Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the most cherished holiday traditions in the world. Families get together every year to make memories while unwrapping boxes of priceless Christmas ornaments. A great number of these recollections act as the foundation for traditions that are passed down from one generation to the next.
But how did Christmas ornaments come to play such a large role in our Christmas experiences?
The Origins of Christmas Ornaments
The custom of Christmas tree decorations originated in Germany, where people continued to decorate trees with fruits and nuts after the leaves had fallen to symbolize the approach of spring.
However, a fir tree was brought inside and adorned with paper roses, candles, nuts, and fruits, which was groundbreaking! Christmas tree decorations quickly became popular in Germany.
In the 1800s, German immigrants introduced the tradition to America and gave it their own spin. Early families decorated their homes with anything they had, including candles, fruit (especially apples), nuts, popcorn, cranberry strings, paper streamers, and metal foil. They really came to showcase American ingenuity!
Fun fact: Before Christmas lights were used, humans loved the idea of lighting up a tree. Pieces of foil were frequently added to the tree to make it shimmer and reflect the light in the room.
See more: Personalized Christmas Ornaments For Loving Family Memory
Traditional Ball Ornaments
Do you know those collections of Christmas ornaments in sphere shapes that you use to adorn your tree? They were, in fact, developed in Germany!
The earliest manufactured Christmas ornaments were Hans Greiner’s glass balls, sometimes known as baubles, which were created in the 1800s. The innovative F.W. Woolworth, who sold more than $25 million worth of goods annually, invented the concept in America in the late 19th century.
The use of plastic injection molding, which creates a variety of different shapes and sizes by pouring molten material into a mold, was eventually adopted by businesses.
The Christmas ornaments’ round shape derives from the shape of the original decoration materials: fruits and nuts.
The Christmas Star
The Christmas star you see perched from branches and set atop trees may have religious roots, but do you know why?
Three magi (or wise men) saw a peculiar star in the sky at the time of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and knew it would direct them to the child. With presents of gold, incense, and myrrh, they followed that star to the stable where Jesus was sleeping in a manger. The star we use today to adorn our trees is a depiction of the Star of Bethlehem from the Bible.
Even though we frequently describe them as “the three kings,” the wise men were not kings. They were seen as equal to astrologers, who looked at the patterns in the stars, instead.
Candy Canes
Candy canes are used for a variety of things, such as gift stuffers and Christmas tree ornaments! The candy cane is an additional Christmas custom in Germany that dates to circa 1670. The candy, which was shaped into a “J” to resemble the shepherds’ crooks that visited the infant Jesus, was created to help children maintain their composure during Christmas celebrations.
The crimson stripes and peppermint flavor were added around 1900. Christians believe that the crimson stripes on the hyssop plant, which was employed in Biblical purification, symbolize the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. Hyssop is a plant with a minty flavor.
Fun fact: The first candy canes were literally simply “sugar sticks,” with no flavoring or coloring.
Angels
Beautiful, elaborate angels are frequently used as angel tree topper decorations or strung amid other ornaments. These, too, have religious connotations.
They can represent the angel Gabriel, who informed Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, the angel who announced Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, or even the idea of angels guarding and guiding humanity.
Fun fact: Shortly after Christmas trees became popular, parents would decorate trees with streamers, telling their children that the streamers were strands of angel hair entwined in the branches.
The Christmas Pickle
The Christmas pickle is definitely one of the weirdest Christmas ornament traditions! It first appeared as a game created by parents for their children in the late 19th century. A glass pickle ornament was purchased and hung inside the tree so that it would blend in with the branches, and the children were told to search for it. The bonus was given to the first person who found the pickle!
Even though it was claimed that this rite was a German custom, Germany insisted that they had never heard of it! According to rumors, a cunning salesman who wished to increase ornament sales came up with the concept.
Contemporary Usage of Christmas Ornaments
Now each family’s hobbies are adequately represented by the Christmas ornaments. For instance, many families assemble ornaments as tangible mementos of their travels. Others spend money on personalized ornaments that have the year of a wedding, a child’s birth, or other significant events imprinted or etched on them to make them more unique. There has been an upsurge in demand for decorations that showcase hobbies, favorite colors, movie characters, sports, and other pastimes.
Themed trees are a relatively recent Christmas décor craze that is swiftly gaining popularity! Everything is represented here, including pastels and mercury glass, vintage and rustic trees, trees with movie themes, trees from the ocean decorated in shells and sand dollars, and more (pinecones and woodland animals). In reality, they are starting to reflect the tastes and interests of each individual home.
Some of the personalized ornaments from Uitee that are suitable for all: