Monday, December 10, 2012

Ornaments


Historians agree it was the Germans who first decorated trees during the Christmas holiday. 15th century glassblowers created baubles to hang on the evergreens.

With the family tradition of decorating trees for Christmas, Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert brought the German tradition to England in the 18th century. So it wasn’t long until America too decorated Christmas trees with hand blown glass and other ornaments.

By the 20th century, five and dime stores stocked box sets of Christmas ball ornaments. More elaborate hand cast ornaments featured Santa, reindeer and icicles.

21st Century ornaments include traditional Christmas motifs as well as cartoon characters and sports players. Quirky cultural additions such as a pineapple, a chili or a pickle have found their way onto many Christmas trees.  

2 comments:

Joanne said...

Neat post. I don't know how I didn't comment sooner. I love a variety of ornaments on a tree - each one with history and memories.

Merry Christmas to you and all the best for 2013

Unknown said...

That's something new that I came to know today..who ever started it, I like the idea of personalized ornaments...I was blown over by the idea by http://www.ornamentsandmore.com