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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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by Interviews & Articles
Happy Kids on Christmas Morning
It's easy, as an adult, to get bogged down in the un-fun, stressful aspects of Christmas. The mall becomes a madhouse that empties… [more]
Vintage Wisdom: Have an Old-Style Christmas
Theme No. 1: An Emily Post Dinner Party Let us, for the moment, consider an Emily Post vintage Christmas. Ms. Post, with her iras… [more]
Vintage Christmas Ornaments, From Cardboard Dresdens to Silvered Kugels
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]
A History of Dimestore Christmas Village Houses
The following is a history of these wondrous little artifacts called cardboard Christmas village houses - a history devoted to est… [more]
A Guide to Christmas Antiques and Vintage Christmas Decorations
Ever wonder about that box of vintage Christmas decorations in the attic? From wooden nutcrackers to glass Christrmas tree ornamen… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Papa Teds Place
Theodore H. Althof, Jr's beautiful collection of vintage dimestore cardboard Christmas 'putz' village houses. Start… [read review or visit site]
Antique Christmas Lights Museum
George Nelson's incredibly detailed chronicle of vintage Christmas tree lighting. Browsable by decade and special t… [read review or visit site]
Bohemian Christmas Decorations
This simple site showcases over 500 artistic Gablonz glass bead antique and vintage Christmas tree ornaments, made … [read review or visit site]
Old Soviet Christmas Cards
This site showcases over 1000 old Soviet Christmas and New Years cards from 1950 to 1990. Browse through page after… [read review or visit site]
Other Great Reference Sites: Christmas
Top eBay Auctions
Swarovski Crystal Lot Of 14 Christmas Ornaments 1994 Through 2007
Rare Fabulous 1920's Hubley Cast Iron Santa Claus In Sleigh With Reindeer
Early 1920s Boy Carrying His Sled. Unusual German Glass Christmas Ornament
Signed Vintage Limited Edition Susan Milford "ivan " Nutcracker 1987 805/5000
Antique German Santa On Furry Putz Polar Bear
Antique French Fur Samoyed Dog Candy Container
Vtg Antique German Cockatoo Bird Silver Mercury Glass Christmas Ornament Clip On
Vintage 4 Family Spun Cotton Ornament Composition Head Russian Folk Art
Antique German Felt Putz Goat Candy Container
Extraordinary Big Hand Crafted Wood Putz House ~ People, Animals And Furnishings
Vintage 6 Foot Stainless Evergleam Silver Aluminum Christmas Tree,94 Branch
Vintage Christmas Big Display 24" Santa Clay Face Red Velvet W/stand 40's/50's 
Rare C6 Matchless Star
Simpich Elf "ding A Ling" Hand Made Doll/character--excellent Condition
8 Mib Vintage Plastic Spinner Ornaments Unused
Early 1920s Squirrel With Pine Cone. Unusual German Glass Christmas Ornament
Silverline Vintage 6 1/2 Foot 96 Pom Pom Branch Aluminum Christmas Tree Original
Antique German Glass Figural Christmas Ornament Glass Eyes Red Riding Hood
Lg Antique Vntg Church Nativity Statue Sheep Plaster Org Pnt Mk C.s. (2 Pcs) S-5
Lg Antique Vntg Church Nativity Statue Sheep Plaster Org Pnt Mk C.s. (2 Pcs) S-4
Vintage 1960's Poloron Large 46 Inch Blow Mold Whispering Santa Yard Decoration
Vintage 1974 Kubasta.v Pop-up Cardboard Paper Silent Night Creche Nativity Scene
Rare Vintage 1950's Lidco Christmas Nativity Scene 7 Lanterns Lights W/ Box 15' 
Vintage 34" Empire Snowman Derby Clown Lighted Christmas Blow Mold
Santa Christopher Radko 1990 Christmas Tree Ornament 
Santa Claus Igloo Polar Bear And Sea Lion American Flag Pinback Button Pin
Vintage 1960's Christmas Empire Blow Mold Yard Decoration Lot Candles Santa Deer
Vintage Shiny Brite Small Stencil Silkscreen Christmas Tree Ornaments Rare Pink
5 Pcs German Xmas Bisque Porcelain Small Figurines Santa Elves Sleigh & Skiers 
Vintage 19" Lighted Ceramic Music Box Christmas Tree *works Perfectly*
Antique German Cotton Scrap Santa Ornament
Santa In Sleigh W/ Reindeer Toys Doll Vintage Celluloid Plastic Viscoloid Co Usa
Budweiser Pool Table Bar Hanging Light Rotating Beer Clydesdale Carousel Wagon!
