Good News Psychiatric Rehabilitation Group Every Day my not be good This is a news letter meant to bring you all good news and pay it forward stories found in the me- But there is something dia. The purpose is to help with coping and heal- good in every day! - ing by hearing positive news to make you feel Unknown positive and happy. A Note from the Editor HISTORY AND TRADITION OF Happy New Year CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS As we move into 2020 I hope you all find your- selves doing well. I hope the change of the We spend a great deal our time, money and thought weather and the change from the holidays on Christmas ornaments each year. Glittering and doesn't bring you down too much. I hope what- sparkling, Christmas ornaments make Christmas trees look much more magical and fun. Christmas ever resolution you have set upon works out for ornaments have be become intrinsic part of Christ- you. I myself like to think of it as goal or a posi- mas tree adornments and home decorations for tive change I want to make in my life. hundreds of years. We hope you enjoy the Newsletter this year and But do you know how did it all begin ? The defini- tion of Christmas tree ornaments comes to us it helps with bringing happiness to your day or from the route word “ornament” which is defined week. as an accessory used to beautify, enrich, or im- That being said we have a story that didn't get prove the appearance or general effect of an ob- ject . Read on to know more about the Christmas finished last time but it was too good not to run ornaments that make our holiday decorations look in this edition, we hope you enjoy this infor- livelier than ever. Merry Christmas! mation on the Christmas Ornament. CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS The tradition of Christmas trend, adornment of the Christmas tree in an in- trees and Christmas Orna- door setting. ments is a much disputed With time, the decoration ornaments grew more one what with several theo- diverse and each family used its own inventiveness ries about their origin do- to beautify the Christmas trees. Later decorations ing the rounds for a long included painted eggshells, cookies and candies. time. The most popular the- The high point cane with the introduction of tinsel ory holds that the tradition in 1610, an item that has been a favorite decorative was started by a monk who item since. Tinsel was originally made with pure sil- th th came to Germany in the 7 , 18 century to preach. ver. As time passes, the Christmas tree, traditions It is said that this monk was Saint Boniface, the gradually found their way into English homes Apostle of the Germans. According to history, the where the decorations began to be more ornate saint was the first one to bring a fir tree to the Ger- what with glass beads and hand-sewn snowflakes man people to decorate, for he claimed that its tri- being used to adorn the trees. With the arrival of angular shape represented the Holy Trinity—GOD, the 1800’s, the Christmas tree tradition eventually his Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The tradition began to invade the American homes. was lapped up by the devout Germans who started decorating the Christmas tree in a liturgical way The first decade of the 1800’s saw in the Christmas with simple white candles. This however, changed tree decorations the use of such eatables as fruit in the 15th century when ornaments began to be in- (specially apples) and nuts. But where were these corporated into the Christmas decorations in Ger- began to be used? The reason was not far to seek. many. These were the items that would grow on trees. More over along with the evergreen trees them- In Lativia circa 1510, a fir tree was decorated with selves, these fruits symbolized the regeneration of roses which was associated with the Virgin Mary. life in the spring season. Soon other fruits also be- This event is often hailed as the pioneer of modern gan to be hung on the trees along with paper Christmas decorations. streamers and bits of shiny metal foil. It was from In 1605, a tree in Strasbourg (a city on the Rhine in this time that the idea of reflecting the light of the eastern France near the German boarder) was room on the tree came into being. Christmas is, af- brought indoors and adorned with paper roses, ter all a season of lights and merriment. The idea lighted candle wafers, nuts, and sweets. This is hence, soon became popular. One more concept said to be a ground breaking moment in the history arose during this period and began to be practiced of Christians decorations for it kicked off a new with much enthusiasm by many German homes. It was the use of foods like gingerbread or other hard firms around Lauscha, the hub cookies, that began to be baked in varied shapes of the glass ornament trade in as fruits, stars, bells, hearts, angel and were used Germany, which had until then , in the decorations, The idea was a great hit with the been engaged in making glass German folks. articles such as bottles and As the tradition of Christmas trees and ornaments marbles soon began to create became more widespread, each country added its little glass toys like molds of own ingenuity to the decorations. Americans, for children, saints, famous peo- example, would string long strands of cranberries ple, animals and other forms or popcorn to encircle their trees. In the UK, imagi- and released them in the mar- native ornaments of lace, paper or other items ket. This new type of Christmas showed the ingenuity and skill of their makers. ornament was an instant suc- Small newspapers scraps or magazine illustrations cess and was met with a huge demand. also began to be used in the family Christmas tree Soon nearly every family in and around Lauscha decorations. became involved in some way or other in the crea- Small gifts were other items that began to be hung tion of Christmas glass ornaments working either on the trees, sometimes contained in little hand in a factory or in a home-based foundry. crafted baskets, nestled in the crook of a branch Now each ornament had a touch of individual or used suspended by a small piece of thread. In craftsmanship and became highly prized posses- fact, so much of decorative items began to be used sion. As a result, Germany went on to capture the during this period that with each passing year it world market in Christmas ornaments made from became increasingly difficult to actually see the glass molds and for a long time was the major tree beneath the ornaments. world source for glass ornaments. Most hand- It is to be noted that until the 1880’s Christmas tree blown glass ornaments used for decorations on decorations had mainly been the creative domain Christmas trees came exclusively from Germany. of family and friends and the only ornaments avail- As the tradition of Christmas tree decorations able in the marked were German hand-cast lead had, by then already caught on in the United and hand-blown glass decorations. But the 1880’s States, F. Woolworth, one of the foremost American saw many, German entrepreneurs seriously think- mass merchandisers began important German ing of manufacturing ornaments on a mass scale glass ornaments into the country in the 1880’s. and selling these strictly as Christmas ornaments. By 1890, he was reportedly selling $25 million The idea was soon translated into reality. The glass worth of them. Christmas celebrants all over the world. With the commencement of the Twentieth century, World War 1 had a tremendous impact on the world Christmas began to grow more and more popular market and the German glass industry was not ex- among most Europeans and Americans and began empt from it. to be celebrated with gusto. It was during this peri- The War created a momentary backlash against all od that the German monopoly over the Christmas things German. Though it was not long staying and ornament market was broken. Since 1925, Japan the production and purchase of German glass or- challenged Germany’s dominance over the world naments began in earnest soon after the War, the market by producing ornaments on a huge scale. threat of another war approaching was felt by They brought in newer, more colorful designs and many. Max Eckhart, a US businessman associated began to bite off the German market. Later, Czech with the glass ornament trade felt his business Republic also entered the competition with an im- could be greatly affected by possible hostilities as pressive amount of fancy Christmas ornaments. By another war was to mean stopping of shipments 1935, more than 250 million Christmas tree orna- from Germany. This made him think of a way of ments were being imported to America. Christmas producing glass ornaments right in the heart of ball and bauble ornaments have been quite popular America. He knew that the Corning Company of since then. Corning, New York had a type of machine that ordi- Despite stiff competition from Czech Republic , Ja- narily made thousands of light bulbs out of a rib- pan and several other Germany retained a solid bon of glass. Now what he needed was only to per- market base the world over because of originality suade the Corning Company to determine a way to in the handcraft, even when produced in a huge make American glass ornaments.