a Tamagotchi, and Tickle Me Elmo hiding under the tree. The older ones might even have gotten their first home computer, which now, in comparison, seems like something from ancient times. Board games such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? were very popular as well.

#19 Kemps Christmas Ice Cream Treats

#20 Breaking Multiple Light Bulbs Every Time You Assisted In Putting Up The Outdoor Christmas Lights

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#21 Teaching My Sister To Play Mario Bros. Christmas Of ’92

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The Talkboy came into existence after it was used by Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone 2. Before the film, the toy actually never existed. While writing a sequel, the creator, John Hughes, knew that in certain situations (like while booking a suite at the Plaza Hotel) Kevin would need to pass as an adult.

So he included a futuristic recording device in his script that would allow the boy to change his voice. Together with toy companies, they came up with a silver device that featured a microphone and a cassette tape for recording sound and conversations.

The demand for the toy was so high that it was almost impossible for them to keep up. It continued to be popular beyond the 1993 holiday season, and in 1995, they introduced Talkgirl, a purple and pink version of the original.

#22 LEGO Christmas Catalogue From 1993

This is LEGO’s golden age of catalog design. I found it in the garage and uploaded it for anyone wanting a hit of nostalgia. Unfortunately, there are a few 2-5 years stuff and one Technic page missing.

Image credits: TurbulentLifeguard11

#23 90s Toys “R” Us Holiday Commercial

Image credits: iBleeedorange

#24 My Husband Still Has His Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Christmas Decorations From 1990, Complete With A Box

Image credits: MrsFeatures

The ‘90s also gifted us many jingle hits that withstood the test of time, just like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and NSYNC’s “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.” Her 1994 hit is considered a holiday classic, with Billboard ranking it number one on its list of the Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs.

The tune was written very early in the singer’s career on her little Casio keyboard. It was the first Christmas song she ever wrote, and she definitely didn’t expect it to become an icon of the ’90s, let alone of all time.

#25 This Mighty Ducks Wrapping Paper From 1993 I Found In A Hand-Me-Down Box Of Christmas Stuff

Image credits: kingevanxii

#26 Looking Forward To The Toys “R” Us Holiday Catalog

Image credits: The Nostalgia Mall

#27 Feeling Like The Red And Green Christmas M&M’s Tasted The Best

Image credits: Betamax King

Taking this nostalgic journey through the festivities of this decade, it’s clear that the holiday season back then was a combination of iconic movies, toys, and memorable music. The Game Boy or Tickle Me Elmo might not have withstood the test of time, but the popular Christmas films and jingles have sneakily entered the 21st century and don’t seem to be leaving any time soon. And we’re totally fine with that!

For more of that magical charm of the ’90s, make sure to check out our earlier publication on the most popular gifts from that era.

#28 Christmas ’98

Image credits: _strongest_avenger_

#29 Anticipating A Good Christmas Gift As Your Parents Brought Out The Camcorder On Christmas Morning

Image credits: etsy.com

#30 Christmas Day, 1997

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#31 Who Remembers Crayola Collectible Tins?

This was found at a second-hand store unopened! I had this exact one when I was a kid. Bought it so I can give it to my kids this Christmas. Can’t wait! 

Image credits: HeartFullOfHappy

#32 SNES Christmas Ad

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#33 I See Your Argos Catalog And Raise You This Filthy Coop 1992 Christmas Toys And Games Booklet I Found

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#34 This Box Has Not Been Opened Since 1995, It Smells Like The 90’s

I remember seeing boxes like this on top of the shelves at “Hooked on Toys” and “Walmart”, I always fantasized about what it was like to open all the boxes.

Image credits: Dnunn88

#35 These Christmas Candles

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#36 1993 Campbell’s Soup “Melting Snowman” TV Commercial

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#37 Bottom Of My Feet Hurts Just By Looking At These

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#38 Furby Became The Best Selling Toy In The US For Christmas 1998

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#39 Throwback Christmas Circa, 1990

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#40 Rescuers Down Under Christmas Tree Ornaments From McDonald’s (1990). Who Else Had Bernard & Miss Bianca On Their 90’s Christmas Trees?

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#41 My Gram Always Had Fruit Delights During Christmas Time In The 90s. They Are The First Thing I Look For When The Christmas Stuff Starts Coming Out

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#42 Christmas 1999 With My N64

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#43 Best Christmas Ever – Circa 1993

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#44 Another One Of My Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ornaments From 1990

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#45 I Found “I Spy Christmas” At The Doctor’s Office Today

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#46 I Still Have My Christmas “Puffalump Mouse”

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#47 Throughout The Entire Month, Your Grandma Consistently Wears Her Christmas Vest, Typically Paired With A Red Turtleneck

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#48 1992 JCPenney Christmas Catalog

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#49 My Mom Found My Talkboy. Have A Merry Christmas You Filthy Animals

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#50 LifeSavers “Book”

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#51 Dining With Placemats That Had Drawings Of Poinsettias And Always Sticking To The Classic Colors Of Red, White, And Green

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#52 90s Kids Waking Up Christmas Morning To Find Stockings Full Of Bath And Body Works Art Stuff Body Glitter, Those Weird See-Through Socks, And Lip Smackers

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#53 Christmas Vacation

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#54 Christmas Crunch, With Pokemon Watch (1999)

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#55 Treasure Troll Christmas Wrap

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#56 I Definitely Had These

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#57 I Got A Reptar Bar For Christmas. It Turns Your Tongue Green

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#58 Star Trek And Star Wars Christmas Ornaments From The 90s. It Cost Less Than 8 Dollars

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#59 Those Popcorn Tins You Received For Christmas Eventually Turned Into A Trash Can In Your Room Once They Were Empty

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#60 Found My Ribbon Shredder From The 90s

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#61 I Can Taste This Picture

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#62 Tales From The Crypt: Have Yourself A Scary Little Christmas (1994)

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#63 The Facebook Marketplace Gods Have Blessed Me – $10 For This Gorgeous And Supposedly Rare 1994 Santa Clause Blow Mold. I Love Some Vintage Christmas

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#64 Cap’n Crunch’s Christmas Crunch, 1994

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#65 Drinking Out Of Christmas Glasses With This Design On Them

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#66 Continuously Looking At The Beautiful Pictures In The I Spy Christmas Book

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#67 For Some Inexplicable Reason, Having A Penguin Ornament On Your Christmas Tree. Why Were Penguin Ornaments Such A Trend?

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#68 Spot’s Magical Christmas, 1995

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#69 Having That Single Fancy Neighbor Who Adorned Their Home With Eerie And Sad Victorian Decorations

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#70 Constantly Having To Pick Up These Outdoor Light-Up Candle Decorations As They Were Hollow And Frequently Knocked Down By The Wind

Image credits: etsy.com

#71 Begging Your Parents To Purchase Christmas Stickers For You

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Source: boredpanda.com