Vintage Christmas Decorations
Vintage Christmas decorations remind me of Christmas celebrations at my grandparents' house - the tree covered with an assortment of different characters and interesting decorations just waiting to be discovered amongst the branches. On this page you will discover some of the history of decorating Christmas trees and also some lovely vintage Christmas decorations you can buy and Christmas craft books to help you create your own vintage Christmas decorations.
The first Christmas decorations
Colored paper roses
Some people think that the tradition of decorating Christmas trees was started by Martin Luther in Germany in the 1400s. They say that while he was out wandering about one Christmas Eve night, he saw the stars glittering through the branches of a tree and so he came home and set up a tree with many candles to represent the starry heavens where Jesus came from. However the first written record of a Christmas tree was in 1605 by an unknown author from Strasburg, Germany. "At Christmas," he writes, "they set up fir-trees in the parlours at Strasburg and hang thereon roses cut out of many-coloured paper, apples, wafers, gold-foil, sweets, &c."
Make your own paper flowers for Christmas decorations
Paper Flowers (Make It With Paper Series)
Amazon Price: $265.97 (as of 05/27/2012)
Used Price: $22.71
Paper Flowers contains an enchanting collection of papercraft projects. Easy-to-follow instructions demonstrate how to make eight wonderful paper flowers-using a simple cut-and-fold system that requires very little glue. Unlike complicated techniques that require crepe paper, wire, florists tape, and wooden dowels, these patterns produce stunning results from the most ordinary paper! This book contains all you need to fold an entire bouquet, plus templates to trace over and over again for an endless supply of paper flowers. Designed to delight beginner and experienced paper artist alike, these eight projects are fun to make. Once you learn the simple techniques shown, you will be able to create beautiful paper flower gifts, keepsakes, or decorations for any occasion. Features: Iris, Cactus, Tulip, Daylily, Lotus, Posies, and Daisies-with paper butterflies and a paper vase.
19th Century Christmas Decorations
Apples, streamers, candles, musical instruments, toys, animals, angels
By the early 1800s Germany had adopted evergreen trees as Christmas trees and were decorating them with apples, nuts and berries. Later paper streamers and candles were also added. By the middle of the 1800s, miniature copies of musical instruments, angels, fruit, toys and animals were being used as Christmas tree decorations.
Vintage Christmas Decorations - Musical Instruments
Pack of 12 Seasons of Elegance Ornate Musical Instrument Christmas Ornaments
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 05/27/2012)
Vintage Christmas Decorations - Angels
S1006042: SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL FIGURINE ANNUAL 2009 ANGEL ORNAMENT
Amazon Price: $279.99 (as of 05/27/2012)
Vintage Christmas Decorations - Toys
Vintage Christmas Decorations - Birds
Set of 5 Snowfall Valley Porcelain Bird Clip-On Christmas Ornaments
Amazon Price: (as of 05/27/2012)
Vintage Christmas Decorations - Animals
Pack of 6 Snowfall Valley Wolf & Polar Bear Christmas Ornaments
Amazon Price: (as of 05/27/2012)
Britain adopts the Christmas tree
From Germany, the Christmas tree tradition spread to Britain and in 1840, Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, included a Christmas tree in their family's Christmas celebrations. Because Queen Victoria was a popular monarch, many of her subjects followed suit. During the Victorian period, trees were decorated with silver wire ornaments, tinsel, strings of beads and candles. The tinsel was made from real silver which had been pulled by machines into very thin strips.
Silver Christmas decorations
Club Pack of 12 Joy to the World Red Berry Silver Snowflake Christmas Ornaments
Amazon Price: (as of 05/27/2012)
Vintage Christmas Decorations - Strings of Beads
Fascinating Christmas Snow Globes
Snow globes were most likely first created in France in the early 18th century and were popular in Victorian times in England. During the 1920s, snow globes became popular collectors' items in America.
Make your own vintage Christmas decorations
Most Christmas decorations at this stage were homemade. The ladies would make quilled snowflakes and stars, hand sewn pouches for little gifts and paper baskets to hold sugared almonds. Here's your chance to get productive and make some of your own ornaments replicating those delightful vintage Christmas decorations. This could be the start of a new family tradition - make a new Christmas ornament each year.
Christmas All Through the House
Gooseberry Patch: Christmas All Through the House: Over 600 Holiday Recipes, Cheery Crafts and Easy-to-Make Gifts fo r Flurries of Fun!
Amazon Price: $14.90 (as of 05/27/2012)
A compilation of 10 years of Gooseberry Patch Christmas books.
* Over 400 Christmas recipes
* Over 200 craft ideas with patterns and step-by-step instructions
The Christmas Craft Book
The Christmas Craft Book
Amazon Price: $10.35 (as of 05/27/2012)
Color pictures and instructions to make crib figures, candles, lanterns, angels and a variety of Christmas tree decorations.
Knit Christmas Stockings!
Knit Christmas Stockings!: 19 Patterns for Stockings and Ornaments
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 05/27/2012)
19 fun, simple-to-follow patterns for Christmas stockings and tree ornaments easy enough for even first-time knitters.
Let me know you dropped by
-
-
Heather426
Dec 23, 2009 @ 4:07 pm | delete
- love the old ones! especially ..drum roll....Angels.LOL
-
-
-
imolaK
Dec 6, 2009 @ 9:07 am | delete
- I like these decorations.They are very beautiful.
-
-
-
HorseAndPony
Nov 25, 2009 @ 9:56 am | delete
- I like both types of ornaments. I have many vintage from my grandparents. I love the selection that you have. Great lens.
-
-
-
jptanabe
Nov 21, 2009 @ 9:11 am | delete
- Oh these Vintage Christmas Decorations are simply gorgeous! I think you've sold me on them!
-
-
-
BevsPaper
Nov 20, 2009 @ 12:48 pm | delete
- Love the antique and vintage Christmas Decorations! We sell a ton of them in the Antique Mall each year.
-
This Happy Snowman page written by
GonnaFly
Hello and welcome to my Squidoo lenses.
I am a Christian ex-homeschooling mum from Australia. I joined Squidoo three years ago and I'm having so...
more »
Seasons Greetings from the Wonderland
Connect with Happy Snowman
This author recommends...
-
Nativity Crafts
A collection of all types of nativity crafts, ranging from simple kids' nativity... -
Christmas Snow Globes
With Christmas just around the corner, now is a good time to think about decorat... -
RETRO CHRISTMAS: Nostalgic Decorations and Gifts
Welcome to my Retro Christmas Lens! You will find lots of goodies here to help y... -
Kitsch vintage retro pink Christmas tree ideas
Pink is an iconic fifties colour for Christmas trees. The original vintage alumi... -
Vintage retro aluminum Christmas trees -- kitsch or cool?
Aluminum trees were first manufactured in 1958 by the Aluminum Specialty Company... -
Vintage Christmas Decorations
Why do people love vintage Christmas decorations so much? Have you noticed how p...
