From 1949 to 1960, Reading, Pennsylvania, was home to a unique Christmas tradition that made headlines across the country. The Junior Chamber of Commerce, or Jaycees, organized an annual religious Christmas parade with a clear mission: to “put Christ back into Christmas” and eliminate commercialism. In a bold move, Santa Claus was deliberately excluded from the parade to focus entirely on the spiritual meaning of the holiday.
The Jaycees invited churches from across the city to create floats illustrating biblical scenes, from the Nativity to the Annunciation, as well as symbolic depictions of peace and hope. The rules for participation emphasized simplicity and community spirit: all floats had to adhere to a religious theme, and their construction costs, excluding donations, were capped at $100. Businesses were not allowed to participate, ensuring the parade retained its non-commercial focus.
The first parade, held on December 13, 1949. The event gained significant attention, with an estimated 35,000 spectators lining Penn Street during its peak years.
The event’s reputation quickly spread beyond Reading. The United Press picked up the story, dubbing it “the town that barred Santa Claus,” and the parade received national and international attention. Letters, telegrams, and phone calls poured in from across the United States and Canada, with messages of praise arriving from places as far as Oregon, Alaska, and Quebec. Many applauded the Jaycees for their effort to return to the true meaning of Christmas, a sentiment that resonated deeply during the post-war era.
Despite its popularity and national recognition, the religious Christmas parade came to an end in 1961. The Jaycees voted to discontinue the event, citing insufficient local interest and the challenges of maintaining such a large-scale project. Parade chairman Ronald N. Weitzel and Jaycee president Elwood V. Schwartz emphasized the need to find new ways to promote the “Keep Christ in Christmas” theme.
Although the parade is now a memory, its legacy endures as a testament to Reading’s effort to celebrate Christmas with reverence and focus on its spiritual roots. For over a decade, the Jaycees succeeded in creating an event that united the community in a shared expression of faith and hope, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s history.
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