Originally published at National Catholic Register
Christmas preparations somehow sent me down the rabbit hole of reviewing six decades worth of American magazines covers at Christmastime. It started as a random image search, getting me in the spirit, but then it got interesting. I started to see a pattern, and was reminded of something important about America that we’re trained to forget.
America was once a magazine culture.
Harper’s Magazine was one of the oldest and best-selling since its founding during the Civil War. The cover for Christmas 1898 is one of the oldest color covers. It’s an apocalyptic vision of the Star of Bethlehem — a light which illumines the way to the unveiling of Christmas, the Light of Christ.
Harper’s Magazine.(Photo: Screenshot)
Good Housekeeping was founded in 1885, and it was also one of the most read magazines in America. Sacred images like this Madonna and Child in the 15th century Luca della Robbio style were practically tradition for their Christmas cover in 1921.
Good housekeeping 1921.(Photo: Screenshot)
Good Housekeeping was oriented towards women running bustling households full of children. This humble image of Mary worshipping the New Born King was their choice for the Christmas cover in 1924.
Good housekeeping magazine(Photo:
