These sweet vintage Santa mugs are becoming quite collectible!
When I was a growing up, my family had a favorite Christmas tradition.
Every Christmas Eve my mother would make a large pot of hot chocolate and we would drink it out of sweet little Santa mugs.
Over the years, those mugs became chipped and worn. Eventually we stopped using them, and my mother stored them away.
When I married and had a child of my own, my mother passed those Santa mugs to me, and all these years later, I still cherish them.
Each time I see one of these iconic mid century cups, I’m filled with sweet Christmas memories.
Over the years, I’ve added to my collection, picking up these old cups at flea markets, estate sales, and thrift stores.
Along the way, I’ve added pitchers and miniature cups as well.
They were usually found at very inexpensive prices, but recently the prices have started to increase as more and more people have started collecting them.
A few weeks ago, I added another Santa cup and an old vintage pitcher to my collection and I started wondering about the history of these iconic Santa mugs.
I know many of you have seen these Santa mugs, and probably more than a few of you actually have some in your cabinet.
Well, it just might be time to take those vintage Santa mugs out of storage for a festive holiday display!
It appears that these adorable vintage Santa mugs have become quite collectible in a big way, and apparently not just during the Christmas season.
Newer versions of the classic design are popping up in major retailers, offering an opportunity to start your own tradition of serving hot chocolate in them on Christmas Eve to your children and grandchildren.
The original vintage Santa themed mugs and dishes were first introduced back in 1949. That’s when Grant Holt, Robert Howard, and John Howard started the Holt-Howard Co. with a $9,000 loan from their families.
They launched their company with a line of Christmas table decor, selling it through department stores and catalogues.
Today, if you find one of the original mugs, you can identify it very easily. Most Holt-Howard products are hallmarked with a clear date and copyright.
You may also find one with a foil label reading “HH Japan”, because some of the production was moved to Japan in the mid 1950’s.
The founders left the company in the 1970’s, and the company completely closed in 1990.
The Santa mugs were mass produced in the mid century, so it’s not too difficult to find them in thrift stores, flea markets, and estate sales. Especially during the holiday season.
There’s something so nostalgic about these vintage Santa mugs with the tail of Santa’s hat twisted into a handle and his jolly, twinkling smile.
My collection started with the set of cups and pitcher passed down from my mother, and mine isn’t a large collection, but each year I add a few pieces if I find them at a good price.
My hope is to one day fill an entire cabinet with these sweet pieces and bring them out for display each Christmas.
Every Christmas, I pull out my small collection and display it in different ways.
This year I displayed the collection in the antique French Vaisselier in the breakfast room, mixed among my vintage ironstone typography collection.
Vintage bottle brush trees look so cute displayed inside these charming old mugs.
I love the miniature Santa mugs but I never knew what they were used for! Recently I found out that they were used as shot glasses, and were often given as party favors! What a cute idea!
I have such fond childhood memories of what these vintage Santa mugs represent for me.
I guess that’s why I love this collection so much and why I add to it every year.
They make me recall Christmases of long ago. They are a link to my past and evoke such fond memories.
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing my whimsical collection of Santa mugs. Maybe I’ve inspired you to start your own?
Cheers, Cindy
I have an old worn Santa mug that I have been trying to identify. I’ve spent over 2 hours online looking at Etsy, eBay and other sites trying to find one that looks just like him. I don’t see a way to add pictures so I would love to be able to connect and send them if you are willing to help out. The Santa mug is about 2.5″ tall and 2.5″ wide so it appears to be child sized but larger than a shot glass. Both eyes are open, only an eyebrow on his right side. His beard in the front and hair in the back have curls. The “fur” trim on his cap has black (where not worn off) arrows rather than the typical straight lines, and are all the way around the hat. The handle (his hat) was once red with a red rim around the top but it appears the hat went all the way to the rim in the front. I’m sure he is not worth a lot since the paint is worn and there is both crazing and a crack. Any help would be much appreciated! Have fun this Christmas with your mugs. I don’t collect any one thing – just have a hodge-podge of things from childhood and inherited from relatives that I can’t seem to part with!
