Florida Winter Holidays

Men snowballing on Capitol steps, 1899

All photographs from the Division of Library and Information Services’ Florida Photographic Collection

Florida Winter Holidays

Letters to Santa Claus, Christmas, 1947

Santa Claus in front of a welcome sign, Jennings, 1956

President John F. Kennedy and Governor Farris Bryant at the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day, Miami, 1963

Erika Mattfeld Kirk reading a Christmas book to her daughters Adriana Dolabella and Claudia Kirk, 1969

Men carving turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner at USO club, Pensacola, 1944

Greek Epiphany Ceremony, Tarpon Springs, 1940s

Florida State University students gathered around snowman, Tallahassee, 1958

Pearsall family at the dinner table during Christmas, Melrose, 1893

African-American men at a New Year's Eve party, Tallahassee, 1940s

Patricia and Gail Herring on Christmas Day, Madison, 1957

Cypress House decorated for Christmas, Key West, 2005Dale McDonald photograph

Harry Dewey posed with snakes for a Christmas card photo, 1910

Street scene during Epiphany Celebration, Tarpon Springs, 1921

Bud Bassette decorating underwater Christmas tree, Weeki Wachee Springs, 1948

Card playing during Japanese New Year celebration, Delray Beach, 1988Jan Rosenberg photograph

Night scene after snow, Tallahassee, 1958

Cracker cabin shown during Christmas at the Tallahassee Junior Museum, Tallahassee, 1960Richard Parks photograph

Governor LeRoy Collins' daughter Darby with Thanksgiving turkey at Mansion, Tallahassee, 1959

View of Christmas decorations in the produce section at a Lovett's Food Store, Jacksonville, 1947

Christmas parade, Saint Augustine, 1951

Thanksgiving picnic on the north side of Old Roseland Bridge, Wabasso, 1924

Santa Claus with reindeer at the beach, Panama City, 1956

View of a boat in the Christmas Winterfest parade in Fort Lauderdale, 1993James Gaines photograph

All female band performing at New Year's celebration, Fort Lauderdale, 1969Roy Erickson photograph

Christmas in Florida, 1964Ozzie Sweet photograph

Group portrait of a Christmas party, Leesburg, 1940s

Model railroad running under the trees at Festival of Trees, West Palm Beach, 1986Jan Rosenberg photograph

Street scene with Christmas decorations, Camp Joseph E. Johnston, 1918

Christmas tree decorated with trinkets and ornaments, Eustis, 1908

Florida State University students in the snow, Tallahassee, 1958

Postcard bearing Florida Christmas greetings, 1926

Billy Osceola, Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, as Santa Claus, Hollywood Indian Reservation, 1959

Preparing Jaycees Christmas tree, Lake City, 1960s

Haya parlor decorated for Christmas, Hyde Park, Tampa, 1895

Underwater Thanksgiving dinner, Rainbow Springs, 1950s

Santa Claus sleeping at the beach, Panama City Beach, 1956Francis P. Johnson photograph

Kalem Movie Production Company Christmas party, Jacksonville, ca. 1916

Men throwing snowballs, Pensacola Navy Yard, 1894

Large crowd gathered for Tarpon Springs' Epiphany Celebration, Tarpon Springs, 1947

Decorating Christmas tree in city park, Sarasota, 1946

Christmas in Florida, 1955

Christmas at the Knott home, Tallahassee, 1940s

Seminole chairman James E. Billie and family’s Christmas card photo, 1985

Juanita Miller in snow scene, Madison County, 1958

Boys competing in contest to retrieve an Epiphany cross, Tarpon Springs, 1985Blanton Owen photograph

Christmas on the beach in Florida, Panama City, 1962

Trimming the Xmas tree, New Port Richey, 1918

Christmas party on lawn of Florida State Hospital, Chattahoochee, 1940s

Florida State University students enjoying a rare day of snow, Tallahassee, 1958

Steamboat City of Jacksonville Christmas dinner menu, 1926

Florida National Guard unit at Camp Wheeler for Thanksgiving dinner, Macon, Georgia, 1917

Christmas decorations at Kate Sullivan School, Tallahassee, ca. 1950sHarvey Slade photograph

Santa Claus presents gifts to children, Saint Augustine, 1951

Musicians performing at the Splendid China theme park during a Chinese New Year show, Citrus Ridge, 1998Robert Stone photograph

Woman pulling child on sled, DeLand, 1890s

First Presbyterian Church Christmas play depicting the Three Wise Men, Winter Haven, 1930

