A Comprehensive Guide to Christmas Ornaments

In the simplest terms, Christmas ornaments are decorations that hang on a Christmas tree. They are usually suspended from tree branches using an ornament hook or an attached string loop.

Christmas ornaments can be made from just about any material. They come in numerous sizes, colors, shapes and finishes.

Christmas ornaments have a rich history, with many types and styles evolving over the years.

In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church held Paradise Plays to teach people the biblical story of creation. Central to the story was a Paradise Tree, symbolizing the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden.

The “tree” may have taken the form of bare branches or an evergreen and was sometimes decorated with apples, nuts and other common fruits. The performance was held on the Feast of Adam and Eve, December 24, which may explain how a decorated tree became associated with the celebration of Christmas.

The custom of bringing a pine tree indoors originated in Germany in the early 1500s. At first, people decorated their pines similarly to a Paradise Tree. Over time, they added other ornaments – strings of colored wool, handmade wood and paper decorations, and edibles like cookies and pretzels.

Around 1847, German glassblowers began making glass Christmas ornaments. As German immigrants introduced their Christmas customs around the globe, countries like England and the United States began adopting the Christmas tree tradition. Soon, glass ornaments were being imported all over the world.

Christmas ornaments can be made from a virtually limitless list of materials. Some of the most common include:

Blown glass ornaments are still among the most popular styles. Simple glass globes are timeless decorations that are available in a rainbow of colors and several finishes. Traditionally, glass ornaments feature a shiny painted interior that gives the ornament a metallic gleam, although you can also find clear glass ornaments, as well as baubles with matte and sparkly finishes. Glass ball ornaments often are embellished with paint, glitter, beads, feathers and other decorations.

Some of the first glass ornaments resembled nuts and fruits. You can find similar styles today, along with an infinite variety of shapes that have been molded and painted to represent objects and figures.

Some ornaments are created from small pieces of mirrored glass arranged on a plastic or glass ball base to resemble a disco ball. Other types of glass ball Christmas ornaments include etched glass and faceted glass crystals.

Large glass ornaments can be heavy and should be hung securely on a sturdy branch.

Glass ornaments are beautiful, but fragile. They should be handled and packed with care. Sharp glass pieces from broken ornaments can be harmful, so take extra precautions around pets and small children. 

Molded plastics enable Christmas ornament designs of every shape and variety. Plastic ornaments can resemble just about anything including your favorite food, animal or sport. Cars, cartoon characters, icicles, angels, Santas, gingerbread men, snowflake ornaments and more are created from plastic.

The moldable nature of plastic enables decorations that are colorful, elaborate and highly detailed.

Plastic Christmas ornaments are fairly lightweight, durable, hold up to wear and endure through the years. Stored in a cool, dry environment, they’ll add character to your Christmas tree for decades.

Metal is another malleable material that can be cut, pressed, molded, made into wire and shaped into Christmas ornaments. In addition to jingle bells, you’ll also find metal ornaments that have been stamped, enameled or cut into intricate designs.

Large or dense metal ornaments can be heavy and difficult to hang. Since their weight may cause Christmas tree branches to droop, choose a sturdy limb on which to hang them.

Metal Christmas ornaments are extremely durable but benefit from careful use and storage. Unfinished metals may rust, so store ornaments made of metal in a cool, dry location. Also, ornaments crafted from thin metal or wire can easily be dented or bent out of shape, so be gentle with them and store them securely. Wrap painted or lithographed metal ornaments in tissue paper or a paper towel to help prevent scratching and chipping.

Carved wooden ornaments were among the first types of ornaments to decorate Christmas trees. The art of carving nutcrackers arose around the same time as the custom of the Christmas tree and nutcracker ornaments remain popular today. 

Hand-carved figures, turned wood pendants and rustic wood-burned ornaments blend with many Christmas tree looks, including rustic, natural, woodland, neutral and farmhouse styles.

