Old decorations passed down in families

[Jodie]

Does anyone have any old decorations that have been passed down through their family?

I don't but I wish I did, I remember some from my childhood and thinking back they were really lovely.

I have started to collect snow globes done by the Bradford Exchange, the artwork is by Thomas Kinkade and they are simply beautiful. So I will have some to pass on to our children (and grandchildren one day).

[Winterself]

thats a good idea....


no i dont have any old family hand me downs but i wish i did too.i so regret throwing an old angel away i had for years..thaught id get up dated and get a bigger newer angel.and once on the tree she wasnt right..and we regretted not having our old faithful faded angel...never throw christmas things away...you will want them again some day....so that being said..me and my DD a few years ago started making ornies each year to hand down to her for her own family..and they are so awesome.but we did old school with construction paper and glitter like she did in elementary school..and we so love them each year..we keep them in a folder so they stay flat..we have some now for 16 years.and its the same as the day she made them...and they dont fade or smell either..awesome..

[Noel+]

As you know Jodie, we at one time both had "heirloom" ornaments from our families, They always went on our family room tree -- our favorite! -- which is a collection of handmade, given, or gifts from special people! To this day, we all become a little nostalgic, and yes, blue, when we remember those lost family ornaments, BUT I reminded my children not everyone had the privilege of passed down ornaments from their family and so we will create a new collection for them to give to their children. With the pictures gone too they live fresh in our memories and remind us of those we cherish in our hearts!

[Jodie]

I know Noel, at least you have your memories and the chance to make new memories and heirlooms for your family.

My family has never really been into Christmas enough to keep decorations long enough to make them heirlooms to pass down.

I am changing all that now though.

[Merry Sage]

I'm sorry to say that all my mother's decorations went who knows where, bit by bit after she passed away. And the collection I had from my first marriage didn't survive the divorce. Its sad, but I'm slowly rebuilding with a Country Christmas theme in mind.

[Noel+]

Good for you Jodie! Your sons will be so blessed!

And Merry Sage how proud your mother would be to watch you create your own special collection!

[hollybow]

my mom still has a tiny glasshouse with a tiny silver tree in it from her grandmother as an ornament..it always the last thing that goes into the tree (mummy does it herself..) and the first thing that goes out and stored away very carefully

[Jodie]

I made a trip to our Christmas Barn and I bought an ornament for each of my boys, nieces and nephews and had their names and the year they were born written on them - they all look so beautiful.

I gave them to the kids when they were here for Christmas in July, so they can hang them on their own trees this Christmas.

[Noel+]

My children found a battery-operated Snowman at Costco for "Dad to give" me!

[XmasDVD]

We have a set of 'red bell lights' made in the 1950's from a company called NOMA. My parents used to hang them around the front door when I was growing up in the 60's/70's and I always rememebr them being there to greet friends and family.

When I got older, they gave them to me to use on my place. I have been hanging them ever since - they remond me of my Christmases as a kid - in fact, over the years I had found MORE sets on EBAY and other places and I really have a large collection of them.

See some images below.

[Noel+]

Oh, yes, I know and love NOMA lights! Until a couple of years ago, we had both a set from mine and hubby's families! Bubble lights [original ones got hot!], bell lights, and star lights. Oh, how I miss their unique special glow!