As a child of the 60’s (yes, I’m getting old, don’t remind me), one of our fondest memories was going to pick out our Christmas tree from the Christmas tree lot, bringing it home, stringing the lights, and getting out the collection of ornaments my mom had so lovingly put together for our family. Those pretty and colorful glass ornaments that many of us grew up with.
Do you remember them too?
Back then, there were no designer trees. No special colors and trendy trees. Most everyone did those big fat colored lights and all the ornaments were colorful too. We never had just red and green on our trees. It was an explosion of fun colors. That’s what I remember the most. Those ornaments were so pretty and magical to my little bitty self and I can remember sitting under the tree, with the lights all lit up, looking at the ornaments and dreaming of Christmas. Don’t forget those shiny silver icicles too. That was the finishing touch on those trees of childhood. My mom still puts up a little fake tree and was still using these ornaments up until last year. We were over in Marietta over the weekend spending some time with my family for Christmas. I had mentioned to her last year that I’d love to have them one day, so she got them out this year and gave them to me.   The oldest box was from a store called Christo’s and the price tag was 59 cents. Oh my, can you imagine? They just don’t make them like this anymore. Well, maybe they do, but for a huge price, perhaps? She said she was afraid to keep hanging them on the tree, cause she had dropped a few and broke them in the last few years and if they fell, they were history. These fragile things are paper thin blown glass and about 50 years old, so what do you expect?So, now they are mine to take care of and treasure. And that, I will do. I will probably pass them onto my niece, Lauren, at some point. She will treasure them too. There were over 2 boxes intact and they sure do make me smile when I look at them.I love the colors and shapes. Remember the indented ones, with their inside of shimmery gleaming shine? The colors are just remarkable and so, so pretty. All shapes and colors. I remember them so well. These pinks are so hot and colorful, aren’t they? So many pretties to look at. For these pics,I piled them in a white iron bird feeder, but they don’t all fit inside here. I’ll have to find just the right spot to display them, while protecting them too. Here are a few of my faves. This pretty bell, with its stripes and shiny silver. Another one shaped so prettily and the colors are so soft and subtle. This silver with teal and hot pink is one that I really remember, along with the frosted snow on top. I’m so glad that they have survived and now I get to enjoy them too.
At least for this year, I carefully placed them in one of my crystal bowls on a side table in the living room.
How about you?
Do you have vintage ornaments from your childhood or have you collected some for yourself?
I’ve been on the lookout for some of these and have never found any that were a decent price. And I hardly ever see any just like this with all the colors and shapes.
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Bev says
Your description of the Christmases of your childhood brought back the smell of the ‘snow’ that we would sometimes spray on our tree or in the corners of the living room window…because, of course, in Mississippi, nothing says Christmas like a major (fake) snowstorm with snow piled in the windows and on our indoor Christmas tree. 🙂
Beautiful ornaments. None left in our family. I didn’t think to ask until a few years ago and by that time they had long ago been donated. I’ll just enjoy the pictures of yours!
And pout a bit.
NancyO. says
Hello,
Just found you! 🙂 Great ornaments.
I have a few family ornaments and had found some in antique shops when I discovered them on ebay…talk about an addiction!
NancyO.
Margie says
oh yes! I love these ornaments! I have collected some over the years and also have some from my childhood. Where we live, they are very plentiful in the antique stores and flea markets at very good prices!
Sarah A says
I so wish we had those ornaments from our tree – someone didnt think to preserve them…. Just seeing those made me a bit nostalgic.. We do have a few of them from my late mother in law.. they are gorgeous..
THANK YOU for bringing back those memories
Lisa says
Thank you for the flood of memories I received when reading your post. And to Bev, I too am a Mississippi girl and can just smell the fake snow!
Tina says
Beautiful! I love the vintage ornaments also and have such fond memories of my childhood Christmas trees! We decorated our tree this year with the ones that I am pleased as punch to say were saved by my Mom and given to me! Some “show” their age (don’t we all!) but that just adds to the character for me! We even added those silver icicles! A quilt in similar colors underneath made by my Grandmother is the “icing” on the cake!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos with us!
La says
What a lovely stroll down memory lane…. Merry Christmas! La
Betty says
I have a tree with the Shiny and Bright ornaments! Found them this fall in a box!! What a find and memories to go with them. Merry Christmas to all!
