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I confess. I have a thing for tinsel. Not just any tinsel, mind you. I want that wonderful, heavy metal stuff from my childhood, those silvery strands that my father patiently hung on the tree one by one. What incredible dedication. And, what a magical sight to behold! Mom certainly did not have time for that! Taking down the tree was just as time consuming. Off they came one by one to be carefully flattened and saved for another year. |
| What is the best selling item at Celebrate365.com? Surprisingly, it’s not an ornament! In fact, it is traditional German icicle-style tinsel.How did this tradition begin in our little family? I never knew. Since decorating the tree was Dad’s domain, I think that tinsel must have been a Mitchell family tradition remembered from his own childhood Christmases in Dayton, Ohio.Wow! Have you ever seen so many icicles? |  |
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Tinsel I know that tinsel or lametta originated in Germany in the early 1600s. German glassblowers from the Lauscha region crafted crystal ornaments, some looked just like icicles. When the candles were lit on the tree, oh how those icicles glistened! As the years passed, craftsmen created icicles from tin and even silver. By the 1920s, the time when my grandfather Edgar Mitchell was celebrating Christmas in Dayton, Ohio with his wife and children, German craftsmen had invented lametta, tinsel icicles made from lead. My grandmother’s family was German-speaking. Perhaps that’s how my father’s love for a Christmas tree dripping in tinsel began. |
Category: christmas
The Reason for the Season …
| Angels, Nativities and Religious Figures Nativity, a synonym of birth Nativity Scene, a group of figures arranged to represent the birth of Jesus Christ Crib, a Nativity scene in Italy Creche,a Natvity scene in France Visit Soffieria De Carlini and learn how these delightful glass Christmas ornaments are created. |
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| The Nativity scene is said to have originated with St. Francis of Assisi when he constructed a manger scene in a cave in the town of Greccio in 1223. Tradition holds that he led Christmas Eve mass there and organized a nativity pageant. | ||
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| The crib is the most important focus of celebrations during the Christmas season in Italy. Each church displays a nativity as do many town , stores, public areas and private homes. The Christmas cribs may be quite elaborate or very simple. Families usually set up a Chrismtmas crib in their home on December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. A family might add a new piece or two to its display each year. | ||
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| While Mary, Joseph, shephards, animals, and magi may become part of the scene on December 8, Baby Jesus usually is not placed in the manger until December 26. | ||
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| Epiphany,January 6; a Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as representated by the Magi.Epiphany, January 6, is an important celebratation day for Italians. A family’s crib remains the focus of a home’s festivities until that day. | ||
Just Arrived from Italy!
| Soffieria De Carlini is Italy’s premiere free blown holiday ornament workshop. Soffieria means factory in Italian and De Carlini is the founder Enrico’s surname.
Founded in 1947 and located near Milan, Italy, grandson Luca Terruzzi now heads the family business. His mother, Rosa De Carlini Terruzzi still heads the decorating department. She’s the one who decides what little bits and pieces of fabrics, feathers and ribbons will embellish an ornament. The De Carlinis are famous for their free blown designs. That means that each ornament is created without using a mold. Only the most talented glass blowers are chosen for this task. It’s slow-going. One slip and the ornament is ruined. In fact, daily production is quite limited. Over the years, the De Carlinis have not strayed far from their founder’s vision. Ornaments tend to be simple and often whimsical. Watch out! They might just make you chuckle! Visit Soffieria De Carlini and learn how these delightful glass Christmas ornaments are created.
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| Next week … The Reason for the Season from De Carlini | ||
Thomas Glenn 2012 Ornament Collection Arrives!
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2012 Ornament Premiere! Thmas Glenn Polish glass ornaments are not your grandmother’s Christmas decorations! They are contemporary and decidedly glitzy! In his "real life" Thomas Glenn has a masters degree in fine arts. He brushes paints on canvases. Glenn’s contemporary style canvases may be found in a number of New York City art galleries. Collectors can delight in bringing Thomas Glenn works of art into their own home and onto their holiday trees and year-round displays with these exceptional European crafted ornaments. |
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| Celebrate Christmas with the Thomas Glenn Collection! | ||
Judi Vaillancourt Paints a Santa
Artist Judi Vaillancourt demonstrates the painting process that each chalkware figure undergoes … From the base coat seen here to the final details.