Keepsaker’s Korner
|
|
|
|
A
publication of the Okie Keepsakers Collectors Club of Tulsa, OK Sponsored
by Becky’s Hallmark 41st
& Garnett 628-1766 www.geocities.com/okiekeepsakers |
|
|
December
2001 |
|
Club Officers |
|
|
President: Rita Randall 341-1696 |
Treasurer: Sally Turner 838-8179 |
|
Vice Pres: Dana Blando 628-0063 |
Secretary: Teresa Pattison 250-2693 |
Next Meeting is Thursday December 13 at 6:30pm
OKCC meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month. We meet at Becky’s Hallmark, 11109 E 41st (northwest corner of 41st & Garnett, next to Furr’s). Next month’s meeting will be January 10th.
At the December Meeting
· Please note that we are starting at 6:30 instead of 7 this month!
· Remember to bring your covered dish and serving utensils.
· Don’t forget your gift for the gift exchange. There is a $10 limit that should be something we would be happy to take home ourselves - not an ornament (except if you want to donate the first rocking horse to make it a really lively exchange!).
· Donna Lundy says the t-shirts are in! Bring your money to bail out your shirts.
Domestic Violence Intervention Service
Please remember to bring the items for our adopted Christmas families. If you haven’t signed up to bring something, please call Debra Kirk at 438-1374 or email her at [email protected].
My Christmas Open House and Home Tour Information
My house is decorated and waiting for you guys to come over on Sunday, December 16th from 3-6pm. Maps will be available at the club meeting. If you can’t come to the meeting, call me at 250-2693 and I will give you directions. We have 3 other club members that will also have their homes open that day. Donna Lundy will have specifics at the club meeting.
Happy December Birthday to ….
Heather Murphy Dec 19
Sandy Carter Dec 23
Debra Kirk Dec 26
Dana Blando Dec 27
Jeanne Draughon Dec 30
Linda Hogue Dec 30
Okie Keepsakers Meeting Minutes November 8, 2001
The November club meeting was called to order by President Rita Randall and she welcomed guests. Rita explained Teresa's absence and everyone was very sorry to learn of her sister's death.
Treasurer Sally Turner read the Treasurer’s report:
$1000.30+ Beginning balance
60.00+ Dues paid
233.11+ Ornament sales
64.00+ Chair fund
250.00- T-shirt deposit
7.82- November Postage
1099.59+ Ending balance
Sponsor news was given by Earlene and she reminded everyone to be sure and bring their red invitation card and their passport to the Open House on Saturday. Anyone who had not received their invitation from the store was given a card at that time. She reminded us also that the Open House would begin at 7:30am. Refreshments will be served.
Sunshine report was given by Terri Legrand and it was reported that a get-well card had been sent to Alice Sandkuhl's husband who had recently had pneumonia and a sympathy card will be sent to Teresa Pattison.
Rita reminded us that the December meeting is our Christmas Party and our meeting will begin at 6:30. The club will pay for the meat and all the club members will be bringing an entree or dessert.
Debra Kirk gave a DVIS report of what has been donated by our club this year. Later in the meeting, she'll discuss the three families that we'll be adopting this year for Christmas.
It was also reported that the selling of the "With Help From Pup" ornament donated to the club by Dessie Howard, made $71.01 for our club when it was put on Ebay.
Donna Lundy gave a report of the status of our new club t-shirts. These will be ready for us to purchase at our December meeting. $15.00 for a t-shirt and $20.00 for the sweatshirts - whichever you pre-ordered during the October meeting.
Donna reminded us that we're to bring a nice $10.00 gift for the gift exchange - a gift that we would be happy to take home ourselves - not an ornament. (unless it is the 1st Rocking Horse, 1st Here Comes Santa or the 1st Tin Locomotive) ;)
During the Meet The Members segment of our meeting, Donna asked Cathy Payne, Joanie Owle and Gaye Lynn Sanders and Vickie Greenway to tell us all about themselves.
New business included everyone looking at the Club Poster that Dessie had made. This will be displayed at Becky's store on Saturday during the Open House.
