The Christmas ball that was supposed to have been derived from the
witch ball, is still a clear favourite of the Christmas ornaments used
to decorate the Christmas tree.
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The Evolution of Christmas Ornaments
Roy Thomsitt
Things have come a long way since a Christmas ornament was likely to
be just a ball hung by the window, or later on a Christmas tree.
Historians believe that this original Christmas decoration descended from a witch ball. The original purpose of a witch ball was to fend off evil spirits. However, being traditionally glass made, these balls were also very decorative, and people started to see their use for decorating the home. They were great decorations, so they started to move around the house a bit, and the original green colour was varied as time went on.
Over the centuries, and gathering pace in the Victorian era, they were made in different colours and sizes, and even the material from which they were made started to be varied.
Also by Victorian times, it became fashionable to decorate the home for Christmas, so Christmas ornaments started to take a hold in Victorian homes. Less concerned about evil spirits, people looked at ornaments as a festive display, a symbol of celebration. Instead of warding off evil spirits, they started to accompany a surge in other spirits, most notably brandy and whisky.
From Victorian times onwards the range has increased steadily. The decorations have been hung in different places too: the mantle, windows, and front door being favourites, as well as the Christmas tree, but there is really no restriction where to hang Christmas ornaments these days. Inside, outside, it no longer seems to matter.
A lot of the increase in the use of Christmas decorations has come from the desire to impress friends, neighbours and family with the decorative display, as well, of course, for one's own enjoyment.
The Christmas ball that was supposed to have been derived from the witch ball, is still a clear favourite of the Christmas ornaments used to decorate the Christmas tree. Over the years Christmas tree balls have been designed in a great variety of colours and finish, with an increasing variety of sparkling balls.
Another favourite for Christmas decorations nowadays are the coloured fairy lights. Flashing coloured lights are often a feature of outside Christmas ornament displays, as well as for the tree and other places inside the house.
It also became quite normal in the 20th century to hang a new type of Christmas ornament on a tree; some sort of food, especially chocolate, that would be covered with a colourful, shiny paper wrapping to add a festive decorative effect. On top of the Christmas tree, a fairy has been a popular adornment over the years, but that has been changing in recent decades, and other Christmas ornaments often now take pride of place at the pinnacle.
As with so many things over the last hundred years, Christmas decorations have just got bigger and better, as well as with a greater variety. Now, in some localities, you will get local communities where house owners go to great lengths to decorate the outside of their homes with giant Christmas ornaments and lighting displays. Some such localities become well known simply for their Christmas display. Even here in the Philippines, some localities become well known in the Christmas season for their exuberant Christmas ornament displays.
For most of us, however, Christmas ornaments are about decorating our own little piece of territory to make Christmas a special occasion for the family, and it is unlikely that that will ever change.
Roy Thomsitt is owner and part author of www.xmasornament.com.
This news arrived on: 11/10/2006
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Posted Comments:
12-18-2008 23:00
put christ back into ... wrote:
ANGELS not fairies
When I read the article by Roy Thomsitt about the origin of the christmas ornament I was surprised to see that he had said that it has been a tradition over the years to put a fairy on top of the christmas tree.I have always seen Angels,not fairies adorn the top of the tree.
I'm sure that it varies,such as the Star as a common adornment.But "fairies?" I am no spring chicken,and in all my life I've never seen a fairy on the top of the Christmas tree,nor would I like to.
I celebrate the birth of our Savior,even if that is not the actual date of his birth,as long as we "Remember that Jesus came and the real reason that is worthy of celebrating."Read Luke 2;vs.1 thru 20.
I'm sure that it varies,such as the Star as a common adornment.But "fairies?" I am no spring chicken,and in all my life I've never seen a fairy on the top of the Christmas tree,nor would I like to.
I celebrate the birth of our Savior,even if that is not the actual date of his birth,as long as we "Remember that Jesus came and the real reason that is worthy of celebrating."Read Luke 2;vs.1 thru 20.
12-17-2008 20:33
slash wrote:
Holidays
If more people would do their research they would see that almost all Holidays, including Christian, are based and wrapped around Pagan Sabbots and Esbats. Easter is around the spring equinox and named for the Goddess Eostrea or Ostara. Christmas is around the winter solstice and is also called Yule. Just to add a little more fuel "Jolly Ole Kriss Kringle" is actually the pagan god of Yule and personification of the Yuletide spirit. Now I hope this helps clear any confusion. If you need any more info try looking up the reform of the Christian Church in the time of Mark Anthony. Bright Blessings!!!
12-17-2008 20:11
JUST A SERVANT wrote:
WITCH BALL
The author of this tale is wrong.
Apples were first placed on evergreens which represented adam & eve falling into sin,the tree the evergreen was a symbol to represent God. The tradition to celebrate the birth of our Lord on december 25th was from the pagan ritual of the winter solstice the romans incorporated it into christianity which did no harm except to deceive the public into belief it was the birth of Christ.
Christ was born in Sept or early October-no were in the Bible tell us to celebrate His birth,just His ressurection.Man kind has been deceived for a long time to follow pagan ways~!
Wake up study His word and know the truth. I could give you all the places to look in the Bible to substantiate the truth,but feel if you are truly a Christian and want to know,then go to the source and find it.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating this day as the day of His birth ,but educate yourselves to the truth for the truth will set you free.
In His Service
j.a.s.
Apples were first placed on evergreens which represented adam & eve falling into sin,the tree the evergreen was a symbol to represent God. The tradition to celebrate the birth of our Lord on december 25th was from the pagan ritual of the winter solstice the romans incorporated it into christianity which did no harm except to deceive the public into belief it was the birth of Christ.
Christ was born in Sept or early October-no were in the Bible tell us to celebrate His birth,just His ressurection.Man kind has been deceived for a long time to follow pagan ways~!
Wake up study His word and know the truth. I could give you all the places to look in the Bible to substantiate the truth,but feel if you are truly a Christian and want to know,then go to the source and find it.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating this day as the day of His birth ,but educate yourselves to the truth for the truth will set you free.
In His Service
j.a.s.
12-17-2008 15:55
DHFabian wrote:
traditions
The origin of any sort of holiday decorations or traditions doesn't matter. What matters is what it means today, and what is in the hearts of those who celebrate Christmas. The best displays are those intended to simply bring a warm smile to those who view it.
12-17-2008 15:37
Sarah wrote:
I'm sorry none of you could find anything on witch balls... I googled it and found quite a bit and all of it agrees with this author. Even the pagan sites agree. Also, a witch ball was a good thing to ward off evil and was usually used where witches were considered good and usually helped cure poisons and sicknesses. Back then, witches were the essential doctors.
And for the record, Yule and the Winter Solstice were celebrated by the Celts before Christianity was brought to them. Many traditions, like the Yule Log, were carried on and remain today. As for the time of year, the Roman Catholic Church basically replaced the celebration name and replaced it with another.
I do believe that back then, it was Autumn when taxes were collected, so Jesus would not have been born around the Winter Solstice, it was probably closer to the Autumnal Equinox or Halloween.
Either way, it's become so commercialized now that it doesn't much matter.
And for the record, Yule and the Winter Solstice were celebrated by the Celts before Christianity was brought to them. Many traditions, like the Yule Log, were carried on and remain today. As for the time of year, the Roman Catholic Church basically replaced the celebration name and replaced it with another.
I do believe that back then, it was Autumn when taxes were collected, so Jesus would not have been born around the Winter Solstice, it was probably closer to the Autumnal Equinox or Halloween.
Either way, it's become so commercialized now that it doesn't much matter.
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