CinemaOSMovie · 1997 · 1h 0m

Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas

58%(6)IMDbDocumentaryHistory

Christmas abounds with traditions, from neighborhood carolers to lovingly decorated trees, but from where did all these rituals emerge? This enlightening program looks at the origins of the Western world's most popular Christmas traditions -- from the significance of December 25th and its relationship to winter solstice to the enchanting legend of Santa Claus and Prince Albert's 1841 unveiling of the Christmas tree.

Play
Status
Released
Runtime
1h 0m
Language
EN
Released
December 1, 1997

Featuring

Cast & crew

10 credited
Starring

Harry Smith

Narrator (voice)

James Stewart

James Stewart

George Bailey (archive footage)

Donna Reed

Donna Reed

Mary Bailey (archive footage)

Wayne Allwine

Wayne Allwine

Mickey Mouse (archive footage)

Peter Billingsley

Peter Billingsley

Ralphie Parker (archive footage)

Robert Clarke

Robert Clarke

Fred (archive footage)

Rosemary Clooney

Rosemary Clooney

Betty Haynes (archive footage)

Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby

Bob Wallace (archive footage)

Melinda Dillon

Melinda Dillon

Mrs. Parker (archive footage)

Taylor Holmes

Taylor Holmes

Ebeneezer Scrooge (archive footage)

Creative team
Produced by
Alison Guss

Keep watching

More like this

Pop Goes Christmas

Pop Goes Christmas

1982 · Film

The Snowman7.6

The Snowman

1982 · Film

Bad Santa6.6

Bad Santa

2003 · Film

The Polar Express6.7

The Polar Express

2004 · Film

Scrooge6.1

Scrooge

1935 · Film

Christmas Reindeer Tales5.0

Christmas Reindeer Tales

1991 · Film

Arthur Christmas6.8

Arthur Christmas

2011 · Film

Holiday Fire

Holiday Fire

2008 · Film

Mickey's Christmas Carol7.7

Mickey's Christmas Carol

1983 · Film

Silent Night, Deadly Night5.9

Silent Night, Deadly Night

1984 · Film

A Christmas Adventure4.0

A Christmas Adventure

1991 · Film

It Happened One Christmas4.7

It Happened One Christmas

1977 · Film

Uncle Wormsley's Christmas6.0

Uncle Wormsley's Christmas

2012 · Film

Finding Christmas3.5

Finding Christmas

2024 · Film

A Xmas Tree8.5

A Xmas Tree

2022 · Film

A Christmas Tree6.0

A Christmas Tree

1972 · Film

The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas6.4

The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas

1973 · Film

The Night Before Christmas6.1

The Night Before Christmas

1905 · Film

Nollaí

Nollaí

2025 · Film

Where's Waldo? The Merry X-Mas Mix-Up!6.0

Where's Waldo? The Merry X-Mas Mix-Up!

1992 · Film

Picked for you

Recommended movies

High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special7.4

High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special

2020 · Film

Love, Gilda7.2

Love, Gilda

2018 · Film

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound6.9

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound

2019 · Film

Visions of Light7.0

Visions of Light

1992 · Film

My Mom Jayne7.9

My Mom Jayne

2025 · Film

The Unknown Known6.8

The Unknown Known

2013 · Film

Fuck6.4

Fuck

2006 · Film

The Mystery of D.B. Cooper6.3

The Mystery of D.B. Cooper

2020 · Film

Daft Punk Unchained7.2

Daft Punk Unchained

2015 · Film

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing7.0

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

2004 · Film

Directed by John Ford7.0

Directed by John Ford

1971 · Film

The Soviet Story7.3

The Soviet Story

2008 · Film

9/11: Inside the President's War Room6.9

9/11: Inside the President's War Room

2021 · Film

Seduced and Abandoned6.2

Seduced and Abandoned

2013 · Film

The Class of ‘927.1

The Class of ‘92

2013 · Film

Red Army7.3

Red Army

2015 · Film

No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad8.5

No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad

2013 · Film

Biggie & Tupac6.4

Biggie & Tupac

2002 · Film

Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King8.1

Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King

2020 · Film

The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story7.3

The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story

2019 · Film