The possibility of bad weather possibly changing our club meeting during this time of the year was discussed. We asked Earlene if it would be okay if the club members could just call the store if there was any doubt as to whether or not we'd be meeting. She said that would be fine. Rita will call the store and then they can relay the message to concerned members.
Jeanie Draughon informed us of the Health Fair at St. Benedicts on Saturday the 10th. Flu shots ($15.00) and miscellaneous blood tests would be available.
Sally brought Oklahoma University Posters to sell for $5.00 each and these sold out quickly.
Dana Blando mentioned that the Santa Faces ornaments and 15th Anniversary Wreath that she purchased at the Kansas City Jubilee are for sale. See her after the meeting.
Sally told us of new M&M items available now.
Dana Blando, Sandra Paskvan and Terri all had Finds for the Month. The Canadian Colorway ornament was shown with the original 2000 version of Friendly Greeting.
The $25.00 Gift Certificate was won by Linda Hogue and the magazine was won by Joanie Owle.
Debra then ask for volunteers for the families that DVIS has given our club for the Christmas party. Earlene, on behalf of the store, took one of the families, leaving the other two families to be divided up by the remaining club members.
Rita then adjourned the meeting and hoped to see everyone at the Open House on Saturday.
Hallmark News
In
a magazine that Hallmark puts out for retailers there was a picture of a new
2002 ornament. It is the first in the
"Treasures & Dreams" collector series. The ornament features a
ballerina spinning to music and a tiny drawer in which a special treasure can
be tucked away.
What a great surprise! National club members should have already received a card to order a special ornament. It’s a patriotic version of the Millennium Snowman ornament. One more reason that being a national club members pays! Unfortunately he won’t be here for Christmas but should arrive in January. Which is fine with me because I leave my snowmen things up longer than my Christmas things. And it will definitely be here in time for 4th of July!
All national club members will be receiving a surprise gift, which will begin mailing late in November. By Christmas, all Club members should receive it. The mail is still running a bit slow and these items will be sent 3rd class. Charter members will receive something DIFFERENT than non-charters. There will be two versions of the gift. Remember -- we're still celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Club in 2001! (I’ve gotten mine!) Will a charter member bring their gift so the rest of us mortals can see it?
Beginning in January the Collectively Speaking will be available online and will not be mailed. I haven’t gotten it yet for December. I will bring copies to the meeting and post it on our website when I do get it.
Ty News
Retirements:
11/12 Creepers, Fraidy, Scary and Haunt Beanie Babies
http://www.ty.com/announcements/ret_1112_scaredy.html
11/14 Large Dotty Beanie Buddy http://www.ty.com/announcements/ret_1114_dotty.html
11/15 XL Peace Beanie Buddy http://www.ty.com/announcements/ret_1115_xlpeace.html
11/19 2001 Signature Beanie Baby http://www.ty.com/announcements/ret_1119_sigbear.html
11/20 Jumbo Schweetheart Beanie Buddy http://www.ty.com/announcements/ret_1120_jumboschweet.html
11/27 Spooky
Beanie Buddy http://www.ty.com/announcements/ret_1127_spooky.html
11/28 Radar Beanie Buddy http://www.ty.com/announcements/ret_1128_radar.html
Reminder that December 14th is the last day to order your Clubby IV Beanie Buddy, the Jingle Beanies Collection and the BBOC Beanie Bopper, Cuddly Crystal. Call 1-877-797-8218 Monday - Friday 7 am to 7 pm and Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30pm or visit the website at http://www.beaniebabiesofficialclub.com
America the Beanie Baby is not a US exclusive. He is appearing in Europe, Australia, and Canada (so far). Also, one has been without a flag on his chest.New Ty releases - November: http://www.ty.com/november_intro/november_intro.html
· BEANIE BABIES - December the Birthday Bear
· BABY TY - Cuddlecub (Pink & Blue))
· BEANIE BOPPERS: Canadian Exclusive Hat Trick Hunter
· TY GEAR: Elf Gear & Santa Gear
· JAPAN EXCLUSIVE: Godzilla and King Ghidorah –
http://www.ty.com/announcements/japan_exclusive.html
New Ty releases - December: http://www.ty.com/announcements/dec_2001_intros.html
· BEANIE BABIES – Cupid the Dog, January Birthday Bear, Poofie the ? dog, Sizzle the bear (red for Valentines Day)
· BEANIE KIDS – Sugar, Sweetie, Baby 2002
· TY CLASSIC – Rosette (bear) and Sugar (cat)
· JAPAN EXCLUSIVE – Mothra (butterfly)
Many Thanks!
