Our Little Cowboy Ornament
is about 4 inches tall. The Little Cowboy Western Christmas Ornaments have a little growing left to do before he can fill his fathers Cowboy Hat and boots. He is wearing his own beige Cowboy shirt, brown vest, blue jeans and black belt. The Little Cowboy Ornament hangs from a loop of jute. Select to see a complete listing of our Christmas Decorations Ideas.

Cowboys.
During the 16th century, the Conquistadors and other Spanish settlers brought their cattle raising traditions as well as their horses and cattle to the Americas, starting with their arrival in what today is Mexico and Florida. The traditions of Spain were transformed by the geographic, environmental and cultural circumstances of New Spain, which later became Mexico and the southwestern United States. In turn, the land and people of the Americas also saw dramatic changes due to Spanish influence. Select this link to view our The Original 4x4.
The arrival of horses was particularly significant. Horses quickly multiplied in America and became crucial to the success of the Spanish and later settlers from other nations. The earliest horses were originally of Andalusian, Barb and Arabian ancestry, but a number of uniquely American horse breeds developed in North and South America through selective breeding and by natural selection of animals that escaped to the wild. The Mustang and other colonial horse breeds are now called "wild," but in reality are feral horses, descendants of domesticated animals. Select this link to view our Western Boots Ornament.
As English speaking traders and settlers moved into the Western United States, English and Spanish traditions, language and culture merged to some degree, with the vaquero tradition providing the foundation of the American cowboy. Before the Mexican American War in 1848, New England merchants who traveled by ship to California encountered both hacendados and vaqueros, trading manufactured goods for the hides and tallow produced from vast cattle ranches. American traders along what later became known as the Santa Fe Trail had similar contacts with vaquero life. Starting with these early encounters, the lifestyle and lingo of the vaquero began a transformation which merged with English cultural traditions and produced what became known in American culture as the "cowboy". Check out our Unique Christmas Ornaments for the holidays.

Where do Teddy Bears Come From?
Teddy bears are stuffed toy bears and are an enduring, traditional form of stuffed animal, often serving the purpose of comforting children but some have become expensive collector's items.
The "fur" which these charming creatures are made of is as varied and interesting as the bears themselves. Mohair is the fur shorn or combed from a breed of long haired goats which is woven into cloth, dyed and trimmed to produce a fascinating choice for any artist's palette. Alpaca teddy bears are made from the pelt of an alpaca because the fiber is too soft to weave. In addition to mohair and alpaca, there are huge selections of "plush" or synthetic fur made for the teddy bear market which are commercially produced.
Some teddy bear artists specialize in the production of bears made from recycled materials. These artists haunt thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales and trash collection centers as well as their own and their families' basements and attics in search of forgotten treasures to be turned into a collector's dream. Old quilts, dresses, fur collars, coats and stoles as well as beaded bags and garments are quickly transformed into stunning teddy bears. Select this link to view our Christmas Ornament Sets.