Holiday shopping of yore

A woman has been very busy shopping, so much so that her helper is hidden under a pile of parcels. 1920s - Unattributed photograph - Mary Evans Picture Library/Everett Collection (ME10038768)

1930s VIEW OF BACKS OF MOTHER DAUGHTER AND SON WINDOW SHOPPING. H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS/CLASSICSTOCK/Everett Collection (x924)

3rd December 1930: Women load their Christmas shopping into a car with the aid of an attendant from Whiteley's department store in London. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

1935: A young boy opens the car door for his sister, after returning from a Christmas shopping expedition. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

1940s MAN LOOKING AT WINDOW DISPLAY OF RADIOS ON SALE IN NEW YORK CITY. C.P. CUSHING/CLASSICSTOCK/Everett Collection (q40385)

Group of people outside a department store Macy's New York City New York State USA. Photo by: Superstock/Everett Collection(255-16109A)

Female sales clerk showing irons to a customer in a store. Photo by: Superstock/Everett Collection(255-384)

1960s MOTHER AND DAUGHTER SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES IN AISLE OF DEPARTMENT STORE. H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS/CLASSICSTOCK/Everett Collection (s12468)

1960s COUPLE LOOKING AT SKIS IN SPORTS DEPARTMENT STORE LIFESTYLE VACATION MAN WOMAN. H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS/CLASSICSTOCK/Everett Collection (ks3565)

1960s COUPLE MAN WOMAN TALKING TO SALESMAN IN COLOR TELEVISION SET SALES DEPARTMENT. H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS/CLASSICSTOCK/Everett Collection (ks3560)

circa 1955: Happy Christmas shoppers happily gaze at the window displays of the shops of Washington DC. (Photo by Orlando /Three Lions/Getty Images)

21st December 1937: A young girl points at the doll she wants for Christmas, in the window of a toy shop. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)