Watching telly at Christmas gives me heartburn—metaphorically speaking. The ads are so over-the-top, but we love them, and they work. If the images are clever enough to stir powerful feelings within us, we happily part with hard-earned cash. Thinking about the power of images at this time of year led me to explore the museum’s photography collections.
The collection is full of alluring and joyful festive winter pictures, and I was spoilt for choice. I’ve selected three—seemingly random at first glance—but which together reveal the many ways an image shapes our sense of reality and human experience. Each one captures a different facet of winter, yet together they speak to patience, courage and joy—the very qualities we celebrate during the festive season.
In this photograph from the Daily Herald Archive, four women hold hands on the ice, their limbs pointing every which way. They look like newborn deer, tipsy but exhilarated, moving together in a shared rhythm of clumsiness and delight. Joy, laughter, adrenaline and the thrill of childhood fun are all captured in this fleeting moment. Thank goodness they didn’t have smartphones back then. Otherwise, four bleeding noses might have spoiled the fun!
This Winter Olympics photograph shows a magnificent open space framed by stunning mountains. You can feel the collective excitement despite the freezing cold. This image, taken just three years after the end of World War Two, celebrates human resilience and the capacity to come together for shared joy. Unlike the skaters’ spontaneous delight, this is a scene of privilege: only a few could attend. Yet it still reminds us of the extraordinary ways people organise for mutual enjoyment, perseverance and celebration.
Finally, ‘Winter in Japan’ offers a quieter, more contemplative winter scene: a lone figure walking through a pristine, snow-covered landscape. Silence seems to radiate from the image. Trees and nature rest, paused in perfect stillness. The photograph invites us to slow down, reflect and marvel at nature’s majesty and our own need for rest. It reminds us that even in solitude, there is beauty, peace and quiet joy.
What unites these seemingly random photographs? Patience, courage, and shared joy stand out as universal themes. The novice skaters and the lone walker remind us that some things cannot be rushed. Whether attempting a first skating lesson or competing in the Olympics, courage is needed. And from the skaters’ clumsy laughter to the collective thrill of the Olympics, these images celebrate fun, communal experiences and the playful spirit of youth. Rediscovering this joy during the festive season keeps the promise of renewal alive, helping us welcome longer, warmer days ahead.
So, as we prepare to enter 2026, consider your own festive images: How might you embrace patience, show courage and rediscover joy this season? These photographs remind us that the heart of the holidays is not perfection or wealth, but shared experiences, wonder and the small victories of daily life.