Hanukkah celebration at temple, Pensacola, ca. 1923

East front of the Capitol decorated for the holidays, Tallahassee, 1969

Lewis Yates and Santa Claus, Christmas, 1947

Christmas tree at Goodwood, Tallahassee, 1940s

Ceremonies during Tarpon Springs' Epiphany Celebration, Tarpon Springs, ca. 1950

Christmas pageant group, Miami, 1910s

Scene from Jefferson Street during the Winter Festival of Lights, Tallahassee, 1990s

Thanksgiving Day at Tot's Tender Turkey Farm, Havana, 1952

Men and women resting on the snow-covered steps of the Capitol, Tallahassee, 1899

Optimist Club selling Christmas trees, Tallahassee, 1956

Child with Christmas tree and toys, 1912

Miccosukee Indians building Christmas fires, Everglades, ca. 1930s

Christmas, Saint Augustine, 1951

All Florida Christmas tree, Tallahassee, 1961

Frozen fountain in Capitol grounds, Tallahassee, 1899

A Christmas party at Haggerty Farms, 1940s

Governor Martinez's twin granddaughters’ room in the Mansion, Tallahassee, ca. 1988

Joan Wilson confides in Santa, Saint Augustine, 1951

Annual children’s Christmas party at the Clara White Mission, Jacksonville, 1963

Mary Windsor on scooter from "Santa" (Newt Perry), Weeki Wachee Springs, 1948

Mike Norman, Jr. showing off his Christmas gifts, Tallahassee, 1959

Fireplace in the Florida Governor's Mansion, Tallahassee, 1950s

Re-enactment of the First Florida Christmas, Tallahassee, 1959

Christmas tree of tinsel and lights in R.A. Gray Park, south of the Capitol, Tallahassee, 1969

Girl with toys on Christmas Day, Pensacola, 1910s

Christmas doll decorations by retired milliner Lottie Wojtkiewicz, Boynton Beach, 1987

Underwater Christmas, Rainbow Springs, 1953

Erika Mattfeld Kirk and her daughter Adriana Dolabella holding a "Fight Tuberculosis" poster, Tallahassee, 1967

Mary Dwight displays croquet set gift she has just found under the underwater Christmas tree, Weeki Wachee Springs, 1948

View of the Governor's Mansion during the holidays, Tallahassee, ca. 1990

View showing "Santa's mail box" and Christmas decorations, Coral Gable, 1970s

Christmas tree and decorations inside cracker cabin at the Tallahassee Junior Museum, ca. 1960

A Christmas day ride on small open motor train car at M. Card's Pineapple Plantation, Fort Pierce, 1915

Christmas gathering, Lakeland, 1940s

Hanukkah celebration at temple, Pensacola, ca. 1927

Helen Marie Johns sits on Santa's lap, Saint Augustine, 1951

Camp Roosevelt staff Christmas party, Ocala, 1940

The Whitted family and Christmas tree, Saint Petersburg, 1900

Snowman at 6th Avenue fire station, Tallahassee, 1958

New Year’s Eve party at the Bay Shore Hotel, Valparaiso, 1920

Tin Can Tourists on Christmas Day at De Soto Park, Tampa, 1920

Preparing Christmas Eve dinner, Tampa, 1931

Christmas party at the African-American Life Insurance Company, Jacksonville, 1950s

Mrs. and Colonel Lloyd C. Griscom with Thanksgiving turkey, Luna Plantation, Leon County, 1950s

Postcard with Christmas greetings from Florida, 1910s

Christmas party at the Clara White Mission, Jacksonville, 1963

Preparing for the New Year's Eve party at the Peacock Club, Jacksonville, 1949Jack Spottswood photograph

Roanoke versus New Orleans at the Pop Warner Football Santa Claus Bowl, Orlando, 1951

Trees in Ponce de León Park decorated with lights for the Winter Festival, Tallahassee, 1980s

Epiphany diver holds up cross, Tarpon Springs, 1999Erick Dusenbery photograph

Post office patrons, Christmas, 1946

Allen Morris and the winner of the door prize at the Kiwanis Club Christmas Party, Tallahassee, 1960s

House of Representatives employees decorating the floor of the House chamber, Tallahassee, 1971Donn Dughi photograph

Bob and Alex Rosin on Christmas Day, Arcadia, 1940

Willie Morris with Thanksgiving turkey, Jefferson County, 1915

Brent family Christmas dinner, Pensacola, 1900s

Florida First Lady Donna Lou Harper Askew in the Mansion, Tallahassee, 1974

Christmas party at the Municipal Trailer Park, Tampa, 1939

Dragon dance being performed at the Splendid China theme park in Citrus Ridge, 1998Robert Stone photograph

M.L. Long leading sacred harp singing on Thanksgiving Day, Campbellton, 1980Peggy Bulger photograph

