Hills Dept. Store Christmas Ad

About 14 years ago, I was working for the Johnson City Press--a daily newspaper in northeast Tennessee--and wrote a story about favorite Christmas commercials. One that I mentioned in the article was an '80s ad from Hills Department Store. It was a corporate ad depicting a woman on a donkey, being led by a man--representing Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem. I still remember stopping to watch this commercial as a child. It really struck a chord with me.

I miss Hills Department Store; it was such a big part of my childhood--and even my college years, as my brother and then-boyfriend and other friends worked there. I should write a post about Hills memories someday. But until then ... here is the voice-over text from that beautiful Hills commercial. I searched and searched for it the other night, and came across the above photo with the copy and everything--right on Facebook! A special thank-you to Laurie S. for sharing it there.

Before the voices
of the Earth's choirs were raised in praise ...
there was a silent night.

Before the strings of lights
were wound around the world, and tinsel strung ...
there was a single star.

Before the wide-eyed wonder
of a child on Christmas morn ...

Before the gifts ...
there was a child, born in Bethlehem,
who showed the world the greatest gift of all ... is love.

-- HILLS Christmas commercial and bag stuffer ... late 1980s