Vintage Silvered Glass Christmas Tree Garland Star Indents & Fancy Shapes 181" 
Grinch 8' Airblown Inflatable With Max Christmas Display Dr Seuss Blow Mold
1990 Gorham Sterling Silver Christmas Snowflake Ornament 20th Anniversary 
Vintage Christmas Royal Electric Musical Lighted Nativity Wood Framed 1950's 
Ceramic Christmas Tree 18" Tall Atlantic Mold Light Green 1978
1982 Mma Metropolitan Museum Art Sterling Silver Christmas Ornament Snowflake Lg
Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper Gift Wrap 16 Sheets Unused In Box
1985 Mma Metropolitan Museum Art Sterling Silver Christmas Ornament Snowflake Lg
Vintage 80s 1983 Mma Die Cut Sterling Silver Christmas Ornament Snowflake Large
Vintage Relco Noel Santa Reindeer Christmas Sleigh Candle Holder Miob- Candles
Gorham 1970 Sterling Silver Double "snowflake" Christmas Ornament 
1980 Gorham Christmas Snowflake Ornament Silverplate
Silver Forest 6' Six Feet Evergleam Aluminum Christmas Xmas Tree In Box W Stands
1979 Gorham Sterling Silver Christmas Snowflake Ornament
The Night Before Christmas Whitman Giant Tell A Tale Book 1960 - File Copy
Lot Of 12 Misc Vintage Christmas Elf Knee Huggers Japan Shelf Sitters + Santa 
Radko Bubble Light Stand
Vintage Rotating Musical Christmas Tree Stand Starbell + Box
Early Santa Claus At Grand-leader Stores Superb And Beautiful With Paper No Re
Vintage1971 Empire 33" Lighted Santa Toys Blow Mold Outdoor Yard Christmas Decor
Vintage 1960 Holt Howard Noel Candle Holder W/ Santa-signed-near Mint
Sterling Silver Hallmarked Sacred Heart Of Jesus Ex Voto Christmas Tree Ornamnet
12 Vintage Antique Heinrichsen Lead Flat Christmas Figures
Vintage Ceramic Christmas Tree Light 19" With Tree Skirt And Extra Deco Brites
Set 1940's Xmas Noma Bubble-lites #509-c Biscuit Alligator Clips
2 Vintage Aluminum Tinsel Silver Pom Pom Christmas Trees 3 Ft & 4 Ft 57 Branches
Antique Bisque Snow Baby Penguins On Snow Wedge 
Recent News: Christmas
Source: Google News
(Neb.)-Phase Two With Leo A. Daly On Agenda For Chadron City Council Monday
KCSR, May 6thItems on the agenda include three resolutions regarding LB840 community development funding for the Chadron Girls Softball Association regarding a new restroom for Hampton Field, Chadron Centennial, Inc. regarding refurbishment of vintage Christmas...Read more
Vintagemobile brings vintage clothing to new audiences on the go.
The Daily Campus, May 4thThe Vintagemobile sold hundreds of vintage Christmas sweaters last December, dedicating the entire bus to its festive inventory. The Turners pick out each item on their own, stopping at state fairs, looking in other thrift stores and keeping up with...Read more
'Playboy' Ads From 1967 Remind Us Of The 'Mad Men' Era - Huffington Post
Huffington Post, April 26thVia <a href="http://christm.us/wives-dream-of-kitchen-appliances-vintage-christmas-ad/" target="_hplink">The Christmas Club</a>. Via <a href="http://www.toocool2betrue.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Vintage-Advertisements-19.jpg" target="_hplink">Too...Read more
Fatty Recipes In Celebrity Chef Cookbooks 'Exacerbating' Obesity Crisis ...
Huffington Post UK, April 23rdblackberry and cinnamon), forgotten creations such as Lord Randall's pudding and school dinner favourites like jam roly poly, through chocoholic delights to perfect rice pudding and vintage Christmas pudding, this book is a genuine pud-lover's delight...Read more