Christmas Newsletter 2010 On Ornaments

Flair For Writing Christmas Newsletter
Christmas Ornaments
Editor: Megan Rose Princess Megan Rose 10 Years
Assistant Editor: Angel Angel

** #1733117 Not An Image **



Merry Christmas! In Indiana where I live, we have had 15 inches of snow. I was snowed in with my husband for 2 days. We had a snow drift the size of the iceberg that hit the Titanic! I love winter. NOT! Angel has been getting a lot of snow and cold weather. It is 10 below in Indiana. I think I saw a Polar Bear and penguins. Angel was a California girl for years and the weather has been hard for her, too. Angel and I are doing a letter on Christmas Tree ornaments. I have my tree up and decorated but I will tell you about my decorated tree later. Angel is going to share what she found on ornaments. Be sure to check out the beautiful images she made for the newsletter. Let's have some hot chocolate and Angel will start you off. I am happy for all her help with the newsletter.

THE EARLIEST ORNAMENTS -THE 1800's

The earliest in the earliest 1800's were fruits{Especially apples} and nuts. These along with the evergreen tree sthemselves, represented the certainty that life would go back to normal 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 concept of reflecting light in the room where the tree stood grew in popularity. These trees were popular in German homes. Food, gingerbread cookies or other hard cookies would be baked in the shape of fruits, stars, hearts, andels and bells made an appearance as well.

As the idea of decorating trees spread, other countries had their own ideas. Americans would strand cranberries or popcorn to circle their trees. Small gifts began to decorate the trees, sometimes in woven baskets whivh were often in the crook of the bough sometimes hung by yarn. In the UK, creative ornaments of lace, paper adorned the trese. Small scraps of paper cut out of newspapers or magazines illustarations found their way to the family tree. After years of this, there were more ornaments then trees that could be seen.

{c:hot pink}Family and friends had been decorating trees. In later years, German entrepreneurs began to make ornaments for the trees which were sold strictly as Christmas ornaments.

Areas around Lauscha was known for it's glass making. They started making glass barometers, canes, ointment bottles, goblets, bulls eye glass window panes, eyes for stuffed animals and nicely colored marbles were molded into glass ornaments replacing nuts and food items. They started to make hearts, stars and other shapes that had been created out of cookies but now had the added dimensions of a wide color palette enhanced by the luminosity of glass itself.

I like the old fashion decorations like popcorn on a string and cookies and opne cones and berries which you can find outside.

Well. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Fantastic New Year. Stay Safe.

Thanks, Angel. I enjoyed this presentation and I am sure anyone reading this will, too.




I found my information from: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHRISTMAS BY: TANYA GULEVICH

Snow covered evergreens standing in the woods are just trees. Once decorated, they become Christmas trees. A bare Christmas tree looks so lonely. Decorated trees are so beautiful, cheery and heart warming.

{c:hot pink}The earliest known Christmas ornaments were apples. Medieval times decorated the paradise tree, the central prop of the paradise play, a medieval mystery play presented on December 24. The apples represented Adam and Eve and their temptation in the Garden of Eden. Later, communion water was added to the tree to represent salvation of man kind. Cherries were later added in honor of the Virgin Mary. Later, the tree became a fir tree then the Christmas tree.

In 1605, in Germany.,decorated Christmas trees with roses made out of colored paper, apples, wafers and decorations made out of shiny bits of gold foil or sugar were on the tree. Stars on the trees represented The Star of Bethlehem. Eggshell ornaments were later used. Candy in baskets adorned the tree and were called Sugar Trees. Children were permitted to eat the candy on Christmas Day. This was quite a treat.

German immigrants bought their decorating ideas to America. Paper, lace and sugarplums were included as tree decorations.

Candles later graced the trees. Lighted candles had to be watched because a tree fire could start so easily so most of the time candles were on the tree but not lit. Little trinkets were stil hung on the tree with candy inside them. Rosy cheeked dolls were hid in the trees. There were also tambourines, fiddles, drums, work boxes, peek-a-bo boxes, books, pin cushions, needle cases, sweet smelling bottles along with apples and food were in and under the tree. Christmas trees themselves were a luxury.

Like Angel said in her item, German designers started making Christmas tree ornaments in the late 1800's. Small Oonaments were being used to decorate cakes and cookies as well as trees.

During World War 2, The Corning Glass Company began to produce glass ornaments in the United States.

Lighting the tree started in Germany in 1660 which brings it back to what I said about lighted candles earlier. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and ways to light up Christmas trees in later centuries. The only problem with early lights is when one burned out, they all burned out but now tiny midget lights don't have those problems and we can all be glad. Some people still use the old lights but more power to them! Pun intended?!

Here is a special item I would like to share:
Jill wrote a beautiful item and gave me permission to share it. This goes well with the newsletter. Enjoy!

ID: 568537   (Rated: E) Christmas Ornaments and Their Stories  The memories from my Christmas ornaments tell their own story. by Jill

I love to decorate my tree and our room we built on. I have a stuffed Rudolph whose nose lights up when you press his foot. I have 16 inch angels standing by the tree. I have a Cinderwlla stocking and Rudolph Stocking hanging on hangars on the wall. I have all kind of decorations on my tree. I have lavender and purple ball ornaments, tea pots, Holland blue and white ornaments, little Victorian Doll ornaments, lighthouses, Barbie ornaments, Victorian Shoes, Clothes, polar bears, wolves, deer, Twilight Bella and Edward{You know I would have these!}, Captain Jack, porecelain Angel Nurse and cat ornament, littke beanie babie ornaments, Nativity scene ornaments, Winnie Pooh and Friends, candy canes, Toto and Dorothy, Samantha, American Girl Doll ornament and lavdner lights on the tree. I have a village of a Barbie Victorian House, Musi Shop, Pet Shop, Bridal Shop, Toy Factory and a some navity scenes. I have Santa Claus and Deer animaited decorations.

Angel and I hope you have enjoyed this newsletter. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We would love to hear how you decorate your house and tree for Christmas. So e-mail us. Love You: Megan and Angel