|
 Wooden Christmas ornaments are probably not the first ornament that would come to most peoples’ minds. It just doesn’t seem to be a material most people think of when contemplating traditional tree ornaments. In fact, the original tree ornaments were made of glass. As historians believe, the evolution started from witch balls. The original purpose of the witch ball was to fend off evil spirits from ones home all year long, not only at Christmas time. People began decorating with them shortly after, and following soon after was the Victorian age. As time passed on, the witch ball became less of a tool for repelling evil spirits, and more as a symbol of celebration for the holiday season. The popularity of ornaments grew from there.
People began making many different kinds of ornaments, including wooden Christmas ornaments. They are wonderful Christmas decorations to adorn anywhere in the home. They are not exclusive to the Christmas tree. They can be used anywhere, from mantles to doorways, and even stair rails. The most commonly known ornaments are made of ceramic, plastic or glass. However, wooden Christmas ornaments are pushing their way to the forefront. These charming ornaments are carved, painted, and polished. They are made to appear less commercialized and more hand crafted. Some are colorfully painted to give an animated look that young children adore. Other ornaments are distressed after painting, and before polishing, to give an antique look, and this is perfect for a more rustic decoration ensemble. Some of the ornaments are hand carved, while others are made and assembled in a lean manufacturing environment. Either way, the painted patterns are meticulously crafted, directly on the wood, and then varnished over with a lustrous, smooth finish. Wooden Christmas ornaments, unlike their brittle counterparts, are durable and safe for children. They will, without a doubt, be temped to pull wooden ornaments off the tree to play with for a while. They can easily be returned, unharmed, ready to once again adorn your tree. More importantly, you will not have to worry about broken glass and the sharp edges they create, posing unthinkable harm to innocent, playful children.
If you would like to personalize your ornaments for future generations as a keepsake, wooden Christmas ornaments fit the bill perfectly. Many come with a place to add your name and date so you can record the gifted persons name and the year with a small paint brush, or a label maker. Then you can varnish the inscription with clear nail polish to protect it from smudging. Remember that ornaments do not necessarily have to be hung on the tree. They can be placed on some shelves, or around a display table, or hung from tinsel or garland above entryways, windows and arches. Wood has a great strength to weight ratio, therefore it can take a lot of abuse. It can fall from fairly high places and hold together. Even if it did break, a wooden ornament can be easily glued back together with very good results. Because it’s so light, it can be hung on the tree without bending the branch, or hung from tinsel with minimal support.
Many wooden Christmas ornaments are hand-crafted, therefore, each one is a little bit different. Hand carved and hand painted ornaments will definitely be distinctive. For this very reason alone, wooden ornaments make special and unique gifts. So look for them next time you visit a Christmas store in your local area or online
|
