# Christmas ornament > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Christmas_ornament > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Christmas_ornament.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_ornament > Source revision: 1329961675 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Decoration typically placed on a Christmas tree Glass ornaments Christmas tree lights and Christmas bulb [Piernik](/source/Pryanik) ornaments in Poland **Christmas ornaments**, **baubles**, **globes**, "Christmas bulbs", or "Christmas bubbles" are [decoration](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/decoration) items, usually to decorate [Christmas trees](/source/Christmas_tree). These decorations may be [woven](/source/Weaving), [blown](/source/Glassblowing) ([glass](/source/Glassblowing) or [plastic](/source/Blow_molding)), [molded](/source/Molding_(process)) ([ceramic](/source/Ceramic_art) or [metal](/source/Metal)), [carved](/source/Carving) from [wood](/source/Wood) or expanded [polystyrene](/source/Polystyrene), or made by other techniques. Ornaments are available in a variety of geometric shapes and image depictions. Ornaments are almost always reused year after year rather than purchased annually, and family collections often contain a combination of commercially produced ornaments and decorations created by family members. Such collections are often passed on and augmented from generation to generation. Festive figures and images are commonly preferred. [Lucretia P. Hale](/source/Lucretia_P._Hale)'s story "The Peterkins' Christmas-Tree"[1] offers a short catalog of the sorts of ornaments used in the 1870s: There was every kind of gilt hanging-thing, from gilt pea-pods to butterflies on springs. There were shining flags and lanterns, and bird-cages, and nests with birds sitting on them, baskets of fruit, gilt apples, and bunches of grapes. The modern-day mold-blown colored glass Christmas ornament was invented in the small [German](/source/Germany) town of [Lauscha](/source/Lauscha) in the mid-16th century.[2] ## History ### Invention Blown glass baubles for sale in [Tlalpujahua](/source/Tlalpujahua), Michoacán, Mexico. The town is known for its production of Christmas ornaments.[3] A fully decorated Christmas tree The first decorated trees were adorned with apples,[4] white [candy canes](/source/Candy_cane), and [pastries](/source/Pastry) in the shapes of stars, hearts and flowers. [Glass](/source/Glass) baubles were first made in [Lauscha](/source/Lauscha), [Germany](/source/Germany), by Hans Greiner, who produced garlands of glass beads and [tin](/source/Tin) figures that could be hung on trees. The popularity of these decorations grew into the production of glass figures made by highly skilled [artisans](/source/Artisan) with [clay](/source/Clay) molds. The artisans heated a glass tube over a flame, then inserted the tube into a clay mold, blowing the heated glass to expand into the shape of the mold. The original ornaments were only in the shape of fruits and nuts. After the glass cooled, a [silver nitrate](/source/Silver_nitrate) solution was swirled into it, a silvering technique developed in the 1850s by [Justus von Liebig](/source/Justus_von_Liebig). After the nitrate solution dried, the ornament was hand-painted and topped with a cap and hook.[5] ### Export Other glassblowers in Lauscha recognised the growing popularity of Christmas baubles and began producing them in various designs. Soon, the whole of Germany started to buy Christmas glassware from Lauscha. On Christmas Eve 1832, a young [Victoria](/source/Queen_Victoria) wrote about her delight at having a tree, hung with [lights](/source/Christmas_lights_(holiday_decoration)), ornaments, and [presents](/source/Presents) placed round it.[6] In the 1840s, after a picture of Victoria's Christmas tree was shown in a London newspaper decorated with glass ornaments and baubles from her husband [Prince Albert](/source/Albert%2C_Prince_Consort)'s native Germany, Lauscha began exporting its products throughout Europe. In the 1880s, American [F. W. Woolworth](/source/Franklin_Winfield_Woolworth) discovered Lauscha's baubles during a visit to Germany. He made a fortune by importing the German glass ornaments to the United States. ### Mass production William DeMuth created the first American-made glass ornaments in New York in 1870. In 1880, [Woolworth's](/source/F._W._Woolworth_Company) began selling Lauscha glass ornaments. Other stores began selling Christmas ornaments by the late 19th century and by 1910, Woolworth's had gone national with over 1000 stores bringing Christmas ornaments across America. New suppliers popped up everywhere including [Dresden](/source/Dresden) die-cut fiberboard ornaments which were popular among families with small children. By the 20th century, Woolworth's had imported 200,000 ornaments and topped $25 million in sales from Christmas decorations alone. As of 2009, the Christmas decoration industry ranks second to gifts in seasonal sales.