Take a walk with me through time and learn about the history of some of our family Christmas tree ornaments. These are a few of them from way back and dating right up to the present.
Purchased last summer in South Dakota from a Lakota woman.
purchased from an Ashinishabe woman in northern Minnesota
Eskimo moccasins made by a Tlingit woman (my husband's tribe). I bought it from her in Alaska.
A gift from hubby's parents when they lived in Florida - a sea shell decorated for Christmas.
Made in Czech Republic and sent to me by my friend and pen pal there.
Made in Russia. I bought this in honor of my cousin's two children who are adopted from Russia.
made in Ecuador
a Hmong woman in traditional dress (Hmong people are mountain people from Laos and now many of them live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California.)
made in Jerusalem
Last year my friend and fellow member of our church book group made us each a little Christmas book for our trees.
When I was beginning to learn sign language and starting the process to become a sign language interpreter, I went to a sale at a Church of the Deaf in this area. I bought this ornament. It's special because it represents all the great deaf people I have known over the course of my wonderful career.
In our first house our next-door neighbors were a retired couple who were fabulous neighbors. The wife was a knitter; one year she invited us (daughter, about age 4, and me) in to see her Christmas tree, and she let us pick an ornament off her tree to take home and put on our tree. This is what we picked. I love it, and I think of our former neighbors every time we hang this ornament. I believe they are both angels in heaven now.
commemorates the couple of years that our daughter worked at Caribou Coffee
When our daughter was about 4 she found this in the "cheap" box at the church bazaar. It cost only one penny.
Purchased last summer in South Dakota from a Lakota woman.
purchased from an Ashinishabe woman in northern Minnesota
Eskimo moccasins made by a Tlingit woman (my husband's tribe). I bought it from her in Alaska.
A gift from hubby's parents when they lived in Florida - a sea shell decorated for Christmas.
Made in Czech Republic and sent to me by my friend and pen pal there.
Made in Russia. I bought this in honor of my cousin's two children who are adopted from Russia.
made in Ecuador
a Hmong woman in traditional dress (Hmong people are mountain people from Laos and now many of them live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California.)
made in Jerusalem
Last year my friend and fellow member of our church book group made us each a little Christmas book for our trees.
When I was beginning to learn sign language and starting the process to become a sign language interpreter, I went to a sale at a Church of the Deaf in this area. I bought this ornament. It's special because it represents all the great deaf people I have known over the course of my wonderful career.
In our first house our next-door neighbors were a retired couple who were fabulous neighbors. The wife was a knitter; one year she invited us (daughter, about age 4, and me) in to see her Christmas tree, and she let us pick an ornament off her tree to take home and put on our tree. This is what we picked. I love it, and I think of our former neighbors every time we hang this ornament. I believe they are both angels in heaven now.
commemorates the couple of years that our daughter worked at Caribou Coffee
When our daughter was about 4 she found this in the "cheap" box at the church bazaar. It cost only one penny.
10 comments:
Carol, like your tree ornaments, each and every one of ours has a memory attached to it. Many are small objects I've turned into ornaments. I like to re-live each memory as I place the ornaments on the tree. This year our tree only has lights on it...I don't think we'll get the ornaments up. But the Nativty Scene is up...the BEST CHRISTMAS MEMORY OF ALL!
You should have hundreds of comments on your lovely ornaments! They are fabulous and a story for each. even the cheapy one.
It's the season and we are all so busy,, women make it happen.
Merry Christmas.
Fabulously wonderful ornaments! I grew up in S.E. Alaska and I go back every year and work with Tlingit and Haida children (as well as the rest of the Heinz 57 second graders ;) and we make kuspuks every year...primarily of Y'upik design..but all of the Tlingit/Haida moms/grandmoms come in to learn how,or to help, too.
I go back in 2 weeks and stay a month.Last year I did 5 months helping my folks and helped 20 kids learn to sew and make their kuspuks, again.
All of my family still lives in Juneau/Douglas Island. Where is your husband and his family from?
I forgot about the little books...I don't think I kept one for myself! Big duh! I love the buffalo one... I didn't know you bought one! Brings back some weird memories! Have a great day!
Very nice ornaments and memories. The little clown is cute - my daughter has a collection of clown ornaments started by my mom. She has them on her own tree now, so I only have a couple clowns. Thanks for sharing.
Oh Carol - these are all so very special and unique! How lovely - sooooo much better than items purchased at the local discount store -- no comparison. 8-)))
I love that you have great stories and memories attached to these ornaments! I give my kids and Jake an ornament every year to summarize the year for us, I hope to some day have a tree covered with memories too!
There's a line in this article http://www.thehindu.com/mag/2009/03/15/stories/2009031550310700.htm
about women embroiderers in India that strikes a chord with me . . .
" . . . . where ordinary, talented women embroiderers stitched up stories mundane and magical, whimsical and fantastic, celebratory and sad. . . . "
I just love the thought of ordinary & talented being linked. Because we all know SO MANY women that are talented at telling their story in their own way . . . it's part of all of us! Yay!
So sweet...and I get to see it LIVE!
I love all those ornaments and their origin tales! Your post about ornaments made me remember that on my recent trip to Australia my friend bought me two Aussie ornaments. I jumped up and found them and put them on the tree right away! Thanks for the light bulb...:)
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