In general, wood is a long-lasting and durable material, but wooden Christmas ornaments that have been painted may experience some chipping. Be aware that thin or dainty shapes can become more fragile over time as the wood dries out, so handle wood ornaments gingerly. Wrap wooden ornaments to protect them from scratches and dents and store them in a dry area.

Despite paper’s fragility, people have crafted paper Christmas ornaments for centuries. Their delicate beauty and homey appeal are among the reasons they remain popular. From the paper snowflakes your child made in kindergarten to on-trend honeycomb ornaments, there’s a lot to love about paper ornaments.

Paper is a readily available material that can be colored, printed, folded, layered, embossed and foiled, making paper ornaments accessible to any crafter. Origami, cutwork, quilling and papier-mache are other techniques used to transform paper into Christmas ornaments.

Christmas ornaments made from paper are lightweight, so they can be used to decorate trees of every size. However, be careful not to tear delicate paper ornaments. Moisture could stain or ruin them, and they burn easily, so they should not be placed near vintage or incandescent Christmas lights or an open flame.

Store paper ornaments carefully. Keep flat ornaments pressed between two stiff pieces of cardboard to maintain their shape. Give 3D paper ornaments a soft resting place with plenty of space to prevent crushing. To avoid damage or discoloration, paper ornaments should be protected from extreme cold, heat and moisture.

When people first decorated their Christmas trees, they used materials found in nature. Later, they handmade Christmas ornaments with colorful patterns and textures from leftover bits of yarn, fabric scraps, cotton batting, fur, feathers, buttons, ribbons, lace and other textiles.

Christmas ornaments with a handcrafted look continue to add a homely appeal to Christmas trees today. Felt stars, plush reindeer, fur-trimmed gnomes and other folksy decorations possess undeniable warmth and old-fashioned charm.

Christmas ornaments made from fabric and other textiles are generally durable, but they can discolor over time. Take care that delicate trimmings aren’t crushed and protect fabric ornaments from moisture, to avoid staining.

Christmas balls and other ornaments made of hard plastic entered the market in the 1950s and ‘60s. Shatterproof Christmas ornaments look like glass ornaments, but they are more durable. If they do break, the pieces are much less likely to cause injury than the sharp shards of a broken glass ornament.

Shatterproof ornaments can mimic many other popular ornament styles. Like glass ornaments, they’re available in numerous sizes and colors. Their affordability and durability make it easy to decorate an entire tree.

It’s important to note that shatterproof Christmas tree ornaments are not unbreakable. “Shatterproof” simply means that a cracked or crushed ornament will not result in tiny sharp shards, like a glass ornament. Stored carefully, they will last for years.

Glass balls are one of the most traditional ornament shapes. Deceptively basic, ball ornaments come in a rainbow of colors and can be painted and decorated in endless ways for infinite variety and interest.

Many ornaments have an elongated pendant shape. Finial ornaments mimic decorative architectural elements, like spires. Onions take on the classic vegetable shape. Other pendant ornaments may be shaped like teardrops or icicles. “Dangly” ornaments pair well with globe ornaments and add dimension to your tree.

Whether they are truly antiques or simply mimic older styles, retro Christmas ornaments deliver a touch of nostalgia. Mercury glass-style ornaments feature a mottled finish that replicates a traditional process for silvering glass. The method originally involved a silver solution that included liquid mercury, but modern silvered glass ornaments no longer contain mercury.

Reflector ornaments are another popular style of retro Christmas ornament. They feature faceted concave indents designed to reflect Christmas tree lights.

You can also find many candy-colored ornaments that replicate the Shiny Brite ornaments popular in the 1940s and ’50s.

From the very beginning, Christmas ornaments have reflected the lives and originality of their creators. From naturally-found materials like pinecones and ground nuts, to handmade and carved decorations, to ornaments crafted from fabric scraps, people used the materials around them to create ornaments that represented their faith and environment.

