The History Corner
By Rick Gianni, Rooks County Museum Coordinator
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THESE JOLLY SANTAS are just some of the Christmas “kitch” at the Rooks County Historical Museum on display during the month of December.
The Rooks County Historical Society is proud to announce the first annual “Merry Kitchmasland!” celebration. Many may wonder what is Kitchmasland. The definition rests on the concept of the word “kitch.”
The description is more of a perception and can mean something of an appealing popular trend that is rather lowbrow in taste or of poor quality. It could be a trend or fad that started off cool, but eventually becomes outdated… old school. When folks see something and roll their eyes, then wink and smirk, that means they are sorting through long ago memories. Yet, kitch can be lighthearted. It can be sentimental or in some cases delightful.
The decades of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s Christmas décor is the heart of what is now known as “Kitchmasland.” The core of Christmas decorations that were plastic, mass produced and once cute and eventually made it to garage sales, rummage sales and landfills. Yet, some of the old school decorations avoided the landfill and hid in attics across America. As the younger generation raided the attic trunks, many looked at the Kitchmasland decorations and said, “You’ve got to be kidding!” But others looked on in wonder and understood what was once old is now “cool” again.
The Rooks County Historical Society is inviting everyone to visit and experience a little bit of Christmas Kitch. Little pipe cleaner Christmas trees, stuffed Santa dolls, old dolls, old satin wrapped Christmas tree ornaments that were advertised as “unbreakable” are all dancing around a vintage 1960’s snow white tree. Those old LP Christmas records are ready to hit the turntable again. And yes, there stands the old aluminum tree that could not use electric lights.
Kitchmasland will be on display at the Rooks County Historical Society’s Museum throughout the holiday season. The hours are 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Stop in to have those holiday flashbacks that will spark memories of all those long ago toys from Santa Claus found under the tree.
Then after visiting Kitchmasland, look through the military Christmas tree that is in honor of all the United States military branches and military historical events.
