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Writer's pictureDanijela Pope

The 411 on Christmas Ornaments




The Holidays are coming and everyone has a different way of expressing the Christmas Spirit. The tradition of decorating trees or evergreen boughs goes back very, very far, possibly to the ancient Romans and Egyptians.


Other early societies worshiped trees, and the “tree of paradise” — decorated to represent the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden — was a common theme in early Medieval folk culture. Later, the triangular-shaped trees became a symbol of the Christian trinity, and of new life as associated with the birth, death and resurrection of Christ.


The earliest European Christmas trees were decorated with colorful fruit, sweets and baked goods. Hand-blown glass ornaments soon followed, and their shapes eventually took on Christian symbolism.


While people still decorate their trees with stars, angels and other Christian symbols, just as many ornaments are purely decorative. Whatever their meaning, modern ornaments are there to add beauty, bring joy and give a personalized touch to every tree and every family.



The most common materials for modern Christmas ornaments are glass, metal, plastic and wood. Ornaments come in a nearly infinite number of shapes, but here are some of the most common ones:


Ball ornaments. The popular standard Christmas ball ornament can be made of metal, glass or plastic. It may be solid- or multi-colored, hand-painted or even made of hand-blown glass. They may be the original Christmas ornament shape, thought to mimic that of apples. Ball ornament sets can create base decoration for your tree, which you can then personalize with more ornaments.





Shaped ornaments. Often made of glass, plastic or lightweight metal, these shiny, clear or colorful ornaments may be shaped like bells, teardrops, or icicles and snowflakes. But it doesn’t end with basic shapes. Cast metal, glass or plastic ornaments can represent virtually any object, including snowmen, Santa, animals, fruit and vegetables, hamburger, yet it’s true or famous monuments.




DIY ornaments. Christmas ornaments are often handmade by school kids, and get handed down through generations. Ornaments made of wood, especially hand-painted ones, can add a rustic touch to the tree. Wood is a forgiving ornament material because it won’t break if dropped or packed carelessly.





Keepsake ornaments. Many families make it a tradition to buy one new, distinctive ornament every year. These ornaments then evoke special memories, especially as the kids get older.


Hallmark issues a new collection of Keepsake Ornaments every year and some have become collectors’ items, often sold online as collectors ornaments, especially on Etsy.

Family keepsake ornaments might be handmade, evoke memories of a special vacation, or be real splurges, like these ornaments studded with Swarovski crystals.





Novelty ornaments. There are ornaments made like mini-stuffed animals and ornaments that light up or play music, very popular with families with young children.









Christmas Ornament Themes

Some households like to decorate their Christmas trees with a color theme. That may be traditional green and red, or maybe something more unusual, like purple or even black — hmm, that could be interesting on a white tree?


There are options for combining faiths and holidays, such as Kwanzaa-themed ornaments in Hanukkah colors. Then there are ornaments that seemingly have little to do with Christmas, such as Character theme based ornaments like Peanuts, Star Wars and even vintage Angels Themed trees!





Last and not least, is the shape ornaments. Most common are ball, or round. However there are spheres, diamonds, squares, icicles, and many others to choose from.





What ever your tradition calls for, we are sure that it will fill your family with joy for many years to come.


The next obvious question would be:


Where To Buy Ornaments?


We recommend Etsy. Searching for a unique, one-of-a-kind holiday gift? Etsy’s your spot. Thousands of creators offer handmade, personalized, vintage or otherwise fabulous ornaments, all in one place…


Spruce up your home this Christmas season with a wide selection of top-quality Christmas ornaments. So many shapes, colors, finishes, and designs to choose from, you are sure to find an ornament (or ornaments) that you absolutely love to add to your collection of Christmas decorations. Bring your holiday decorating to the next level by adding a festive flare of holiday cheer to your home this Christmas with My40YearCollection.Etsy.com.


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