Coins. Stamps. Prints of the artwork of Jackson Pollock. Collections range from the vague to the extremely niche in subject matter. However, most don’t think of Christmas ornaments when they think of collecting – they’re just a static, consistent part of the holiday season.
I would posit that it’s a very interesting collection to curate.
The custom of decorating for the holidays has a unique history. Though the exact origins of the decorated evergreen which forms a central part of the holiday season is largely the stuff of folklore and legend, few dispute the general origins of the tradition in Germany.
“…Evergreen trees became part of Christian rites in Germany, and in the Middle Ages ‘paradise trees’ began to appear there. Meant to represent the Garden of Eden, these evergreen trees were hung with apples and displayed in homes on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve. Other decorations were added – Martin Luther reportedly first hung lighted candles on a tree in the 16th century – and paradise trees evolved into Christmas trees. By the 19th century, Christmas trees were a firmly established tradition in Germany,” says Encyclopedia Brittanica.
Though the tradition would be transported by German immigrants, it took some time for it to catch up in the United Kingdom and across the ocean in the New World. It fought disapproval of some of its perceived pagan influences for years, especially under the lingering legacy of Puritan thought in the new country. That all changed thanks to some British royalty:
“In 1846, the popular royals Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable – not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American society. The Christmas tree had arrived” (per the History Channel).
As with all things, trends come and go – from the handmade popcorn garland of a leaner time such as the Great Depression era to the materialism and maximalism of the later part of the 20th century, it’s amusing to see how much things have evolved. The folks over at Better Homes & Gardens have written a great deep dive on the history of the last century of holiday decoration if you’d like some deeper reading.
Regardless of any ebb and flow, one thing remains constant: Collecting beautiful baubles, lights and garland to build a truly remarkable, lovable tree for the holiday season.
My collection of Christmas ornaments has become an integral part of the holiday season and a way to mark the passage of time as I create my own home. My first ornament, a sort of “first Christmas” homage for Christmas 2019, was a beautiful ceramic house, painted powder blue. The last several years’ entries have been various Norman Rockwellian vintage pieces that called back to Christmases of the last century.
One of this year’s two entries was a large black-and-white medallion emblazoned with the word “JOY” in large letters – a reminder that at the end of what has felt like a hard year at times I still have much to be thankful for and to celebrate.
Your choices can encompass anything – they can include a thoughtful piece that evokes personal lessons or reminders … or they can just be fun. Like the collector’s edition “Star Trek: The Original Series” James T. Kirk figurine ornament my mother bought for my someone a few years back. The sky’s the limit.
I’m going to give you the ticket to Christmas paradise (if you’re unfamiliar) and want to start a collection that’s a little bit of a cut above your big box stores or local retailers: Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland.
You’re welcome.
by Andy Haman