I just wanted to say thanks to all of you on the many,
many cards and condolences that I received on the death of my sister Patti.
Please keep my sister’s family in your prayers throughout this holiday season.
She had two girls, ages 18 and 15, who are Hallmark collectors in
training.
Hallmark hopes to score well with Winter Olympics tie-ins
By
JENNIFER MANN - The Kansas City Star
Date: 11/12/01
Hallmark Cards Inc. is geared up for a lasting Olympic moment with an estimated $20 million investment in the winter games in Salt Lake City.
Kylie Watson-Wheeler, advertising director for Hallmark, said the company, as it does each year, gathered its top marketing executives to brainstorm on the best ways to highlight the brand in the coming year.
At first, Watson-Wheeler said, the connection between Hallmark and the winter games was not clear. However, once the executives started thinking about the fit, it seemed a natural.
"The Olympics are all about inspiration and emotion and sharing of dreams and celebrations," Watson-Wheeler said. "After exploring the idea, we realized that those are the same attributes of our products and our brand."
Watson-Wheeler declined to reveal the extent of Hallmark's monetary investment in the Olympics, but a report in Brandweek magazine pegged it at $20 million.
The event that Hallmark is focusing on is figure skating. Fans of the sport -- a mostly female audience with children -- are Hallmark's core customer group.
The company already is running a 60-second TV commercial that shows an aspiring figure skater nervously waiting her turn on the ice.
Before the skater takes to the ice, her mother hands her two envelopes, telling her one is to open if she wins, the other if she does not.
Looking at her competition, many of whom are older and taller, the skater decides to open one of the envelopes. The card inside reads, "Do you know how special you are?" When she opens the card, it reads, "I do," signed "Love, Mom." The second card is the same as the first, bringing a smile and then determination to the skater's face.
Hallmark's tie-ins with the Olympics will focus on two primary product lines -- greeting cards and flowers, a line Hallmark launched earlier this year.
For greeting cards, the company has created a special card for the 60,000 households that will receive tickets to the Olympics in the mail.
The company also will have a card kiosk where anyone attending the games can send home a specially designed card. Hallmark will pay to send the card anywhere in the world.
Hallmark also will hand out free cards that attendees can use at their own convenience.
For flowers, Hallmark will provide all the bouquets for each day's awards ceremonies. Similar bouquets will be available for sale at the Olympics.
Hallmark also will provide flowers for spectators of the figure skating events to throw onto the ice after particularly moving performances, a tradition in the sport, and bouquets for the "kiss-'n'-cry" area where skaters await their scores.
The company has created a series of snow globes featuring some of the most popular female skaters, including Michelle Kwan and Kristi Yamaguchi.
The company will have a retail presence at the Olympics, where it will sell a limited selection of products, including the snow globes and a boxed set of cards featuring a design of Salt Lake City.
As part of the total package, Hallmark will sponsor two skating events leading up to the Olympics, the Hallmark Skaters Championship, which will air Dec. 7 and 8, and the Salute to Gold, scheduled for January.
Hallmark believes that its first big sponsorship of a sporting event will pay off.
"If you look at our program, it's very brand-oriented," Watson-Wheeler said. "There's tremendous value in being associated with the Olympics, and awareness from consumers is what we're looking for."
They're Baaack!
from hallmark.com
There's more exciting news from Hallmark. For those shoppers who can't bear the suspense, Hallmark will bring back the wildly popular Hallmark Kiss KissTM bears at the holidays, this time specially outfitted in winter wear. The bears are available beginning Nov. 21, 2001.
