In A.D. 336, an early Roman calendar first mentions December 25 as the date of Jesus’ birth. More than likely, this date was influenced by the year-end pagan festivals that celebrated the harvest. Included in these celebrations were specially prepared meals, decorating homes, giving gifts and singing. As you can see, these pagan traditions gradually became a part of the Christian celebration itself.

The Earliest Christmas Ornaments for Trees

The earliest Christmas trees were found in Germany where they were decorated with such Christmas decorations as apples, onions, pears, nuts, candies and fruits. It was not until the 1800s that glass Christmas ornaments were first made. This took place Lauscha, Germany where the entire family was part of the business. This beautiful new glass Christmas ornaments began to replace edible decorations.

Until 1925, almost all of the hand blown glass Christmas ornaments were manufactured in Lauscha, Germany. During this time there were more than 250 million Christmas ornaments being imported into the United States alone. However, all of this changed after World War II, which is when the Lauscha area became a part of East Germany. At this time there were a lot of glassblowers who fled to West Germany and the industry began to decline at this time. It was also around this time that both Japan and Czechoslovakia began to produce glass Christmas ornaments for the North American market

Unfortunately, in the 1960's glass Christmas ornaments went out of fashion. This is when the aluminum Christmas tree, adorned with ornaments that were shaped and colored from aluminum, became quite popular. During this time a lot of the traditional Christmas ornaments were thrown away.

What to Look for in Antique Christmas Ornaments

If you are lucky enough to still have any vintage Christmas ornaments, then you really should hang on to them. Of course, it is difficult to tell whether or not they are truly vintage- but it can be done. This is because earlier ornaments were smaller than today’s modern ornaments and they were usually created out of soft colors and had many hand-painted details. Of course, this paint may be either faded or distressed in areas of the ornament today.

The best places to find these ornaments today is on Ebay, at flea markets, at church sales and at garage sales too. You will want to check them carefully by removing the stem from the base of the ornament. If the base is uneven, then you can be sure that this was a hand blown ornament because the glass blower is unable to make a clean break whereas modern machinery can do so.

Proper storage of your Christmas ornaments will keep them unharmed for next year as well as for decades to come. This is especially true for antique glass ornaments, which are quite fragile. Modern ornaments that are made from treated glass; they are stronger but they are still susceptible to damage.

Handling Glass Christmas Ornaments

Glass decorations must be handled carefully. Whenever they are removed from storage, it should be done on a padded surface. There should also be a padded tree skirt under the tree to soften the impact of any glass ball that falls from the tree. You should also use an old-fashioned Christmas tree fence to keep your young children and pets away from the ornaments. Otherwise, place your delicate glass balls near the top of the tree. Make sure that these ornaments are also positioned away from sunlight so that the paint will not fade.

Cleaning Christmas Ornaments

The colors of antique ornaments are from favorite family recipes, which were not very durable and with age they become even more fragile. Most of them are water-soluble, so they should never be washed or have any type of chemical solution used on them. Instead, gently flick them with an ostrich- feather duster to clean them.

Storing Christmas Ornaments

Strong, acid-free cardboard storage boxes with close-fitting lids are needed to store your Christmas ornaments. You should try to find one that has been specifically designed to store ornaments and thus has appropriately-sized compartments. Plastic boxes are sturdier than cardboard boxes, but the completely airless space they create is not necessarily suitable for valuable or antique ornaments. Of course, you will still want to individually wrap each piece with acid-free tissue paper, or acid-free paper towels before placing it in the storage container. Bubble wrap or crumpled paper towels should be placed at the bottom of the storage container before placing your wrapped Christmas ornaments inside.

Even with all this padding and protection, it is still possible for ornaments to be damaged by extreme temperatures and humidity levels. These elements can cause stress fractures to eventually occur in your ornaments. This is why you do not want to store your Christmas ornaments in unheated attics or cellars. Instead, you should keep them inside of a closet.

Taking time to care and properly store will ensure that your Christmas ornaments go undamaged. This is not something that is difficult to do; consider it as an investment in preserving heirlooms for generations to come.

Many people love Christmas, but have they ever stopped to wonder how Christmas was celebrated in the 1800s? There were many famous periods that have transcended into current Christmas decorations and customs, but one more so than Victorian Christmas traditions.

The Victorian Christmas Was Elegance Personified

To understand what Victorian Christmases were all about, one must first have a basic understanding of the Victorian period. The Victorian period refers to the long reign of Queen Victoria, who ruled England for over sixty years. The Victorian era was a time of morals, but it also was a time of unique decorations, none more so that the ones for Victorian Christmases.

The traditional Victorian Christmas involved the tree being brought by sleigh to the home. The tree was then set up, usually in the sitting room or parlor. White candles were strategically placed throughout the tree, and lit at night. The lighting of the tree became a tradition within itself.

