Yorba Linda: A look at Christmases past

Let's look at some Christmases past, as described in news articles from the Yorba Linda Star:

--Citrus farming, along with oil production, topped the economy in early Yorba Linda, with dozens of page one stories charting the ups and downs of the citrus industry for decades.

One interesting story from the Dec. 26, 1924, issue combined the constant worry about a freezing crop due to winter-time climate with a holiday weather report about strong winds.

The front-page article was headlined “High winds spoil pretty Christmas day but saves citrus from frost.” Later articles stated “Citrus fruits have biggest Christmas week in history” (Dec. 31, 1943) and “Good Christmas...enjoyed by California navels and lemons” (Dec. 24, 1948).

--Another report, from Dec. 28, 1928, brings to mind the current problem of holiday thefts, with criminals stealing packages from front porches.

A “Christmas burglar,” as labeled by the reporter, only took a few cartons of cigarettes, while overlooking $235 in cash from the home of a resident. A prior July 4, 1924, article had noted the Chamber of Commerce offered a $50 reward for home burglary arrests.

--Christmas seals sales, which began in this country in 1907 to outfit sanitariums for tuberculosis treatment, were the subject of many articles in the 1930s and 1940s, with civic-minded residents heading each year's local fundraising activities.

One early leader in the effort was Mabel Paine, chief of the 1932 charity drive and a local school district principal from 1915 until retiring in 1947.

--A Chamber of Commerce recommendation was reported on Dec. 12, 1941, five days after the Pearl Harbor attack. The group “discouraged” the use of outdoor Christmas lighting, an idea supported by a jittery population.

A photograph in the Dec. 22, 1944, edition showed some of the 15,000 boxes of oranges that were gathered from the local area and sent to servicemen for Christmas.

By Nov. 22, 1946, the story was “Christmas lights already beginning to radiate Yule spirit,” and on Dec. 26, 1947, the topic was “beautiful displays” that “radiate Christmas spirit of our town.” Citizens were “urged to compete in Christmas decorating contest” on Dec. 16, 1949.

--After World War II, Main Street merchants spread Christmas cheer with dramatic appearances of Santa Claus: “Big crowd greets Santa as he steps from helicopter” noted a Dec. 26, 1947, article, and “Main Street thronged as copter brings Santa Claus to Yorba Linda” headlined a Dec. 24, 1948, story.

Later, Santa's arrival was a bit less spectacular, as noted in a Dec. 30, 1949, story: “Kiddies welcome Santa Claus who arrives on a fire truck.”

--The currently popular Christmas celebrations are developing a long history: Eastlake Village boat parade started in 1987, Christmas on Main Street in 1989, Handel's Messiah sing-a-long in 2004 and Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree at the Nixon library in 2010.