Christmas ornament

Christmas ornaments are decorations (usually made of glass, metal, wood or ceramics) that are used to festoon a Christmas tree.

Related Topics:
Decoration - Glass - Metal - Wood - Ceramics - Christmas tree

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Ornaments take many different forms, from a simple round ball to highly artistic designs. Santa Claus is a commonly used figure.

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Lucretia P. Hale's story "The Peterkins' Christmas-Tree"{{ref|peterkin}} offers a short catalog of the sorts of ornaments used in the 1870s:

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: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."

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The modern-day Christmas ornament was descended from the 18th century witch ball used to ward off evil spirits.

Related Topics:
18th century - Witch ball - Evil spirit

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