Quickly becoming the latest collector's craze, the Hallmark Kiss Kiss Mistletoe bears are cuddly cubs with magnets in their noses and Velcro® on their paws to help them hold paws while kissing! "Due to consumer demand, Hallmark Cards has increased the available quantity of the bears for the holidays," said Hallmark's director of integrated marketing, David Smith. "That will be welcome news to the thousands of consumers who purchased and pined for a pair of the limited-quantity bears back in January."
"During the Valentine's Day shopping season, we received thousands of phone calls and hundreds of e-mails about the Kiss Kiss bears," said Smith. "Some consumers were in tears exclaiming they just had to have a pair of bears. Others were willing to drive up to 100 miles to get them. We even discovered several of the bears were up for bid on eBay.com."
For those who don't want to be left barehanded this holiday season, Hallmark suggests shopping early, because quantities are limited. From Nov. 21 to Dec. 9, consumers can get one free Kiss Kiss Mistletoe Bear with the purchase of one Kiss Kiss Bear for $3.99 and three Hallmark cards at participating Hallmark Gold Crown stores, or wherever Hallmark products are sold.
Hallmark and Coca-Cola Team Up for the Holidays
from hallmark.com
Kansas City, Mo. and Atlanta, Ga. (Oct. 12, 2001) — Two holiday classics, Hallmark Cards, Inc., and The Coca-Cola Company will join creative forces inviting consumers to experience the spirit of the season in an exclusive holiday promotion, 'Twas a Christmas to Remember. The key visual features the popular Santa image originally created in 1931 for Coca-Cola by famed commercial illustrator Haddon Sundblom.
The product line, much of which will be available only at Hallmark Gold Crown© stores, will include a Coca-Cola Santa musical snow globe, a special book featuring the classic "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," gifts and holiday wrap, showcasing the widely recognizable Coca-Cola Santa image.
"Consumers know and trust our brands. I can't think of a better way to delight shoppers than to pair Sundblom's classic Coca-Cola Santa image with our holiday products," said Hallmark's director of integrated marketing, David Smith. "We're so excited about this combination. It's a natural fit and we think consumers are going to love it!"
Beginning Nov. 5, consumers will learn about 'Twas a Christmas to Remember through national advertising and direct mail postcards. Additionally, on Nov. 10-11, Hallmark Holiday Open Houses will be held across the country at participating Gold Crown stores to give shoppers a sneak peek and opportunity to purchase the Coca-Cola Santa snow globe at a promotional price.
Through the years, the image of Santa Claus has taken many forms — changing from an elf, a leprechaun and a gnome. Sundblom, a Swedish-American born in Michigan and raised in Chicago, decided to move away from the elf-like figure and create a totally human, merry gentleman. Originally modeled in the likeness of a friend, and later after himself, the Sundblom Santa embodies a gentle, kindly face of a man who is always smiling.
"The Sundblom Santa is remarkable for several reasons, most notably because of the way Haddon Sundblom captured the essence of St. Nicholas," said Phil Mooney, archivist for The Coca-Cola Company. "Sundblom created an enduring symbol which Coca-Cola shares with the world each holiday season."
With Coca-Cola among his earliest clients, Sundblom created dozens of paintings for the company until his death in 1976. The image he created continues to live on as the most widely accepted and recognized consumer image of Santa.
Hallmark has its own ties to Sundblom — four original illustrations commissioned by the late company founder, J.C. Hall, will appear as part of a historical holiday display at the Hallmark Visitors Center in Kansas City, Mo., from Nov. 15-Dec. 30.
(When I was in KC for Thanksgiving we went to Crown Center and the Visitors Center and saw these illustrations! The free ornament with coupon promotion this year of santa putting on his glove is one of these designs!!)