Christmas ornaments featuring gingerbread men, miniature nutcrackers, feathered birds, stars, snowflakes and so many other shapes that represent the season continue to decorate Christmas trees and still hold meaning for us today.

Modern Christmas ornaments include fanciful creatures, whimsical designs and decorations reflecting popular culture. If you have a particular hobby, occupation or interest, it’s very likely represented by a Christmas ornament. An attraction to a particular ornament theme or style is one way people become involved in ornament collecting.

Artists, retailers and manufacturers have carved out new markets with ornaments that represent a diverse range of subject matter. They may create an ornament series, enticing people to continue building their collections by purchasing new ornaments every year.

Collectible Christmas ornaments represented at Christmas Central include Christopher Radko molded glass ornaments and Mark Roberts fairies. Our Department 56 ornaments feature well-known characters from popular stories and brands like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, Peanuts and Disney.

Shiny glass ornaments are classic, but modern techniques have increased the options available in ornament colors and finishes. These days, there are as many ornament colors available as there are in your childhood box of crayons. Shiny ornaments are complemented by matte, glitter and holographic glitter finishes.

In addition, ornaments may be decorated with just about any trim you can imagine, including paint, feathers, fur, ribbon, beads, string, glass, glitter and faux gemstones.

Christmas ornament sizes also are virtually endless. At Christmas Central, for instance, glass and shatterproof ornaments range from 1-inch diameter mini ornaments up to 76-inch commercial ornaments.

Small ornaments are perfect for small trees, while oversized Christmas ornaments are designed for maximum impact in a retail or business setting.

To create a balanced to-scale look when decorating a typical 6.5 to 7.5-foot tree, most ornaments will be in the 2.5 to 6-inch range.

You can save time, money and a bit of decorating anxiety by purchasing ornaments in sets. An ornament set combines multiple ornaments that may vary in size, color, design or finish. 

Purchasing a Christmas ornament set represents savings over purchasing each ornament separately. Also, the styles and colors have been pre-selected by a design expert, so there’s no stress about whether they go well together.

For tree trimming tips, check out How to Decorate Your Christmas Tree in 6 Simple Steps.

Christmas design trends change over time. Some years, red and green decorations are popular. At other times, the focus may be on monochromatic ornaments or luxurious metallic finishes.

Christmas tree ornaments frequently reflect popular decorating styles. Minimalist, boho, rustic, neutral, black and white, glamorous – whatever your decor style, there’s a Christmas ornament to extend that theme.

Adding even a few ornaments that echo current decorating trends is an easy way to bring a modern touch to your Christmas tree.

As with many decorations, Christmas ornaments come in a wide price range. You can make DIY Christmas ornaments for pennies, or purchase designer, collectible and antique ornaments worth hundreds of dollars.

For the most part, however, Christmas ornaments are quite affordable and readily available.

Many families pass down ornaments from generation to generation. With a stock of hand-me-down ornaments, someone just starting out with their own tree may only need to purchase a few supplementary styles or colors.

Changing the color or theme of your Christmas tree, or even an accident like a pet knocking over a Christmas tree, may entail buying a lot of new Christmas ornaments at once.

As mentioned previously, buying ornament sets can minimize the expense of a bulk ornament purchase.

Gently-used Christmas ornaments often can be found at garage sales and thrift stores. Check out these budget-friendly options so you can spread the cost throughout the year.

Generally, Christmas ornaments cannot be accepted by municipal recycling programs.

Even ornaments made from commonly recycled materials like glass, metal or wood have likely been treated with products or decorated with materials that are not recyclable.

Christmas ornaments have a wide history, beginning with the nuts and natural materials first used to decorate trees to the glittery, shiny decorations we’re familiar with today. The extreme variety of Christmas ornament designs means shoppers searching for ornaments are sure to find a style they adore.

Whether your tree is tiny or tall, we invite you to take a closer look at our wide selection of Christmas ornaments.