Thursday, December 3, 2020

299. THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN PHILIPPINE ADS, 1935-1978

FILIPINAS LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY, 1935 Print Ad

The Christmas tree--a decorated evergreen tree or an artificial tree of similar appearance—is an iconic symbol of Christmas. The putting up of Christmas tree to celebrate Christmas began in Germany when Christian peasants began bringing in trees trimmed with paper flowers, fruits and tinsel—inside their homes in the 16th century. 

The custom caught on with outside of Germany in the second half of the 19th century, including America, thanks to the German settlers.The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s put up by these new immigrants in Pennsylvania.

The American brought the Christmas tree tradition to the Philippines during their occupation of our islands. By the late 1920s, Filipinos were putting up Christmas trees in their homes, along with the ubiquitous native parol.  The tradition became popular among Filipinos, that they localized the holiday tree—using walis tingting or tambo, dried twigs and branches (with added cotton to simulate snow),  and even strings!

Like the Parol, the charm of the brightly-lit and decorated Christmas tree became a design inspiration—integrated in ad layouts, and appearing on print advertisements during the Christmas season. Here are a few examples:

YCO PAINTS & FLOOR WAX, 1961

PURICO  CHRISTMAS TREE PROMO, 1955

RADIOWEALTH RADIO-PHONO, 1957

A COCA-COLA CHRISTMAS, 1958

RADIOWEALTH TELEVISION SETS, 1961

COCOA RICOA, 1961


PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES, 1962

FITA BISCUITS, 1963

AJINOMOTO CHRISTMAS, 1964

SHELLANE, 1966

PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES, 1967

ALEMAR'S YULETIDE DISCOUNT, 1978
PHILIP MORRIS , 1966


5 comments:

  1. If i can just go back through these years as a child.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Philip Morris 100’s cigarettes.

      Delete
    2. Philip Morris beats Champion cigarettes.

      Delete
    3. Boss filter cigarettes.

      Delete
    4. Marlboro filter cigarettes is still number one throughout the world.

      Delete