Christmas Ornaments

_ad_section_start -->tradition. The first one to spot the pickle
Christmas ornaments may have had humbleornament hidden in the Christmas tree got an
beginnings however this much loved and popularextra present from St Nicholas at Christmas and
tradition of hanging Christmas ornaments haswere blessed with good luck!
made people into multi millionairs today!Not far from the famous Christmas ornament
In the early 1800's fruit (particularly apples) andglass blowers in Lauscha were the artisans in
nuts were the first Christmas ornaments used toDresden who introduced pressed and embossed
decorate Christmas trees. Soon to followpaper ornaments featuring bright colors. They
Christmas ornaments of foil and paper streamersintroduced new Christmas ornament shapes
cut and made from the hands of family andincluding birds and fish.
friends were added. Among German families (whoFrom the late 19th century the appearance of
popularized the Christmas tree) they madepressed tin with brightly colored lithographic
Christmas ornaments out of gingerbread andsurfaces appeared as ornaments. Thin foil strips
other hard home-made cookies baked in thewere soon introduced (tinsel) and the German
shape of fruit, stars, bells, angels and hearts. Increators called it "angels' hair". Then came an
other countries such as America, their first lot ofabundance of varying materials including lace, wire
Christmas ornament additions were long strandsand bead work which was often all used together
of cranberries or popcorn to circle their trees!to make one ornament.
They also added small intricately woven basketsAfter the war when American's were coming out
that they nestled in the crooks of boughs. In theof the great depression the German ornament
UK people started to show off their talentstrade feared hostilities and so searched for a
making creative Christmas ornaments from lace,manufacturer who could make the ornaments in
paper and other materials. With all the ChristmasAmerica itself. They got together with the
ornaments displayed it was often noted that theCorning Company in New York who were then
Christmas trees themselves could be hardly seen!manufactures of light bulbs. By 1940 this company
It was not until the latter part of the 19thwas making 300,000 ornaments a day compared
century that we saw mass produced Christmasto 600 for a skilled German glass blower. These
ornaments being developed and sold whichornaments were lacquered by machine and hand
started in Germany. Particularly in Lauscha,decorated.
Germany known for its glass making, theyWonderful childhood memories of Christmas often
started by replicating fruit, nuts and other foodrevolve not only around presents but around the
items followed later by the manufacture ofChristmas tree and its ornaments and other
hearts, stars and popular shapes that came fromdecorations. It was often a great event to dress
the traditional cookie baked ornaments. Much laterin your best clothes and take the family to the
the glass blowers created moulds of saints,big department stores to see the "Big Tree" with
famous people and animals. The beautiful coloredhundreds of fascinating ornaments on display.
glass ornaments were adopted quickly andHighly reflective materials were most popular for
became a popular favorite for the Christmas tree.ornaments and complexity and variety of
They became so popular that nearly everyone inornaments were the driving factors for ornament
the town was in some way involved in thesales. A popular legend said if you placed a
creation of Christmas ornaments. All thereflective ornament on your tree it would repel an
ornaments were handmade by people whoevil spirit trying to enter your home - they would
followed in the glassmaking traditions ofsee their reflection, then terrified they would
generations of their families before them. Eachwithdraw! Later on electric trains and small villages
ornament had a touch of individual craftsmanshipwere placed under the tree and miniature
and became unique and highly prized.churches, stores and homes were the new
By the late 1800's they were exported aroundornaments placed on trees.
the world. The famous Mr Woolworth is creditedWith the introduction of aluminum trees
with part of his fortune being made from themanufactures made special ornaments they
importation and sales of German glass Christmasassured us were fire proof and just as safe as
ornaments around the 1880's to 1890's when hethe newly produced trees themselves. By the
sold more than $25 million worth of ornaments in1970's there was the occasional popular culture
his Five and Dime Stores.figure, radio serial star or comic book hero, or
The Famous Pickle Ornament!even an occasional product ornament such as a
There is a folk story that says for generationsSwift's Premium Ham ornament. Then came the
people were hiding a glass ornament (most likelypersonalized ornament which became popular in
from Lauscha) in the shape of a green pickle. Themodern times.
legend says that German parents started this