Traditional vs Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper: Which Style Fits Your Holiday?
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Every December, two kinds of Christmas trees appear. One is all crisp tartan, holly and red velvet, the Christmas of country houses and family traditions. The other is softer and more nostalgic: sepia carol sheets, old-world Santas and the gentle colors of a well-loved ornament box.
Both are beautiful. But which style of Christmas wrapping paper fits your holiday? Here's how to tell traditional and vintage Christmas wrapping paper apart, and how to style each one.
The Short Answer
What is the difference between traditional and vintage Christmas wrapping paper?
In short:
- Traditional means classic, bold holiday motifs: tartan, holly, red and green, crisp and polished
- Vintage means nostalgic designs inspired by the past: old carol sheets, sketched Santas, softened colors
- Traditional feels grand and festive; vintage feels cozy and sentimental
- You can mix them, as long as the colors agree
Traditional Christmas Wrapping Paper
What Makes Wrapping Paper "Traditional"
Traditional Christmas wrapping paper uses the motifs and colors we've associated with the season for generations: tartan and plaid, holly and berries, evergreen, poinsettias, and a strong palette of red, green, gold and cream. It's confident and festive, the look of a Christmas card come to life.
Style it with: velvet ribbon in deep green or crimson, gold tags, a sprig of real holly and a tree full of glass ornaments.
Wrap it in The Royal Tartan. The Royal Stewart, the most beloved tartan of all: scarlet red woven with forest green, navy and fine gold. Finish it with forest green velvet.
Watch: Tips and Techniques for Wrapping Holiday Gifts by Martha Stewart
Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper
What Makes Wrapping Paper "Vintage"
Vintage Christmas wrapping paper borrows from the past: reproduction sheet music, sketched and storybook Santas, early printed patterns and slightly faded, sepia-warm colors. It feels collected rather than bought, like something found in a grandmother's attic.
Gift wrap itself is younger than you might think. As NPR reports, decorative wrapping paper took off in 1917 when a Kansas City stationery shop ran out of tissue and sold decorative envelope liners instead. Before that, most gifts were wrapped in plain paper or fabric. You can see how holiday papers evolved in the Smithsonian's collection of gift wrap, from mid-century trees and reindeer to department store designs.
Wrap it in The Caroler's Book or Yuletide Sonata. The Caroler's Book reprints true vintage carol pages in sepia on aged cream, in Jingle Bells, Little Jack Frost or Jolly Old Santa Claus. Yuletide Sonata spreads Silent Night, O Holy Night and more across aged hymnal pages.
Wrap it in Before the Red Suit. A sketched, storybook Saint Nick from before Santa wore red. Perfect for anyone who loves the history of Christmas.
Style it with: cream or ivory velvet ribbon, natural twine, simple cream card tags and a little dried greenery.
Traditional vs Vintage Christmas
Traditional vs Vintage at a Glance
| Traditional | Vintage | |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Bold red, green, gold, cream | Softened sepia, cream, faded red and green |
| Motifs | Tartan, holly, evergreen, poinsettia | Sheet music, sketched Santas, old ornaments |
| Ribbon | Velvet in crimson or forest green | Ivory velvet, twine, silk |
| Feeling | Grand, festive, polished | Cozy, nostalgic, sentimental |
| Best for | Big family Christmases, hosts, clients | Collectors, romantics, history lovers |
Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas
Can You Mix Traditional and Vintage?
Yes, and it's one of the prettiest looks under a tree. The trick is to let one color family connect them. A scarlet tartan beside a sepia carol sheet works beautifully when both are tied with the same cream velvet ribbon. Keep ribbons consistent and the papers can tell different stories.
Watch: How to Perfectly Wrap Christmas Presents with Jane Means by Jane Means
Mix any 3 rolls and save 15%, applied automatically in your cart.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is traditional Christmas wrapping paper?+
Traditional Christmas wrapping paper uses classic holiday motifs and colors, such as tartan, holly, evergreen and poinsettias in red, green, gold and cream.
What is vintage Christmas wrapping paper?+
Vintage Christmas wrapping paper is inspired by the past, with designs like reprinted carol sheets, sketched Santas and softened, sepia-toned colors.
Can I mix different Christmas wrapping papers under one tree?+
Yes. Connect them with one shared color or the same ribbon on every gift, and mixed papers will look intentional.
What ribbon goes with vintage Christmas wrapping paper?+
Ivory or cream velvet, silk ribbon and natural twine all suit vintage papers.
When did Christmas wrapping paper begin?+
Decorative wrapping paper became popular after 1917, when a Kansas City stationery shop sold decorative envelope liners as gift wrap.
Like fashion for your gifts.
