Christmas Decorations | ||||||||
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Christmas Tree Oil Lantern
| Dog House Carolers Waterglobe
| Wagging in the Holidays Santa Figurine
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Christmas Tree Wreath
| Glass Christmas Ball Ornaments
| Snow Angel Tree Topper
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Large Snowman House Figurine
| Christmas Birds House Flag
| Plush Snowman Couple
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Toy Soldier Garden Statue
| Noel Stocking Holder
| 12 Days of Christmas Tree Skirt
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Madonna and Child Tree Topper Santa Figurine
| Baby's First Christmas Stocking
| Christmas Angel Coasters
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Black Saddle Christmas Ornament
| Snowmen Holiday Figurines
| Christmas Tree Picture Frame
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Porcelain Christmas Tree
| Snowman Let Heaven and Nature Sing Figurine
| Christmas Caroling Kits Mugs
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Christmas Gnome Flag Holder
| Snowflake Christmas Ornaments
| Comet Reindeer Christmas Tree Ornament
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Bowknow Hanging Christmas Wreath
| Charlie Brown Christmas Nativity Set
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Christmas Decorations - Popularity and OriginAs the popularity grew, so did the variety of things hung on the tree. By 1610, tinsel had been invented. These slender threads of wafer thin silver brought a gleam and sparkle to the tree but tarnished quickly. A trial period of adding lead to retard the discoloration failed, and it remained a largely silver based product until well into the 20th century. Sugar plums, tiny baskets of candies, cookies, and small gifts appeared on the branches. And the tree itself began appearing in more homes. It traveled to America in the late 18th century courtesy of German immigrants, but never really caught on until its popularity was ensured by Queen Victoria and her German royal consort, Prince Albert. It was he who introduced the charming tradition to Buckingham Palace, and once the royal couple and their large brood were shown around a decorated tree, it overcame the more Puritan element and entered even the humblest of homes. While larger cities had access to the exquisitely hand blown glass birds and balls, the newly settled American West, and pioneer regions made do with their own special ornaments created from lanterns to hold the candles, bits of colored cloth, berries and tufts of cotton for snow. Once the tradition had caught on in the mid 1800s, it grew at an amazing pace. The ready-made Christmas decorations were almost entirely of German origin, imported by American businesses. But many people preferred their own designs and crowded the tree with almost every bauble imaginable. They even began decorating some new variations on the Christmas tree. The first non-natural tree to appear was made from goose feathers in the late 1800s. It was an early environmentalists’ response to the wholesale harvesting of firs for a few days use. These were pretty, but also pretty unstable and could hold only the lightest, most delicate ornaments. Next came the brush tree, in the early 1900s. These were made by the Addis Brush Co. in the same machine as their toilet brushes! During the Second World War, the British were forbidden to cut trees for decoration, but large ones were often erected in public places for everyone to enjoy. This quickly became a popular alternative and remains a staple of general Christmas decorations today. Perhaps that prohibition against using live trees triggered the flood of imitations, with the 1950s seeing the advent of the infamous silver tinsel tree, sporting the rotating colored floodlights underneath. Subsequent variations have created trees in many sizes, from different materials, and even ones that come complete with lights and Christmas decorations. But you can’t beat the family outing to chop your own, or to choose just the right one at a tree lot. The annual application of Christmas decorations is not only one of the most anticipated events of the season, but one in which even the youngest children can participate. And from that decorating of a tree, has grown the equally fun tradition of home decorating with a host of wonderful accents in seasonal colors and scents, from candles, to wreaths, water globes, figurines, wall plaques, sun catchers and more. Your Christmas decorations are limited only by the time left to finish the shopping! | ||||||||