Hi there! If you would like to send pics to edithandevelyn@gmail.com, I’ll be happy to see if I have any info!
Fun collection and beautifully displayed.
Actually have some of my mothers Santa mugs that come out each year, that still make smile.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
I have been collecting them the past 10 years or so. I have about 6 shot glasses and decorate a tabletop tree with them. I found a pitcher this year, on the lowest shelf of a bookcase. I had to lean over “treasures” on one foot to retrieve it!!
Oh how I love them! My husband and I were given two of the miniatures to do a “shot” of something in at our neighborhood party a few years back. I have no idea what happened to them, but they are nowhere to be found. Your piece of furniture is absolutely beautiful, the French Vasselier. And Ruby Lou, just as cute as can be. ♥️My husband will murder me if I bring one more Christmas item into this houseWe do have too much holiday decor. I will admire your collection and the beautiful way you’ve displayed them from afar. LOVE THIS POST!
I remember drinking hot chocolate out of those as a child. Many years ago. Brings back so many sweet memories. And you are so correct the prices keep rising.
It’s great that you have your mother’s collection of Santa’s mugs. My mom didn’t have any. I started collecting them a few years ago, when they were very inexpensive, but as my interest in them has grown, the prices have really shot up.
Yes, I’ve noticed that prices are increasing as well. Thanks for commenting, Deb!
Thank you for sharing your Santa mugs! Merry Christmas to you and your family too!
Love your collection. I have a set of four I found at a thrift shop a few years ago and have them displayed on a shelf during the holidays. I’m always on the hunt for more.
Merry Christmas Sweet Girl! Thank you for your lovely blog posts! Love your Santa mugs and pitchers!
BUT, I must say that the real prize is your Precious Pooch! ARF!
What wonderful memories you have that make your Santa mugs collection extra special. They are both lovely. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home and memories. Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas.
Thank you so much, Velia! Merry Christmas!
My parents had this collection too. Alas, the only mug I have is mine since ours were personalized. Also, my sweet dog Clementine that passed in 2016 had the same Christmas “ruff” as your darling baby. Happy memories.
Wonderful memories, Candie! Merry Christmas!
Love the history. Today…expressos!
Love your collection and sharing memories. I too have many and have decorated a kitchen tree with them. Everyone who saw it had a “Santa mug” story or memory. Enjoy and have a blessed New Year.
Merry Christmas, Cindy! I have a couple of the mugs that belonged to my mother. I don’t know what happened to the rest of them, but they are displayed in my kitchen for Christmas and they do make me think of my mother and Christmases past.. I always love your posts and hope you and your family are well and have a Happy New Year.
Merry Christmas! I have a very small Santa mug collection and I also try to add when I see them for a good price. Your collection us lovely!
Love your vintage Santa mug collection. I just started collecting them over the past year. Picked one up for 99 cents and was thrilled! But I agree the prices have generally been going up:( Love that they were used as shot glasses! Merry Christmas to you as well!
I used to find Santa mugs for 50 cents or a dollar or two. Now they are averaging $10-14 each. I have a few so far, but I wish my mom and grandmother had passed some along. Neither of them collected them, however. The variety of expressions on the mugs is so fun. And thanks for the information about the miniatures. I had no idea what they were used for. Now I know.
I have my 10 displayed in my kitchen this year
I also have mine in the kitchen this year!
Hi Cindy,
What a warm story. Thanks for sharing!. Merry Christmas to you and your family too!
Such a heartwarming Christmas memory. Hope you and the Mr are feeling better. Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy 2021.
I MADE A SET OF TWELVE MUGS IN CERAMICS CLASS WITH MATCHING COOKIE JAR IN 1956. WE PUT THEM OUT EVERY YEAR. LOVE THEM THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
I love your vintage Santa Mug collection and how it is displayed on your French Vaisselier! I also have a collection of these and enjoy the nostalgia I feel from looking at them