The Symbolism of Christmas Ornaments
The glittering and sparkling of Christmas ornaments make the Christmas tree look much more magical and fun. They can be added to any decoration around the house during the holiday season, can even be used to give your gift wraps an interesting holiday look and can also be given as party favors to your guests. There are traditional holiday ornaments along with the ones that catch your eye and are a must-get for your collection. Many people keep some of the best and most expensive Christmas ornaments they have as keepsakes and collectibles and even pass them down in their families as heirlooms to be used year after year on the Christmas tree.
Christmas Ornaments first became popular around 1880 when they caught on from Germany to England. At that time, the only ornaments that were available in the market were German hand-cast lead and hand-blown glass decorations. Until 1925, Germany had a monopoly over the Christmas ornament market. Later, Japan and Czechoslovakia also entered the competition with several fancy Christmas ornaments.
By 1935, it is estimated that more then 250 million Christmas tree ornaments were being imported to America. The first American company started producing Christmas ornaments significantly only in 1939, mostly due to the outbreak of World War II. Keepsake Christmas Ornaments first appeared in 1973 as decorated glass balls and yarn figures manufactured by Hallmark. Later, they expanded to include Christmas ornament handicrafts such as bone china, porcelain, paper mache, wood and acrylic ornaments.