Christmas ornaments are used to decorate Christmas trees all over the world.
Christmas ornaments from all over the world…
The use of Christmas ornaments to decorate trees along with toys and edible decorations such as fruit, nuts, cookies and gingerbread originated in Germany.
When the tradition of decorating Christmas trees became widely recognized in the United States trees were most often adorned with hand-made Christmas ornaments rather than with fruits and sweets.
Handmade Christmas Ornaments
Some examples of hand made Christmas ornaments include crocheted snowflakes or angels, sachets filled with cotton and spices, shaped plaster ornaments that are painted, and miniature stick horses.
Cross stitch patterns and clay are also commonly used in Christmas ornaments as well as stuffed fabric shapes.
Making Christmas ornaments year after year is a wonderful tradition in some families.
Heirloom Christmas Ornaments
Hallmark is well known for its “First Christmas” ornaments for baby’s first Christmas or a couple’s first Christmas together and they usually have the year inscribed on them.
First Christmas ornaments often have a place for a photograph and some are even made as lockets where the picture is placed inside. Personalized Christmas ornaments are also common.
Cultural Christmas Ornaments
In the southwest United States dried red chilies, corn husks and dried gourds that are hand painted with Mexican or Indian designs are popular Christmas ornaments.
In Sweden wooden Christmas ornaments are common. Fans and paper lanterns are used as Christmas ornaments in Japan. Pine cones, popcorn and strung berries are sometimes used as Christmas ornaments.
Did you know? People in the southwest United States have been known to spray a tumbleweed with ornamental snow and decorate it with Christmas lights and Christmas ornaments in place of a Christmas tree.
Collectible Christmas Ornaments
Collectible Christmas ornaments, such as Coca Cola ornaments, are interesting and highly desirable for collectors. Collectible Christmas ornaments usually have the year printed on them and new Christmas ornaments are introduced each year.
