Follow the Star: A 2023 Advent Calendar

Enjoy the ephemeral beauty of vintage Christmas cards from December 1 to December 25 as we unveil a different Nativity-themed card daily on Glencairn Museum’s website. Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram) to receive these artworks directly in your newsfeed.

Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn often commissioned original Christmas card designs from artists within their circle. These cards, which often portrayed scenes from the story of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, were shared with a wide network of family, friends, and employees. In response, a number of artists linked to the Pitcairns crafted their own cards and sent them to the family. These cards were displayed in Glencairn’s Upper Hall during the holiday season. Historic photographs of the Upper Hall reveal that they were fastened to cork boards and hung from strings.

All the cards in this Advent calendar are from the Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn papers in the Glencairn Museum archives.

In addition, we also offer on our website “Do You See What I See: Imagery in Nativity Scenes,” our online resource about the history and iconography of the Nativity tradition.