United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_Each year, you decorate a gorgeous evergreen with lights, glass Christmas ornaments, ribbon, tinsel, and other items that evoke the holiday spirit. But have you ever stopped to wonder why you have Our First Christmas ornament or a Baby’s First Christmas ornament displayed on your tree?
More than likely, the answer is no. You’ve grown up with this tradition, and you hold it dear, but you’re not sure why it exists. Here’s a brief history of Christmas trees and ornaments.
Christmas ornaments, just like the Christmas tree, originated in Germany. During the 1800s, Hans Greiner began to make glass Christmas ornaments called baubles which were the first manufactured Christmas ornaments, and they were a huge commercial success. As soon as the local businesses saw how much potential commercial success Christmas ornaments had, that was that!
In the 1890s, Woolworth’s Department Store in the U.S. sold more than $25 million in German-imported ornaments made of lead and hand-blown glass each year. Soon, other countries wanted a piece of the pie. Eastern European countries and Japan were mass-producing glass Christmas ornaments to compete with Germany.
Hallmark introduced a line of “Keepsake” ornaments in 1973, that gave Christmas ornaments collectible value. Now, many people will use Christmas ornaments to mark certain events in time. You may, for example, see ornaments for each year of marriage or a child’s first Christmas.
Today, Christmas ornaments may be blown from glass or plastic, woven, molded from porcelain or metal, or carved from wood or expanded polystyrene. They are created to last and be used year after year. Most people’s collections contain a combination of items created by family members and commercially produced ornaments.
Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the most anticipated Christmas traditions. While many of you may have been adorning trees since childhood, you may not be familiar with the meanings behind each ornament. Every ornament that is placed on a Christmas tree symbolizes something significant, such as home protection, good luck, or the unity of the family. Explore the hidden meanings behind ornaments, from stars to bells.
Bells – Bells symbolize joy for all humanity during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, along with the birth of Jesus. When placed on the Christmas tree, bells signify the announcement of Jesus’ birth, while echoing the praise of the heavenly host.
Poinsettia – The poinsettia symbolizes various sentiments, including joy, purity, love, and hope. Its red leaves that are shaped like a star, hold special significance for many Christians as the flower is associated with the Star of Bethlehem.
Pine Cone – Pine cones serve as a universal symbol of Christmas worldwide, acting as table centerpieces and adorning trees. Beyond decoration, they symbolize the winter season, nature and, embodying notions of renewal, growth, and the hopeful anticipation of spring to come.
Candy Cane – The candy cane, which dates back to around 1670, carries dual symbolism. It represents purity and the blood of Christ, while also embodying the secular themes of joy and sweetness associated with the holiday season.
Wreaths – Green, symbolizing light and life, together with red for protection, establishes the Christmas wreath as a powerful symbol of eternal life.
Star – The primary symbolism of a star at Christmas is to honor the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the three kings, or wise men, to the baby Jesus, according to the Biblical story.
Mistletoe: This ornament, hung on doors, symbolizes the purification of the home and is believed to hold mystical powers that bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. A tradition Additionally suggests that lovers should kiss under the mistletoe for eternal love.
