Christmas Ornament History

Decorating Evergreen Trees with Natural and Artificial Objects

Nov 23, 2008

Decorating Christmas trees with ornaments began in the 1800s and went on to become a traditional part of the holiday.

Decorating the Christmas tree began with fruits, nuts, and cookie cut-outs and as time went on became more elaborate.

Natural or Homemade Decorations

During the 1800s, fruits, especially apples, symbolizing the Garden of Eden, and nuts, along with cookies cut out to look like ornaments were part of trimming the tree.

First Manufactured Glass Ornaments

Late in the 1800s German entrepreneurs began to manufacture Christmas ornaments that could be mass produced. Initially they began to make molded glass ornaments in the shape of fruits, nuts and other food items and later hearts, stars and other shapes that had formerly been created out of cookies. Soon the glass blowers of Lauscha, Germany, were creating molds of children, saints, famous people, and animals. It became a community industry with whole families either working in a factory or home-based foundry. Before long, the luminous glass ornaments were being exported to the America.

The Pickle Ornament Story

Most famous of all is the Pickle Ornament story. While it has many versions, the accepted one at this time is that a Bavarian, John Lower (or Hans Lauer) who came to America and fought in the civil war was captured by the Confederates and confined to the notorious Andersonville Prison. Starving and near death, he convinced a jailer to get him a pickle to eat which lifted his spirits. He survived and began his own tradition of hiding a small glass pickle ornament in the family Christmas tree. The finder would have a year of good luck.

Dresden and Tinware Ornaments

Craftsmen in Dresden during the 19 century made ornaments out of pressed and embossed paper which included fish, birds and other animals that could be used not only for Christmas but also for birthday parties and other occasions.

During the early 20th century, ornaments made out of pressed tin began appearing with brightly colored lithographed surfaces. It was during this time that thin foil strips started to be used. They are now known as icicles or tinsel. They were also called "angel hair."

Victorian Period Christmas Ornaments

When an illustration of Queen Victoria's Christmas tree, surrounded by her family appeared in Godey's Lady's Book in December, 1860, it inspired British and Americans to follow her example of decorating the tree. Many of the decorations were handmade and instructions about their construction was included in magazines. In addition to figures of angels, children, animals and elves, the same ornaments would have lace, delicate curly wire, beadwork and tinsel on them. Airships and other imaginative crafts were created and captained by Father Christmas or Santa Clause.

During the 20th century, the number, variety and complexity of Christmas tree ornaments has grown. While some families continue to create their own ornaments, many others find that commercially produced ones add to the beauty and joy of the holiday as well.

Sources:

The copyright of the article Christmas Ornament History in Interior Decorating is owned by Martha R. Gore. Permission to republish Christmas Ornament History in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.