Did you know that :
* The earliest in the early 1800’s, as we’ve mentioned in passing,were fruit (particularly apples) and nuts. These, along with the evergreen trees themselves, represented the certainty that life would return in the spring.
* Other fruits began to be added, along with paper streamers and bits of shiny metal foil. Whether a tree was lighted or not, the idea of reflecting the light in the room where the tree stood grew in popularity.
*Another concept, too, began to take hold with the German families in whose homes the first “popular” trees resided. Food, often gingerbread or other hard cookies, would be baked in the shape of fruits, stars, hearts, angels and – yes – bells.
*As the idea of decorated Christmas trees spread, various countries added their own variations.
-- Americans, for instance, would string long strands of cranberries or popcorn to circle their trees. Small gifts began to be used to decorate the tree, sometimes contained in little intricately woven baskets, sometimes nestled in the crook of a bough, sometimes just hanging by a thread or piece of yarn.
-- In the UK, creative ornaments of lace, paper or other materials showed the variety of interests and talents of their makers. Small “scraps” cut out of newspaper or magazine illustrations also found their way to the family’s tree and after a few years it became harder and harder to actually see the tree beneath the ornaments.
* As the Twentieth century began, Christmas and its celebration was, for most Europeans
and Americans, a time to focus on the visible aspects of the season with an emphasis
on the delights of children. Gift-giving to the younger members of the family was
encouraged not only by the youngsters themselves, but by enterprising merchants
as well.
The number, variety and complexity of glass ornaments coming out of Germany was
now augmented by competitors in Czechoslovakia and other countries. These ornaments,
however, retained their handcrafted originality, even when produced in the vast
numbers demanded by an ever-growing consumer base. Because they were all handmade,
by people who often followed in the glassmaking traditions of generations of their
families before them, each ornament had a touch of individual craftsmanship.
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Though Thanksgiving Holidays are not here yet, many places are already in pre-Christmas mode.
Where do you fall in?
Though Thanksgiving Holidays are not here yet, many places are already in pre-Christmas mode.
Where do you fall in?
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