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Collectible Christmas items range from antique hand-crafted folk pieces like blown glass tree ornaments, to vintage Christmas decorations and manufactured items like aluminum trees and limited edition plates. All are rooted in longstanding tradition (bells and tree ornaments, for example, have been associated with Christmas for hundreds of years).

Until the Victorian era, most Christmas trees were decorated with candles, cookies, and fruit, but in the mid-1800's German craftsmen began producing blown glass tree ornaments in shapes like stars, fruit, and angels, and the ornament tradition was born...

With the advent of electricity, Christmas lights and lighted trees became popular in stores and homes as the center of the Christmas celebration. Other Christmas decorations became popular as well, including crystal, plates, table decorations and dinnerware, nativity sets, celluloid Santa figurines, elves, reindeer, nutcrackers, and cardboard Putz village houses.

In the 20th Century, major retailers like Sears and Montgomery Ward began issuing Christmas catalogs, which themselves are now collectible. Department stores also featured model train sets at Christmas, helping to establish that tradition. Coca-Cola featured Santa Claus heavily in their early advertising, and Coca Cola Christmas items are now highly collectible.

Whether you're looking for a one of a kind sterling silver tree ornament or a Santa shaped chocolate mold, or simply a fun vintage Christmas record, there's plenty to choose from.

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Interviews & Articles

Vintage Wisdom: Have an Old-Style Christmas

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About 42 years ago, my wife, Darla, went to a very large white elephant sale and found a box of antique Christmas ornaments. She t… [more]

The Charms of Christmas Ephemera and the Changing Face of Santa Claus

I grew up in a home without any antiques. As a small kid, I started decorating my parents’ home for Christmas. I don’t know what i… [more]

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Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Papa Teds Place

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Theodore H. Althof, Jr's beautiful collection of vintage dimestore cardboard Christmas 'putz' village houses. Start… [read review or visit site]

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Recent News: Christmas Collectibles

Source: Google News

Merion Village Yard Sale is Saturday, May 5
ThisWeekNews, May 3rd

St. Paul's will have a treasure trove of goodies, including a mini fridge, vintage Christmas ornaments and tools. "There's just a boatload of stuff," said Michelle Hagans, administrative assistant at the church, 225 E. Gates St. St. Paul's is in the...Read more

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