'Tis the Season for Time-Savers -- Online Tools Help Consumers Finish Holiday Cards In 30 Minutes Or Less; Make Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Easy
Story Filed: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 9:04 AM EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov 27, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Now that the busy holiday season is here, the mad rush to complete holiday tasks begins -- from sending cards and shopping for gifts to baking cookies and decorating the house. For the weary who want to lighten the load, online tools at Hallmark.com allow consumers to choose, sign, address and send holiday cards in 30 minutes or less, and finish last-minute holiday shopping in no time flat with our new Gift Wish Certificate service.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Through Hallmark.com's expanded online card service, sending personalized holiday cards to family and friends is no longer a time-consuming task. The cost of the card service is close to buying cards and stamps at retail, and best yet, Hallmark.com does all the work. The process is simple. Consumers log on to www.hallmark.com , click on the "Greeting Cards" icon and choose holiday cards. The site has a wide selection of holiday card categories, including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, as well as patriotic, classic and contemporary themes. Next, consumers can personalize their cards with their own message, a selection of fonts and font colors. Then, they can either type in the names and addresses of the card recipients, or use Hallmark.com's secure, private online address book, which lets users upload names and addresses from a computer or Palm Pilot. Lastly, consumers just add a return address, choose a stamp and a delivery date, and Hallmark.com takes care of the rest.
Last-Minute Gifts
Shopping for last-minute gifts can be just as easy as taking care of cards online. The new Gift Wish Certificate service allows people to choose a free e-card and attach a gift certificate, available in denominations from $10 to $100, and redeemable at more than 300 retailers across the country. Click on "send," and the recipient will receive the e-card and gift certificate within hours.
More traditional gifts also are available on the site, including popular Harry Potter(TM) toys and decorations; gourmet cookies and Hallmark Flowers; Disney and PEANUTS(R) collectibles; jewelry; Dr. Seuss(TM) books; sports equipment and tools; and home and garden, and bath and body items. In addition, Hallmark.com offers an online gift assistant service that provides gift ideas for those tough-to-shop-for people on the holiday list.
Looking to the Future
For people who are staying home over the holidays and need to send gifts to family and friends who don't live nearby, Hallmark.com's future-dated gift delivery service may be an ideal solution. To use this service, consumers can log on to the Web site, order the gift, specify a delivery date, and Hallmark.com will deliver the packages as requested. This service also works well for people who are traveling or out of the country over the holidays and can't hand deliver their holiday gifts.
THE CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE
http://www.christmasarchives.com/trees.html
St. Boniface Story
Why do we have a decorated Christmas Tree? In the 7th century a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, went to Germany to teach the Word of God. He did many good works there, and spent much time in Thuringia, an area which was to become the cradle of the Christmas Decoration Industry.
Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The converted people began to revere the Fir tree as God's Tree, as they had previously revered the Oak. By the 12th century it was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings at Christmastime in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity.
The first decorated tree was at Riga in Latvia, in 1510. In the last quarter of the 16th century, Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small Christmas Tree with candles, to show his children how the stars twinkled through the dark night.
Christmas Markets
In the mid 16th century, Christmas markets were set up in German towns, to provide everything from gifts, food and more practical things such as a knife grinder to sharpen the knife to carve the Christmas Goose! At these fairs, bakers made shaped gingerbreads and wax ornaments for people to buy as souvenirs of the fair, and take home to hang on their Christmas Trees.
The best record we have is that of a visitor to Strasbourg in 1601. He records a tree decorated with "wafers and golden sugar-twists (Barleysugar) and paper flowers of all colours". The early trees were biblically symbolic of the Paradise Tree in the Garden of Eden. The many food items were symbols of Plenty, the flowers, originally only red (for Knowledge) and White (for Innocence).
Tinsel
Tinsel was invented in Germany around 1610. At that time real silver was used, and machines were invented which pulled the silver out into the wafer thin strips for tinsel. Silver was durable, but tarnished quickly, especially with candlelight. Attempts were made to use a mixture of lead and tin, but this was heavy and tended to break under its own weight so was not so practical. So silver was used for tinsel right up to the mid-20th century.
The First English Trees
The Christmas Tree first came to England with the Georgian Kings who came from Germany. At this time also, German Merchants living in England decorated their homes with a Christmas Tree. The British public were not fond of the German Monarchy, so did not copy the fashions at Court, which is why the Christmas Tree did not establish in Britain at that time. A few families did have Christmas trees however, probably more from the influence of their German neighbours than from the Royal Court.
The decorations were Tinsels, silver wire ornaments, candles and small beads. All these had been manufactured in Germany and East Europe since the 17th century. The custom was to have several small trees on tables, one for each member of the family, with that persons gifts stacked on the table under the tree.
