Friday, December 3, 2010

Advent Calendar ~ Dec 3 - Christmas Tree Ornaments

Did your family have heirloom or cherished ornaments? Did you ever string popcorn and cranberries? Did your family or ancestors make Christmas ornaments?

 I don't remember any real heirloom ornaments.  There was nothing that had been passed down from previous generations that we put on the tree.  I do remember that we had some favorites though, and my sister and I would try to grab our favorites to hang on the tree.  Yes - competition even at Christmas time!

One year, when we were all grown up and my younger sister was either first married or engaged we came up with the great idea that we were all going to MAKE Christmas tree ornaments.  Each person (I think this was my parents, sister and husband and I) was to make 5 ornaments of whatever kind they chose and then keep one and give one to each of the other people so we would each end up with all 5 different kinds of ornaments.  I have no idea WHY we thought we each would need our own separate stash of ornaments - we usually only had 2 trees...one at Mom and Dad's and one at my sister's house.  Anyway, we thought this was a great idea for some reason.

As it turned out I only remember that my brother-in-law and I completed the task. He hand painted hollow eggshells and somehow managed to attach something to the top to hang them.  I crocheted snowflakes and put silver glitter on them.  I totally forget what the others started (or planned.)  Needless to say, that "tradition" didn't make it past the first year!!  We do still have the eggs and snowflakes.  I'm going to try and get a picture of them from my sister to add here.



This post was written for the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories. Please stop over to read Christmas memories posted by other GeneaBloggers from now through Christmas Eve.

8 comments:

  1. I've seen the crocheted snow flakes. I've even been given a few but I look forward to seeing the eggshell ornament.I'm sure I would have broken it by now!

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  2. Fun remembering all of this isn't it. I would also love to see the eggshell ornament. One year I made a christmas wreath out of plastic bags. Now that was real tacky and after a couple of years looked grimy. Wish I had it still would love to hang and see the grandchildren's faces. They think I am weird anyhow.

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  3. Hi Ladies - I will be getting pictures of the eggshell ornaments. I was just talking to my sister about them. They've lasted 20 years!

    And as for weird - well, my nieces and nephew think that about me, I'm sure...but they usually humor me ;-)

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  4. 20 years!! I can't imagine an eggshell ornament lasting very long at my house- I am sure I would have broken them by now. Would love to see the photos!

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  5. I think that is a wonderful tradition to start! We love our homemade ornaments... I wanted to let you know that I am giving you the "Ancestor Approved" Award for your blog. Please go to
    mmgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/12/ancestor-approved-award.html
    and pick up your badge. :)

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  6. Would love to see the eggshell ornaments too! My mother and grandmother used to make crocheted ornaments I just remembered - I think I have some packed away somewhere!

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  7. I should have written more in my article about this topic... When I was grade school age we did green and red craft paper garlands, strung popcorn for garlands too, and before we got the angel for the tree in my last post, we had a foil covered cardboard star for the top.

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  8. The eggshell ornaments remind me of Ukrainian pysanky. It takes a lot of patience to make those!

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