The first ornaments were used to add symbolism to a tree. Apples represented the tree of forbidden fruit in the Bible, stars represented heaven, and angels represented God's communication with man.
- Early ornaments.....People decorated trees with whatever they had on hand, such as apples, nuts, popcorn, cranberries, paper streamers, candles and metal foil.
- Glass ornaments....In 1847, a glassblower by the name of Hans Greiner made the first glass ornaments (called baubles) in Lauscha, Germany. He created garlands of glass beads and tin figures to hang on trees.
- Commercialization....The tradition became popular and was commercialized under Queen Victoria's reign. Shops began to sell ornaments seasonally.
- In the 1890s, Woolworth's Department Store (dime store) in the U.S. sold more than $25 million in German-imported ornaments made of lead and hand-blown glass each year. Soon after, other countries joined in. Japan and Eastern European countries were mass-producing glass Christmas ornaments to compete with Germany.
- Hallmark ornaments....Hallmark, in 1973, introduced a line of 'keepsake' ornaments that added collectible value to Christmas tree ornaments.
- Modern day ornaments....Today ornaments are made from glass, plastic, porcelain, metal, wood, and a variety of materials including paper. Family members create their own ornaments, which immediately become sentimental keepsakes and are placed on a premier branch of a family Christmas tree.
- Handcrafted tree ornaments are popular at craft fairs and online businesses.
- Ornaments can represent a family's interests in sports, hobbies or even favorite colors, as well as their personalities.
- Some families choose an annual theme for their tree, such as a coastal theme with seashells or a tree decorated with different kinds of birds.
- Today's ornaments also have special meanings, like the nutcracker represents strength and courage, and a gingerbread man symbolizes joy and happiness.
- The tree-topper is the one special ornament that crowns the tree, the most common being a star (representing the Star of Bethlehem) or a Christmas Angel.
Lovely!!! WE have a special ornament for every family member that has passed. For example, my FIL was an avid golfer…we found an ornament with a golfer and gold ball…we have ornaments for our animals that have passed…and of course ornaments representing Alma Matas…these never and will never make it to a garage sale!!!…M
ReplyDeleteDo you have any special ornaments? I have a thin, hand-blown, light pink glass ornament that was on my Dad's first tree in 1906 and my Mom's feathered birds, both of which I treasure. She always did a ring of six white doves that circled the top of her trees.
ReplyDeleteM.....your ornaments for family members and pets is just the best.....this will give others the idea how to remember those we've loved and lost. Thanks for that!
ReplyDeleteTC.....yes I have a little glass fish that was on my childhood Christmas trees. It is packed away with a personal note of how precious it is to me. I love the idea of the doves that topped your Mom's trees. Thank you.
ReplyDelete