Governor Charley Johns with holiday gift baskets, Tallahassee, 1953

Child looks at Santa on the beach, Miami Beach, 1964

Lays Potato Chip Company Christmas party, Jacksonville, 1948

Doll tree designed by Lottie White on display at Festival of Trees, West Palm Beach, 1986Jan Rosenberg photograph

View of the half time show at the Orange Bowl, Miami, 1946

Christmas parade float, Saint Augustine, 1951

Santa Claus handing out treats to young women on the beach, Saint Petersburg, 1952

Christmas decorations on the mantel, Tallahassee, 1941

Governor Charley Johns and family with Christmas gifts, Tallahassee, 1953Red Kerce photograph

Christmas hams on display at the Lovett's Food Store, Jacksonville, 1949

Florida State University students enjoying a day of snow, Tallahassee, 1958

Mid-Winter Festival parade, Melbourne, 1937Robert B. Kempfer photograph

Wheat family and their floating Christmas tree, Fort Lauderdale, 1957

Christmas ham and chicken, Tallahassee, 1959

New Year's Eve party at the Jewish Community Center, Sanford, 1944

Jingle Bell Run, Tallahassee, 1990David E. McCord photograph

St. Luke’s Hospital, Jacksonville, 1940sJack Spottswood photograph

Liz Minerva, left, playing in the snow with Leslie Dughi, Tallahassee, 1973Donn Dughi photograph

Altrusa Club members decorating Christmas tree, Tallahassee, 1970Donn Dughi photograph

Winner of the Epiphany cross retrieval contest with cross and trophy, Tarpon Springs, 1985Owen Blanton photograph

Christmas tree decorated with origami made by Kazuko Law, Gulf Breeze, 1995Robert Stone photograph

Christmas Day picnic at Luna Plantation, Leon County, 1929

Charles Deeb and family celebrate Christmas, Tallahassee, 1947Forest Granger photograph

View showing the Capitol dome with Christmas decorations, Tallahassee, 1958David Fountain photograph

Pearsall family at Christmas time, Melrose, 1920s

Greenwood children sending letters to Santa, 1915

Snow on the ground, Apalachicola, 1899

Joseph Lines on new Tom Mix rocking horse, Quincy, 1936

Children caroling on Christmas Eve, Miami, 1935

General merchandise store interior just before Christmas, Fort Meade, ca. 1900

Henry Noegel and his son Charles prepare to embark on a Christmas Day hunting trip, Ellaville, 1929

Christmas with the Governor and Mrs. Fuller Warren of Florida at the Mansion, Tallahassee, 1950

Scene from Epiphany Celebration, Tarpon Springs, 1900s

Richard Webb and Santa present Christmas gifts to children during "Distant Drums" premiere, Saint Augustine, 1951

Child looking up chimney at the Tallahassee Junior Museum during Christmas, Tallahassee, 1960Richard Parks photograph

Boys at a Christmas party aboard a Naval ship, Key West, 1950s

B'nai B'rith Christmas dinner for orphans, Orlando, 1950s

Seminole Indian Billy Bowlegs III on Christmas Day, Brighton Reservation, 1956Irvin Peithmann photograph

Santa sitting on the "Reef Corsair" charter boat, Islamorada, 1950s

Young women celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus, Saint Petersburg, 1952

Front view of the Governor's Mansion at Christmas, ca. 1990Robert Overton photograph

Santa Claus with Vincent Nelson, Tallahassee, 1985Deborah Thomas photograph

Miami Police Department's motor squad poses for a group portrait on Christmas Day, Miami, 1921William Fishbaugh photograph

Snow on the ground in Tallahassee, 1958

Merry Christmas to Grandma Pollard from Winston, DeLand, 1900s

Sharon Monts-DeOca looks at the stuffed rabbit she was given on her first Christmas, Jacksonville, 1946

Annual turkey hunt hosted by Representative N. Ray Carroll at his Carrollton ranch, Deer Park, 1941

Governor's daughters Mary Call and Darby Collins build a snowman on the Mansion lawn, Tallahassee, 1958

Crowd gathered to meet Santa Claus in Gainesville, 1946E. H. Bone photograph

Season's Greetings from the Durantes, Margie, Cece and Jimmy, Miami Beach, ca. 1970s

Underwater New Year celebration, Rainbow Springs, 1953Harvey Slade photograph

Governor Haydon Burns and family members in the Mansion, Tallahassee, 1965

State Senator Bob Graham working as Santa Claus at Clark LaSalle Cleaners, Coral Gables, 1977

Governor Collins and his family gathered in front of living Christmas tree, Tallahassee, 1957

Santa Claus at the beach, Panama City Beach, 1956