The Victorian and Albert Tree
In 1846, the popular Royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were illustrated in the Illustrated London News. They were standing with their children around a Christmas Tree. Unlike the previous Royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at Court immediately became fashionable - not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The English Christmas Tree had arrived!
Decorations were still of a 'home-made' variety. Young Ladies spent hours at Christmas Crafts, quilling snowflakes and stars, sewing little pouches for secret gifts and paper baskets with sugared almonds in them. Small bead decorations, fine drawn out silver tinsel came from Germany together with beautiful Angels to sit at the top of the tree. Candles were often placed into wooden hoops for safety.
Mid-Victorian Tree
In 1850's Lauscha began to produce fancy shaped glass bead garlands for the trees, and short garlands made from necklace 'bugles' and beads. These were readily available in Germany but not produced in sufficient quantities to export to Britain. The Rauschgoldengel was a common sight. Literally, 'Tingled-angel', bought from the Thuringian Christmas markets, and dressed in pure gilded tin.
The 1860's English Tree had become more innovative than the delicate trees of earlier decades. Small toys were popularly hung on the branches, but still most gifts were placed on the table under the tree.
Around this time, the Christmas tree was spreading into other parts of Europe. The Mediterranean countries were not too interested in the tree, preferring to display only a Creche scene. Italy had a wooden triangle platform tree called as 'CEPPO'. This had a Creche scene as well as decorations.
The German tree was beginning to suffer from mass destruction! It had become the fashion to lop off the tip off a large tree to use as a Christmas Tree, which prevented the tree from growing further. Statutes were made to prevent people having more than one tree.
Just as the first trees introduced into Britain did not immediately take off, the early trees introduced into America by the Hessian soldiers were not recorded in any particular quantity. The Pennsylvanian German settlements had community trees as early as 1747.
America being so large, tended to have 'pockets' of customs relating to the immigrants who had settled in a particular area, and it was not until the communications really got going in the 19th century, that such customs began to spread. Thus references to decorated trees in America before about the middle of the 19th century are very rare.
By the 1870's, Glass ornaments were being imported into Britain from Lauscha, in Thuringia. It became a status symbol to have glass ornaments on the tree, the more one had, the better ones status! Still many home-made things were seen. The Empire was growing, and the popular tree topper was the Nation's Flag, sometimes there were flags of the Empire and flags of the allied countries. Trees got very patriotic.
They were imported into America around 1880, where they were sold through stores such as FW Woolworth. They were quickly followed by American patents for electric lights (1882), and metal hooks for safer hanging of decorations onto the trees (1892)
High Victorian Trees
The 1880's saw a rise of the Aesthetic Movement. At this time Christmas Trees became a glorious hotchpotch of everything one could cram on; or by complete contrast the aesthetic trees which were delicately balanced trees, with delicate colours, shapes and style. they also grew to floor standing trees. The limited availability of decorations in earlier decades had kept trees by necessity to, usually table trees. Now with decorations as well as crafts more popular than ever, there was no excuse. Still a status symbol, the larger the tree - the more affluent the family which sported it.
The High Victorian of the 1890's was a child's joy to behold! As tall as the room, and crammed with glitter and tinsel and toys galore. Even the 'middleclasses' managed to over-decorate their trees. It was a case of 'anything goes'. Everything that could possibly go on a tree went onto it.
By 1900 themed trees were popular. A colour theme set in ribbons or balls, a topical idea such as an Oriental Tree, or an Egyptian Tree. They were to be the last of the great Christmas Trees for some time. With the death of Victoria in 1903, the Nation went into mourning and fine trees were not really in evidence until the nostalgia of the Dickensian fashion of the 1930's.
The American Tree
In America, Christmas Trees were introduced into several pockets - the German Hessian Soldiers took their tree customs in the 18th century. In Texas, Cattle Barons from Britain took their customs in the 19th century, and the East Coast Society copied the English Court tree customs.
