Elvis Presley: The 67-Year-Old Item That Defines Graceland’s Holiday Magic
Elvis Presley‘s Graceland celebrates the holiday magically by reintroducing fans to a 67-year-old item that defines the season. It brings the Memphis home to life annually and was purchased by Elvis in 1957 for his first Christmas at Graceland.
What is the classic Elvis Presley item that defines Graceland during the holiday season?
Elvis Presley spent his first official Christmas season at Graceland in 1957. He purchased the home in the spring of the same year.
Therefore, he wanted to make memories for himself, his dad Vernon, and his mom Gladys Presley. Elvis decided to make Graceland as magical as he could for his extended family and friends.
He paid the Bain Sign Company for a yard display featuring Santa and his reindeer, along with the message “Merry Christmas to All, Elvis.” The sign was noticeable to those who walked outside the home as Elvis displayed it on the front lawn during the holiday season.
“The very first Christmas lawn ornament Elvis displayed is the ‘Merry Christmas to All’ lights with Santa and the reindeer,” Graceland archivist Angie Marchese said to Architectural Digest. “He put it there the Christmas of ’57, which was his first Christmas at Graceland. He paid $300 for it.”
Before its current position to Graceland’s left, the Christmas sign was on the home’s right. But when Elvis opted to purchase a larger nativity set, the religious statues took up space where the Santa sign once was.
The sign remains a defining decoration during the holiday season at Graceland. This year, it will be on display from Nov. 16, 2024, through Jan. 8, 2025.
What other decoration is original to when Elvis Presley lived at Graceland?
Other decorations which are displayed yearly are Elvis Presley’s Christmas tree. Adorning the tree are his decorations and the original tinsel he used.
The centerpiece decoration, its ornaments, and tinsel are carefully packed away year after year. However, Angie Marchese joked that she’s always surprised the tinsel survived almost 70 holiday seasons after Elvis used it.
“The dining room [held] their main Christmas tree. It was heavily decorated with lights, tinsel, and various eclectic ornaments,” Marchese explains. “The tinsel that we put on that tree every year is the original tinsel from when Elvis decorated it.”
She continued, “Priscilla tells the story that when they were decorating the tree, she would tell Elvis, ‘You hang the tinsel like icicles; it’s supposed to hang down.’ Elvis would ball it up and throw it at the tree like a snowball,”
Why do Graceland’s holiday decorations stay up until Elvis’ birthday?
Typically, Elvis Presley would decorate Graceland in late November. His holiday decorations would stay up until early January.
Why does Graceland remain decorated until Elvis’ birthday on January 8? Because that’s the way Elvis did it and the tradition continues.
In 1974, the mayors of Memphis and Shelby County in Tennessee declared January 8 to be Elvis Presley Day, according to the official Graceland blog. That first year, a parade was held down Elvis Presley Boulevard to Graceland. Humes High School had their band play “Happy Birthday.”
The Memphis and Shelby County Mayors continue the Elvis Birthday Proclamation tradition each year at Graceland. Lisa Marie Presley made her last appearance at the annual celebration four days before her death on Jan. 12, 2023.
In January 2025, Graceland will celebrate the 90th birthday of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. From January 8-11 there will be a celebration that includes special guests close to Elvis Presley. The home is open 363 days a year with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
