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Now and Then: Christmas

연합뉴스 / 2021-12-24 10:07:18

▲ This photo, provided by National Archives of Korea, shows the U.S. Army Vice Minister's wife delivering Christmas gifts to children in 1959. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ In this file photo, three soldiers who participated in the Vietnam War decorate a small Christmas tree in 1966. (Yonhap)

▲ This file photo shows a lighting ceremony for a large "Christmas tree" built at the top of Aegibong Peak in 1978. (Yonhap)

▲ This file photo shows a store selling Christmas decorations in Seoul in the year 1985. (Yonhap)

▲ In this file photo, a lighting ceremony for a large Christmas tree is being held in front of City Hall at Seoul in 1987. (Yonhap)

▲ This file photo shows people walking on the streets of Myeongdong on Christmas Eve in 1997. (Yonhap)

▲ In this file photo, several mailmen of the Busanjin Post leave on motorcycles to deliver gifts for underprivileged children in 2008. (Yonhap)

▲ This file photo shows a cheerleader and children dressed up like Santa at a basketball stadium in 2015. (Yonhap)

▲ Volunteers dressed up as Santa to deliver gifts to underprivileged children, are throwing their hats in the streets of Sinchon, Seoul, in this 2017 file photo. (Yonhap)

▲ In honor of the lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree, children are performing in front of Seoul's City Hall in 2021. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- When Christmas comes around, a festive atmosphere surrounds us to help us get into the holiday spirit and prepare for the New Year holidays. More than a decade ago, carols filled the streets, and large Christmas trees decorated with colorful lights warmed up the cold weather. On Christmas day, children enjoyed their gifts, couples go out on dates, and families get together for a nice meal. Recently, amusement parks, stadiums, and streets have also been more active in displaying Christmas decorations. The photos above show how Christmas has changed over the years and we can only hope that the same festive atmosphere will quickly come back to us after the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end.

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