Tradition tells us
the first tree was brought indoors in Strasburg, Germany, in 1605. Martin
Luther decorated it with candles to entertain the children. During this time
Christmas trees were embellished with wafers, candies, fruits, paper flowers,
hard cookies baked in various shapes and tinsels made from tin and silver. Humans
being humans, families were soon competing to outdo each other with their
decorations. Eventually, the tradition of a decorated tree indoors spread
beyond Germany.
During the 1800s
the hand cast glass ornaments
became widely popular. Lauscha in Germany was the hub of glass ornaments
production in Germany. Later on silk, wool thread, chenille and stiff spun
glass were used in Christmas tree ornaments.
Legend plays an important role in the History of Christmas Ornaments. The popular pickle ornament of the Germans carries with it a wonderful tale. Pickle ornaments are glass ornaments formed in the shape of a pickle. The German parents used it to judge the most intelligent child in the family. The first one to trace the pickle got an additional gift from St. Nicholas.
Legend plays an important role in the History of Christmas Ornaments. The popular pickle ornament of the Germans carries with it a wonderful tale. Pickle ornaments are glass ornaments formed in the shape of a pickle. The German parents used it to judge the most intelligent child in the family. The first one to trace the pickle got an additional gift from St. Nicholas.
Christmas trees
along with the fanciful ornaments entered England in 1840 through the hands of
Queen Victoria and her German Prince Albert. Glass ornaments, decorative beads,
paper baskets with sugared almonds and hot air balloons were used for
decoration.
The first Christmas tree ornaments began as items easily found in nature, such as nuts, fruit or pine cones. German families began to bake gingerbread or other hard cookies in different shapes. Americans strung popcorn or cranberries into strands to string around the trees. Families in the United Kingdom crafted lace or paper into unique shapes to place upon the tree.
The first Christmas tree ornaments began as items easily found in nature, such as nuts, fruit or pine cones. German families began to bake gingerbread or other hard cookies in different shapes. Americans strung popcorn or cranberries into strands to string around the trees. Families in the United Kingdom crafted lace or paper into unique shapes to place upon the tree.
Christmas Tree
Ornaments reached America around 1880. F.W Woolworth, an American retailer
first sold imported glass ornaments in his shop. Decorations also included cut
outs of old magazines, cotton wools and tinsel. The First World War disrupted
natural commerce and necessitated the production of cheaper ornaments with new
technologies. The introduction of injection plastic molding facilitated to
figure tiny miniatures.
Mistletoe was
believed to have magical powers of healing. The tree was sacred to the ancient
Celtic Druids. The cutting of the mistletoe from the oak (mistletoes are
parasites, though they can grow on their own) signified the emasculation of the
old King by his successor. Having the mistletoe decorated in the Christmas
season, originated from the pagan customs. The famous axiom "kissing under
the mistletoe" has its origin in the Norse mythology and Celtic rituals.
The Holly, which is
strongly linked with Christmas or rather Christmas festival, has a history of
its own. Though Christmas Holly history has its roots in Northern Europe, the
sanctity of the Holly plant has a pagan origin. The Holly plant is
characterized by green leaves that are prickly in nature. It needs a mention
here that the Druids adorned their heads with twigs of the Holly plant whenever
they went to the forest.
The Germans began
making ornaments for mass production in the mid-1800s. Around Lauscha, Germany,
glass blowers began molding glass into fruit or nut replicas. After those
became a big hit, they began making different shapes, such as hearts and stars,
as well as saints, children or animals.
In the 1920s, more
countries vied with Germany for the Christmas ornament market. Japan came out
with more colorful designs than Germany, while the Czech Republic produced very
fancy ornaments. After World War I, glass ornaments began to be produced by a
machine in Corning, New York. They were the first glass ornaments to be made by
machine.
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| #1 |
Tinsel first came
into use around 1610 in Germany. The first tinsel was made out of silver,
pulled very thin. It tended to tarnished quickly by the heat of the candles
placed on the tree. Experiments were made to make tinsel better, and it was
next made out of tin and lead. This tinsel was very heavy, however, and would
break from its own weight. Tinsel is currently made out of lightweight
synthetic material and is used by many people around the world.
The ornaments shown
on this post were made by the author.
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| #2 |
#1 is made by using
bits of fabric, ribbon and decorative trimming glued to a Styrofoam ball. The
fabric is cut into elongated leaf shapes to fit around the ball. A loop made of heavy thread is glued to one
end for hanging. These can be made to fit all sizes of balls.
#2 is crocheted using
crochet thread into two circular motifs sewn together around a Styrofoam ball.
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| #3 |
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| #2 |
#3 is made by
cutting old Christmas cards into nickel sized circles. The circles are then
bent to form triangles. The folds are glued together in 4 rows of five, and the
edged decorated with sparkle.
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| #4 |
#4 is made with photographs according to the pattern in the photo. You can use pictures of your children, family, favorite places, pets or squares of Christmas cards. After being folded and glued, the edges are then decorated with sparkle. See the box in the top photo.
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| #5 |
#5 The snowflakes
are crocheted using various patterns which can be found by googling “crocheted
snowflake ornaments.”
#6 The stocking is
crocheted with crochet thread in 12 six-sided motifs sewn together. My motifs
are about 2-3/4” in diameter, making a stocking about 12” long. Naturally, if you make the motifs larger,
adding another row to each one, or using thicker thread, you can create larger
stockings.
#7 are needlepoint
backed with felt and trimming added to the edges for a finished look.
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| #7 |
Anyone wanting more detailed instructions or patterns are welcome to email me at charraddon@pobox.com and I will send them to you.
Start now and decorate
your tree this year with your own handmade ornaments.
Rosalyn Delaney's husband, Josiah, vanished six years ago. Following a private detective's lead, Rosalyn leaves Salt Lake City and boards a train heading to the mining town of Whiskey Ridge, Arizona. She arrives at Rose House, an old mansion reputed to be haunted, only to discover that her missing husband has been killed, and his business partner, Whip Kincaid, is wanted for his murder. Determined to uncover the secrets surrounding Josiah and his death, Rosalyn decides to stay--even though she begins to receive nightly visits from a charming "ghost" . . .
A Ghost's Kiss . . .
Escaping a troubled past, Whip Kincaid had hoped he could make a fresh start in Whiskey Ridge and open a saloon with his friend Josiah. Now, as a murder suspect hiding in his own house, Whip's future looks bleak indeed . . . unless he can find the real culprit. But the unexpected intrusion of Rosalyn ruins his plan to sneak out at night to investigate. Scaring her away is his first step in clearing his name, but Rosalyn doesn't rattle easily. And Whip isn't sure he wants the lovely widow to walk out of his life -- especially when she'll take his heart with her.