In addition to the white candles, the tree was adorned with ribbons, usually maroon in color. The top of the tree was often in the form of either an angel, or a cascading ribbon. Nowadays you see this effect in houses that choose to decorate their trees in the elegance of the Victorian manner.

The family would gather together in front of the lit Christmas tree to open their presents. If you have heard the phrase “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” then you would be interested to know that this was a custom that many Victorian families partook of.

At the Victorian Christmas dinner, the food that was served was usually the Christmas goose. You have probably heard references to the Christmas goose in literature from that period. The most anticipated part of the meal was the plum pudding. In fact, a little ceremony was made out of lighting the pudding so that it would be warm.

There is another Victorian tradition that has been passed down, and that is in regards to Christmas crackers. People in the United States now get those crackers as party favors for any time of the year, but in England crackers are still most popular at Christmas. When the sides of the cracker are pulled, a pop is heard, and a little gift falls out.

If you would like more information on how holidays were celebrated during the Victorian era, all you have to do is go to your local bookstore and look for the books. If you have an y local museums that represent the Victorian era, be sure to visit them. You are sure to find excellent information with the proper research.

A small, thoughtful, personalized Christmas gift is usually welcome and unexpected by the receiver. If you want to leave a long-lasting impression, then spend some time and make a personalized Christmas gift. They can be very easy and very inexpensive, and the reward of giving something that you made yourself is more than can be expressed. The receiver of the present will be extremely pleased and so will the giver. Personalized Christmas gifts make for great presents that are inexpensive for the giver. Following are a few ideas of personalized Christmas gifts that will be prized for a long time.

Jewelry Box

A hand-made or decorated jewelry box is a great idea for any husband to give to his wife. Intricate carvings or paintings on the side make it precious and beautiful. The effort in making a jewelry box, while sometimes being extensive, will be widely and easily seen. The receiver of this gift will use and cherish it for many long years to come. A hand-made jewelry box would be a prized, personalized Christmas gift.

Sports Jersey

A great idea for a son or friend that is a sports lover would be to get a jersey of his or her favorite sport and personalize it by adding their name and number. This could be worn in sporting events, to school or just around the house. A customized jersey is a great, personalized Christmas gift idea for any sports lover.

Family Tree Platter

A complete family tree on a ceramic platter is an excellent Christmas gift idea for grandparents. They can use the platter for decoration and see, in one look, all the family they’ve made. Grandparents love to reflect on the past and this gift gives them that opportunity. This is a wonderful, personalized Christmas gift for grandparents.

Flowers

Real flowers are the ideal personalized Christmas gift. Given to a friend, lover, or even a mom, flowers make for a delight that is unmatched by most else. Nothing is better than giving a large bouquet or vase of flowers to a wonderful woman in your life.

Christmas Cakes and Cookies

One of the best ways to show your affection and love to your loved ones is by making home-made Christmas cookies or a cake. This present, if made correctly, is sure to be used by many. This easy-to-make gift is idea for any family member or friend. It’s a great example of a personalized Christmas gift.

Christmas is the time of year when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, and it is a tradition as old as time. The name ‘Christmas’ actually comes from the early English phrase ‘Christes Masse’, which means the Mass of Christ. Although there were competing groups who felt that Jesus’ birth and his ascendancy into divinity may have been on two different occasions, it was settled to be on the 25 of December, which is the day that Christmas is celebrated on year round now.

The Christmas tree is one of the most important aspects to Christmas, as it is the tree that we set up on Christmas Eve, decorate with our families, and set presents underneath. It is the tree that we admire when it is all lit up and covered in decorations and which makes us remember Christ and how he died for our sins.

The Origin of the Christmas Tree

The origin of the Christmas tree takes place far, far ago, with likely origins in European pre-Christian pagan cultures. Since the origin of the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree has gained an extensive history and has become a popular sight during the winter season in numerous cultures.

In Northern Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen tree as being a symbol and remainder that the darkness and cold of winter would end and that the green of spring would return, and it is for this reason that the evergreen became the customary choice for a Christmas tree.

As well in regards to the origin of the Christmas tree, there have been many legends surrounding the lore of it. For instance in one story in particular, Saint Boniface, who was an English monk, came upon a group of pagans who had gathered around an oak tree and were preparing to sacrifice a child, and in order to stop the sacrifice and be able to save the child, the Saint flattened the tree with a blow of his fist.

A small fir then apparently sprang up in its place, and Saint Boniface told the pagans that this was the Tree of Life and that it represented the life of Christ.

There are many other stories similar to this relating to the origin of the Christmas tree, and there is really no one correct answer because everyone has their own opinions and beliefs. The most important thing, regardless of where you believe the origin of the Christmas tree came from, is to realize its importance and the significance of the Christmas holiday altogether, because this is what really matters.