[5] Many silver companies, such as [Gorham](/source/Gorham_Manufacturing_Company), Wallace, [Towle](/source/Towle_Silversmiths), [Lunt](/source/Lunt_Silversmiths) and [Reed & Barton](/source/Reed_%26_Barton), began manufacturing silver Christmas ornaments in 1970 and 1971.[7] In 1973, [Hallmark Cards](/source/Hallmark_Cards) started manufacturing Christmas ornaments. The first collection included 18 ornaments, including six glass ball ornaments.[8] The Hallmark Keepsake Ornament collection is dated and available for just one year. By 1998, 11 million American households collected Hallmark ornaments, and 250,000 people were member of the Keepsake Ornament Collector's Club.[9] There were as many as 400 local Keepsake Ornament Collector's Club chapters in the US.[10] One noted Christmas ornament authority is [Clara Johnson Scroggins](/source/Clara_Johnson_Scroggins) who has written extensively on the topic and has one of the largest private collections of Christmas ornaments.[11] In 1996, the ornament industry generated $2.4 billion in total annual sales, an increase of 25% over the previous year. Industry experts estimated more than 22 million US households collected Christmas ornaments, and that 75% of those households collected Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments.[12] ### Post–World War II A [teddy bear](/source/Teddy_bear) bauble purchased in England in 1959 After World War II, the [East German government](/source/Volkskammer) turned most of Lauscha's glassworks into [state-owned](/source/State-owned) entities, and production of baubles in Lauscha ceased. After the [Berlin Wall came down](/source/Fall_of_the_Berlin_Wall), most of the firms were reestablished as private companies. As of 2009, there are still about 20 small glass-blowing firms active in Lauscha that produce baubles. One of the producers is Krebs Glas Lauscha, part of the Krebs family, which is now one of the largest producers of glass ornaments worldwide. ## Modern baubles Although glass baubles are still produced, as expensive good-quality ornaments often found at markets, baubles are now frequently made from plastic and available worldwide in a massive variety of shapes, colours and designs. Since the 19th century, there are a large number of manufacturers producing sophisticated Christmas glass ornaments in Poland, which produce "*[bombka](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/bombka)*" or the plural form "*bombki*"; Poland is the largest producer of glass bombe (bauble) ornaments that are exported to many countries all over the world, mainly to the United States, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Norway, France, the UK, and millions of glass-blown Christmas ornaments are made year-round in [Tlalpujahua](/source/Tlalpujahua), Michoacan, Mexico, and exported to Spain, New Zealand and France. They are also made in Chignahuapan, Puebla, Mexico.[13] ## Handcrafted Handcrafted Christmas ornaments have become a staple of craft fairs, and many smaller online businesses owe much of their success to both the internet and the growth of craft stores. [Sugar cookies](/source/Sugar_cookie), popcorn balls, [gingerbread](/source/Gingerbread) and many types of [cookies](/source/List_of_cookies) can be used as ornaments.[14] ## Manufacture of handmade glass ornaments - Design of a glass Christmas ornament - Sculpturing to produce a mould for a Christmas glass ornament - Blowing glass ornament fabrication - Silvering of glass ornaments - Painting of a glass Christmas ornament ## Types - Christmas tree ornaments - Bauble, or ball ornament - Blue glass ornament - Imitation tree snow - Glass snowman ornament - Red and gold ornamented bauble - Angel decoration - Glass Fabergé egg as a decoration. - Bear ornament - Polish folk Straw ornaments - [Crochet](/source/Crochet) ornaments - Cloth ornament - Angel as tree top decoration - Pre-1939 Polish snowman ornament - Glass owl ornament - Hand-painted glass bauble - Polish *bombki* baubles made with ribbons - Popcorn garland on Christmas tree - Stringing lights on Christmas tree - Christmas tree with [tinsel](/source/Tinsel) garland. - Christmas tree with [tinsel lametta](/source/Tinsel#Figurative_use) (long narrow strips) ## See also - [Christmas tree](/source/Christmas_tree) - [Pleated Christmas hearts](/source/Pleated_Christmas_hearts) - [Snow baby](/source/Snow_baby) - [Tree-topper](/source/Tree-topper) - [Witch ball](/source/Witch_ball) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Hale, Lucretia Peabody](/source/Lucretia_Peabody_Hale) (1914) [1886]. [*The Peterkin Papers*](https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/hale/papers/papers.html#tree) (2 ed.). Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 63–71. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [700316448](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/700316448). Retrieved 2 January 2025 – via The Online Books Page. