Whether it’s the sheer magnificence of the grand tree in Central Park or the quiet serenity of a single tree, a glow in an otherwise sleeping house, we are drawn to the bows, lights, and adornments of the Christmas tree.
The origin of the Christmas tree goes back centuries to Europe. The tradition was brought to America by German immigrants and became widely popular by the turn of the 20th century. Adorning the tree was also part of the tradition, and ornaments that had been mostly handmade in the 1800s were now available commercially, mostly imported from Germany.
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However, WWI and the Great Depression greatly affected their import due to hostility toward the Germans and a terrible economy. But by the 1940s, the American-made "Shiny Brite Ornaments" was a Christmas staple. Made from glass and then decorated by hand, these ornaments hold a place in American history. Today many ornaments are still made of glass, but resin is now a popular choice because of its durability.
Since then, the variety and complexity of ornaments have grown, and they have become highly collectible. For instance, Hallmark began their Keepsake Collection in 1973 and now has more than 3,000 limited edition ornaments featuring everything from traditional Christmas themes to cultural icons such as Super Heroes and Barbie. In today’s Christmas trends, you will find ornaments of every kind representing people‘s hobbies, cultures, and tastes.
Today, 85% of households put up at least one tree - many put up several in different rooms by theme or color. The traditional Christmas colors of red and green are still popular, but today’s Christmas trends run from rich, deep colors with lots of gold accents to a more fun, eclectic look with bright, bold colors. In today’s society, there are no rules for Christmas decor. It’s simply a matter of personal taste.
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