Settlers from all over Europe took their customs also in the 19th century. Decorations were not easy to find in the shanty towns of the West, and people began to make their own decorations. Tin was pierced to create lights and lanterns to hold candles which could shine through the holes. Decorations of all kinds were cutout, stitched and glued. The General Stores were hunting grounds for old magazines with pictures, rolls of Cotton Batting (Cotton Wool), and tinsel, which was occasionally sent from Germany or brought in from the Eastern States. The Paper 'Putz' or Christmas Crib was a popular feature under the tree, especially in the Moravian Dutch communities which settled in Pennsylvania.
The British tree in the 20th century
After Queen Victoria died, the country went into mourning, and the tree somehow died with her for a while in many homes. While some families and community groups still had large tinsel strewn trees, many opted for the more convenient table top tree. These were available in a variety of sizes, and the artificial tree, particularly the Goose Feather Tree, became popular. These were originally invented in the 1880's in Germany, to combat some of the damage being done to Fir trees in the name of Christmas.
In America, the Addis Brush Company created the first brush trees, using the same machinery which made their toilet brushes! These had an advantage over the feather tree in that they would take heavier decorations.
After 1918, because of licensing and export problems, Germany was not able to export its decorations easily. The market was quickly taken up by Japan and America, especially in Christmas Tree lights.
Britain's Tom Smith Cracker Company which has exported Christmas goods for over three decades, began to manufacture trees themselves for a short while.
In the 1930's There was a revival of Dickensian nostalgia, particularly in Britain. Christmas cards all sported Crinoline ladies with muffs and bonnets popular in the 1840's. Christmas Trees became large, and real again, and were decorated with many bells, balls and tinsels, and with a beautiful golden haired angel at the top. But wartime England put a stop to many of these trees. It was forbidden to cut trees down for decoration, and with so many raids, many people preferred to keep their most precious heirloom Christmas tree decorations carefully stored away in metal boxes, and decorated only a small tabletop tree with home-made decorations, which could be taken down into the shelters for a little Christmas cheer, when the air-raid sirens went.
Large trees were erected however in public places to give moral to the people at this time.
Postwar Britain saw a revival of the nostalgic again. people needed the security of Christmas, which is so unchanging in a changing world, as one of the symbols to set them back on their feet. Trees were as large as people could afford. Many poorer families still used the tabletop Goosefeather trees, Americas Addis Brush Trees were being imported into Britain, and these became immensely popular for a time. But the favourites were still real trees. The popular decorations were all produced by a British manufacturer, Swanbrand. and sold by FW Woolworth in Britain. Translucent plastic lock together shapes, Honeycomb paper Angels, 'glow-in the -dark icicles; also Polish glass balls and birds In South Wales, where real trees were often difficult to find in the rural areas, Holly Bushes were decorated.
The mid-1960's saw another change. A new world was on the horizon, and modernist ideas were everywhere. Silver aluminium trees were imported from America. The 'Silver Pine' tree, patented in the 1950's, was designed to have a revolving light source under it, with coloured gelatine 'windows, which allowed the light to shine in different shades as it revolved under the tree. No decorations were needed for this tree.
Decorations became sparse. Glass balls and lametta created an 'elegant' modern tree. Of course, many families ignored fashion and carried on putting their own well loved decorations on their trees!
America made a return to Victorian nostalgia in the 1970's, and it was a good decade later that Britain followed the fashion. By the at first this was a refreshing look, and manufacturers realising the potential created more and more fantastic decorations. Some American companies specialised in antique replicas, actually finding the original makers in Europe to recreate wonderful glass ornaments, real silver tinsels and pressed foil 'Dresdens'.
Real Christmas Trees were popular, but many housewives preferred the convenience of the authentic looking artificial trees which were being manufactured. If your room was big enough, you could have a 14 foot artificial Spruce right there in your living room, without a single dropped needle - and so good that it fooled everyone at first glance. There are even pine scented sprays to put on the tree for that 'real tree smell'!
The late 1990's tree has taken the Victorian idea, but with new themes and conceptual designs. The Starry Starry Night Tree, The Twilight Tree, The Snow Queen Tree….
These trees are still with us - what will the new millennium bring? Well, I do have some inside knowledge - but its a secret! Watch this space!_