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Learning and Teaching German"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160910081337/http://german.about.com/library/blcmas_ornam.htm). Archived from [the original](http://german.about.com/library/blcmas_ornam.htm) on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Soplos de vidrio"](http://www.ngenespanol.com/traveler/lugares/15/12/22/soplos-de-vidrio) (in Spanish). National Geographic en Español. Retrieved 15 December 2016. En la actualidad hay cerca de 200 talleres que elaboran al año más de 100 millones de piezas. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The History of Christmas Trees"](https://realchristmastrees.org/education/history-of-christmas-trees/). *National Christmas Tree Association*. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2024. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_5-1) Collins, Ace (2003). [*Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas*](https://archive.org/details/storiesbehindgre00coll/page/n7/mode/2up). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-310-24880-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-310-24880-9). Retrieved 2 January 2025 – via Internet Archive. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Viscount Esher](/source/Reginald_Brett%2C_2nd_Viscount_Esher), ed. (1912). [*The Girlhood of Queen Victoria: a Selection from Her Majesty's Diaries*](https://archive.org/details/girlhoodofqueenv01vict). London: John Murray. p. 61. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [30724224](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/30724224). Retrieved 2 January 2025 – via Internet Archive. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Robinson, Ruth (12 December 1982). ["DATED ORNAMENTS ON COLLECTORS' LIST"](https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/12/nyregion/dated-ornaments-on-collectors-list.html). *New York Times*. Retrieved 15 September 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Andersen, Erin (21 December 1998). ["Lincoln Journal Star at Newspapers.com"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/297774397). *Newspapers.com*. Retrieved 15 September 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Andersen, Erin (21 December 1998). ["Lincoln Journal Star at Newspapers.com"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/297774435). *Newspapers.com*. No. 17. Retrieved 15 September 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Barrs, Jennifer (23 July 1998). ["Collecting Memories: Ornament collectors begin the hunt early"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/340350027/). *The Tampa Tribune at Newspapers.com*. Retrieved 15 September 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Lignitz, Amy (15 December 1994). "Decorating the Christmas Tree is Big Business". *The Los Angeles Times*. p. 10. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Slater, Jan S. (1999). "The Case for Collectible Brands". In Jones, John Philip (ed.). [*How to Use Advertising to Build Strong Brands*](https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/how-to-use-advertising-to-build-strong-brands/book9282). Thousand Oaks: SAGE. p. 259. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7619-1243-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7619-1243-6). Retrieved 2 January 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Admire the skill of the hands of Tlalpujahua"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031721/https://www.visitmexico.com/en/actividades-principales/michoacan/admire-the-skill-of-the-hands-of-tlalpujahua). Visit Mexico. Archived from [the original](https://www.visitmexico.com/en/actividades-principales/michoacan/admire-the-skill-of-the-hands-of-tlalpujahua) on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Homemade ornaments for the family Christmas tree"](https://www.csmonitor.com/1985/1204/hfchris.html). 4 December 1985. Retrieved 4 August 2020. ## Further reading - Brenner, Robert. "[German glass ornaments in America](https://mkifriends.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/mkiwint03.pdf)". *Max Kade Institute Friends Newsletter*, vol. 12, no. 4 (Winter 2003): 1,12. ## External links - Media related to [Christmas tree ornaments](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Christmas_tree_ornaments) at Wikimedia Commons v t e Christmas trees Cultivation Christmas tree cultivation Christmas tree pests and weeds Production Canadian production Danish production Global production Mexican production U.S. production Artificial Artificial Christmas tree Aluminum Christmas tree Feather Christmas tree Pre-lit tree Decorations Candy cane Christmas ornament Christmas lights Garland Pickle Pleated Christmas hearts Shiny Brite ornaments Spider and/or web Szaloncukor Tinsel Tree-topper Individual trees Anthem Boston California Capitol Chicago Grand Place (Brussels) Downing Street (London) Grove (L.A.) I-17 (Arizona) Lisbon (Portugal) Macy's (Atlanta) Milwaukee Mount Ingino (Italy) Norwegian Christmas Tree (Washington, D.C.) U.S. Capitol U.S. National Tree Rockefeller Center Sri Lanka Toledo (Ohio) Zoo Trafalgar Square (London) Tree (Paris) Vatican White House (Washington D.C) Wisconsin Capitol Trade groups American Christmas Tree