Down Comforter says
This is a beautiful idea of displaying the ornaments. Just this past weekend my grandpa brought all of the family ornaments to our christmas party and all the grandkids were able to pick and choose the ones we wanted. Right now they’re just sitting on the kitchen table but I can’t wait to go home and rumage for one of our crystal bowls to display all the beautiful colors. thanks for the idea!
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
Oh just looking at your images makes me SO happy. I have a few ornaments from the only Christmas tree my parents ever had and have also collected several ornaments one by one over many years.
So lovely. Be merry and bright!
Erin @ Where Beauty Meets Function says
I love your photos!! I remember specifically the ones with the ‘fanned holes’ in the center. They look so pretty just displayed in a bowl like that. 🙂
I wrote a post a couple weeks ago about the ornaments my Great Grandmother used to make with sequins and beads and give to the family every year.
http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2010/12/12-days-of-christmas-day-2-ornament.html
Finding Home says
I did not have them from my childhood, but as an adult I have begun collecting then and find that they are my favorites, the more worn the better. A few years ago I was dropping some clothes at the back of the Salvation Army and discovered that the person before me had left about 7 full boxes of perfect Shiny Brights, after some confusion if she meant per ornament or per box, the woman there sold them to me for $1 a box. I was in heaven! Your collection is really beautiful and photographed so lovely. Have a wonderful Holiday, Laura
Becky in 'Bama says
Oh my goodness, I’m afraid the tears welled up in my eyes. My grandmother had one box of these ‘fancy Christmas balls’ that she used on her little tree every year – the tree she went out in the woods and hand picked and chopped down herself. Thinking back – most of them had a a strong resemblance to Charlie Brown’s tree. LOL And I believe at my last memory she had one remaining string of the huge colored lights that could have easily toppled the whole project. Those were the days. No idea what happened to those fancy balls. More than the decorations I wish I still had her!
Heidi Milton says
THese are lovely! Truly treasures… lucky you!
Tracey says
That’s funny… I too have my small collection of vintage ornaments displayed in a crystal bowl :^) I got 14 in a bag at a thrift shop about 5 years ago for $1.99! You have some really pretty, unique ones. Thanks for sharing.
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
Rhoda these are gorgeous!!! I have found some like that at a local thrift store. Not nearly as special as your heirlooms! I do have a complete set of Avon ornaments that my mom collected and gave to me.
Robyn says
My grandmother has 4 ornaments left from the first Christmas that she and my grandfather were married. They were married in 1940. I believe she bought them at the local 5 & dime at the time. No one will dare touch them due to their fragile state. They are even more special since we lost my grandfather several years ago. I don’t believe that she actually hangs them anymore for fear of breaking them.
tina says
Those are beautiful!
I’m not into the designer, decorated to go with interior type trees. I love trees that reflect the person/family’s life and history. Someone summed it up beautifully not long ago, a story of us tree.
Our big Christmas tree is decorated with vintage scrap and tinsel ornaments that I’ve collected for years. Also many ornaments picked up on a trip or bought for a special occasion or ornaments we’ve received from others. I have an ornament given to us when we bought our first house, another that represents our little pup, ones engraved with special dates, etc. Probably my most prized ornament is the crystal bell engraved with our wedding date (1982). I have added in some newer and vintage balls in white/gold/silver as fillers. It’s like greeting old friends each year when we get out the boxes of decorations. It’s fun for hubby and I to remember as we decorate the tree.
Love those shiny brights and have a few from my grandmother. Also the old timey bubble lights that used to hang on their tree. I’d be scared to plug them in now, but they bring back such memories, I had to have them.
tina
patti g says
what a walk with a friend down memory lane.
tis true, you know, “i’ll be home for Christmas,
if only in my dreams”
seems the trees smelled more of their Christmas
pine then – or was that just me?
i just turned 56 in November, so you know i know
about what you just wrote about that you know. 😉
wish i knew much much earlier – nothing wrapped
prettily under the tree is as precious as the parents
anxiously smiling to see if all of your dreams came true.
they were the best gifts Santa/God ever gave.
wish I had been this insightful long ago.
alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
wow! Love these!