Ghosts of Christmas past: Winnipeg sparkles in yules of yesteryear

NOTE: This story was originally published onDec. 24, 2016.

Winnipeg's styles vehicles, clothing, architecture have changed over the years but one thing that has run strong and constant throughout that evolution is its Christmas spirit.

The brightdisplays sparkling from tens of thousands of lights, particularly along Portage Avenue, haveearned the city the reputation as the Christmascapital of Canada.

CBC Winnipeg spent time in the city's archives, finding images to bring the past to light from the old gingerbread city hall and the Mile of Lights along Portage,to the giant candy canes that circled Hudson's Bay's department store and the MadMen-esqueclothes of the shoppers in Eaton's.

Have a stroll down memory lane from the1930sthrough the 60s and 80s and into current day.

Start with these before-and-after photos by sliding left and right to see how the city has changed, then enjoy a selection of images from bygone days.

Portage Avenue looking west from Donald.

TOP: 1960s.

BOTTOM:December 2016.

Eaton's and Portage Avenue, looking east from Carlton Street.

TOP: 1960s.

BOTTOM:December 2016.

Birks and Portage Avenue, looking west from Garry Street.

TOP:1935.

BOTTOM:December 2016.

Portage Avenue, between Donald Street and Smith Street.

TOP: 1935, showingCapitol Theatre, Kodak Building, Planter's Peanuts, Union Hay Works and Shoe Repair, and McCreary's men's wear.

BOTTOM: December 2016, Dollarama and Mountain Equipment Co-op take up most of the block.

Portage Avenue, looking west from between Kennedy Street and Vaughan Street.

TOP:Unknown date.

BOTTOM:December 2016.

Portage Avenue, between Garry and Smith streets, looking west to Main.

TOP:Unknown date.

BOTTOM:December 2016.

PHOTO GALLERY of bygone Christmases

There's a romanticism about historical photos of Winnipeg, particularly the black and white images where the lightsflare into blurry halos, reflecting off wet roads and the curves of 1930s coupes and sedans.

Those old Chevys and Model A Fords, angle parked along Portage Avenue, look ready to roar away in a prohibition-era mob chase.

It's a time of jazz and a booming city that became known as the Chicago of the north.

Then there's the Mad Men era of longcoats, high hairdos and crisp fedoras, when department stores decorated with oversized snowflakes and candy canes were crowded with Christmas shoppers and gleaming display counters.

Winnipeg still lights up well at Christmas time with trumpets and stars on the streetlamps, but the main avenue isn't lined with colourful trees anymore or a canopy of string lights. Instead, metal poles hold up displays shaped out of rope lights.

Gone are the window displays at Hudson's Bay and Eaton's. Well, Eaton's itself is gone. Similarly, many of the old buildings have long since been torn down like the old gingerbread city hall and the Prairie Cities service station.

But many still do exist with different names, different facades. Winnipeg's history is still there, if somewhat hidden.