Association British Christmas Tree Growers Association Canadian Christmas Tree Growers Association Christmas Tree Promotion Board Danish Christmas Tree Growers Association National Christmas Tree Association Other topics Chichilaki Christmas tree stand Festive ecology Hanukkah bush Podłaźniczka Festivus pole Rouse Simmons Singing Christmas tree Tree baler v t e Christmas Blue Christmas Boxing Day Children's Day Christmas Eve Saint Nicholas Day Saint Stephen's Day Sol Invictus Yule In Christianity Holy Family Jesus Christ Child Mary Joseph Biblical Magi Adoration of the Magi Adoration of the Shepherds Advent Angel Gabriel Annunciation Annunciation to the shepherds Bethlehem Christmastide Epiphany Herod the Great Massacre of the Innocents flight into Egypt Nativity Fast Nativity of Jesus in art in later culture Nativity scene Neapolitan Star of Bethlehem Twelfth Night In folklore Badalisc Caganer Christkind Grýla Jack Frost Korvatunturi Kallikantzaros Legend of the Christmas Spider Mari Lwyd Miner's figure Nisse North Pole Old Man Winter Perchta Santa's workshop Tió de Nadal Turoń Wenceslaus Yule cat Gift-bringers Saint Nicholas folklore Santa Claus Befana Ded Moroz Father Christmas Grandpa Indian Joulupukki Julemanden Noel Baba Olentzero Père Noël Sinterklaas Others Companions of Saint Nicholas Belsnickel Elves Knecht Ruprecht Krampus Mrs. Claus Père Fouettard Sack Man Santa Claus' daughter Santa's reindeer Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Snegurochka Zwarte Piet Traditions Advent calendar Advent candle Advent wreath Boar's Head Feast Candle arches Chalking the door Cards Carols by Candlelight Cavalcade of Magi Christingle Christmas jumper Christmas Peace Crackers Decorations Didukh Eggbert The Elf on the Shelf Feast of the Seven Fishes Flying Santa Gifts Google Santa Tracker Hampers Las Posadas Letters Lights Lord of Misrule Markets Midnight Mass Moravian star Mummers' play Nine Lessons and Carols NORAD Tracks Santa Nutcrackers dolls Ornaments Parades list Piñatas Poinsettia Pyramids Räuchermann Christmas seals Secret Santa Spanbaum Szopka Stamps Stockings Tree Twelve Days Vertep Wassailing Windows Yule goat Yule log By country Australia Bangladesh Colombia Denmark Ethiopia Finland France Germany Nazi Germany Hungary Iceland folklore Indonesia Ireland Italy Mexico New Zealand Norway Philippines Poland Romania Russia Scotland Serbia Sweden Ukraine United States American Civil War Hawaii New Mexico Music Carols list Operas Hit singles in the UK Hit singles in the US Music charts (Billboard) Music books Carols for Choirs The Oxford Book of Carols The New Oxford Book of Carols Piae Cantiones Other media In literature A Christmas Carol Films Santa Claus in film Christmas horror Poetry "Old Santeclaus with Much Delight" "A Visit from St. Nicholas" "Christmas Day in the Workhouse" "Journey of the Magi" "Tomten" Christmas television specials United States Yule Log Apollo 8 Genesis reading In modern society Black Friday (partying) Black Friday (shopping) Bronner's Christmas Wonderland Christmas and holiday season Christmas club Christmas creep Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 Christmas jumpers Christmas Lectures Christmasland in New Taipei City Christmas Mountains Christmas seals Christmas truce Controversies Cyber Monday Economics GivingTuesday Grinch El Gordo Jews and Christmas In July In August NBA games NFL games Pikkujoulu SantaCon Santa's Candy Castle Santa Claus Village Scrooge Small Business Saturday Super Saturday Virginia O'Hanlon ("Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus") White Christmas Xmas Food and drink Dinner Joulupöytä Julbord Julebord Kūčios Réveillon Thirteen desserts Twelve-dish supper Wigilia Sweets Baked Alaska Candy cane Cake Cookie Cozonac Fruitcake Gingerbread Kutia Makówki Melomakarono Mince pie Pampushka Panettone Pavlova Pecan pie Poppy seed roll Pudding Pumpkin pie Qurabiya Red velvet cake Sugar plum Stollen Szaloncukor Turrón Yule log Soup Menudo Borscht Sauces Bread sauce Cranberry sauce Redcurrant sauce Beverages Apple cider Champurrado Coquito Eggnog Hot chocolate Kissel Mulled wine Smoking bishop Ponche crema Snowball Dumplings Hallaca Pierogi Tamale Meat and fish Carp Gefilte fish Ham Pickled herring Roast goose Romeritos Stuffing Tourtière Turkey Category v t e Ornaments Acanthus Atlas Antefix Arabesque Ball flower Bead and reel Blackamoor Branchwork Bucranium Buta Cartouche Caryatid Christmas Cornucopia Dentil Dog-tooth Egg-and-dart Entablature Festoon Foil Gadrooning Garden/Lawn Garland bearers Girih Green Man Grotesque Guilloché Gul Hex sign Hilarri Hood Interlace Lintel Margent Mascaron Meander Medallion Millefleur Molding Moresque Palmette Plant Bulbous Grass Peak Puer mingens Putto Rais-de-cœur Rinceau Rosette Scroll Spur Strapwork Trophy of arms Volute (Vitruvian scroll) Zellige --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Christmas ornament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_ornament) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_ornament?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.