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Christmas meant home and family and fun. With his success and the purchase of Graceland in March 1957,
Elvis soon had the pleasure of turning his family home into a Christmas
wonderland. Elvis would stretch the season as long as possible, having his decorations in place at Graceland
just after Thanksgiving and leaving them up until the day after his birthday, January 8th.
On Dec. 12, 1957 for $300.00, Elvis purchased from Bains Sign Company the Santa and sleigh
yard decorations with his message to the world, "Merry Christmas to All,
Elvis"
Inside Graceland the drapes were changed to red velvet. Holly and poinsettias were
everywhere. Adorned with red ornaments, the beautiful white nylon Christmas tree
rotated on its stand and played Christmas carols. That year, Graceland took on an added
glow from some special visitors, Hannerl Melcher, Miss Austria and her roommate Cathy
Gabriel, Miss Ohio.
Elvis had met both of these beauty queens in Las Vegas.
Hanner and
Elvis had posed for a photo shoot in October. Fans know the picture well of
Elvis wearing a black leather jacket, astride a motorcycle with a lovely platinum blonde. Both Henner and Cathy posed with Elvis at Graceland that Christmas, seated together on
the staircase in the foyer as he contemplated his draft into the U.S. Army - a publicity
shot that had them looking at a calendar as they counted the days before Elvis would
have to report for duty.
Holidays with Elvis: Easter
| Birthdays |
Fourth
of July | Mother's Day |
Valentine's
Day
In the 60s Elvis added the nativity scene and lighted trees on the front lawn,
plus the hundreds of blue lights along the driveway. A holiday tradition from then on,
with a Santa and sleigh setup going into storage. His father joked that, with the
long driveway lined in lights and airport being nearby, pilots might get confused and
think Graceland was the place to land. Elvis'
Christmas tradition continue to this day
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