London’s Quirky Christmas Past: Two Decades of Festive Flair

The Londonist article, “The Ghost Of London’s Christmas Past,” offers a nostalgic journey through two decades of the capital’s unique and often eccentric Christmas decorations and festive moments. As Londonist celebrates its 22nd Christmas, the piece curates a collection of photographs, inviting readers to recall memorable installations from 2007 to the present. The overarching theme is a celebration of London’s distinctive festive spirit, highlighting how the city embraces both traditional charm and avant-garde interpretations of holiday cheer.

The “benefits” of this retrospective are primarily nostalgic, fostering a shared sense of community and reminding Londoners of past joys and quirky artistic expressions. It serves as a testament to the city’s continuous innovation in public art and seasonal displays, creating talking points and photo opportunities.

However, the article also subtly touches on “risks” or controversial aspects of public art. For instance, Anne Hardy’s “post-apocalyptic” Christmas lights at Tate Britain in 2019 were “not everyone’s idea of art,” and a “disturbing scene” was noted inside Winter Wonderland that same year. The mention of 2019’s “post-apocalyptic” theme preceding the actual global events of 2020 adds a layer of ironic foresight.

Specific examples abound, showcasing a vast range of creativity. Recent highlights include Mr. Bean and Wallace and Gromit projections in 2024, and the British Library’s “better class of bauble” in 2023. Other memorable displays include Coal Drops Yard’s “treeless Christmas tree” (2021), a Lego Santa in Covent Garden (2020), and the “mortally wounded deer” decorations in Seven Dials (2020). London’s creativity extends to local touches like seasonal post box toppers near Great Ormond Street Hospital (2023) and the Dickens Museum’s bronze-green postbox (2017). The St Pancras Christmas tree, a conical display of Disney soft toys, was a standout in 2015. More unusual sights include a festive trash wagon in Shoreditch (2016) and a rare, people-free Piccadilly Circus on Christmas morning (2011), encapsulating London’s diverse and often surprising festive landscape.

(Source: https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/the-ghost-of-london-christmas-past)