Unique Xmas ornaments come in different shapes and sizes and may not always be what one thinks. The term unique can be interpreted in different ways, and for some people it may just be an ornament that is one-of-a-kind or particularly special to them. It may be a child’s handmade decoration or one that has been passed down through the generations. But then there are some that have fables about them, and that in and of itself is what makes them unique Xmas ornaments.
Two unique Xmas ornaments that fit that bill are the Christmas spider and Christmas pickle. Both are said to get their origin from Germany. However, many would disagree with that. The Christmas pickle is likely the most famous of decorations. Hung amidst the many branches of the tree, the pickle is tucked deep inside the branches once everyone has gone to sleep Christmas Eve night. In the morning, both young and old rush to the tree to be the first one to find the pickle. Legend says that if a child finds it first, there is an extra present awaiting them from Saint Nicolas himself. If an adult finds it first, their gift will be a year filled with good fortune.
The legend of the Christmas spider also varies depending on who is telling it, but it encompasses why people have a spider ornament on their tree and how tinsel came about. The story goes that a woman who lived in Germany was destitute and had little to give her family for Christmas. She sent her children to bed and then worked into the wee hours of the morning tidying her home and decorating their tree. However, with all her hustle and bustle, a small spider and her babies fled into the attic and watched from above. When the woman went to bed, the spider and her babies rushed to view this glorious tree. With all of their discovering, they left a multitude of webs on the tree. When the Christ child came to visit the home in the middle of the night, he saw what was done, and to ensure that the woman would not be upset, touched the webs and turned them into glistening strands that lit up the branches. Upon waking the next morning, the woman and her family saw this spectacular sight of a tree strung with beautiful stands of silver and gold. This began the tradition of putting tinsel on the tree and hanging unique spider Xmas ornaments, symbolizing good luck, among the tinsel.
Folklore tends to be a common theme among unique Xmas ornaments. Another, less known one, is the apple. Again, hailing its roots from Germany, and a paradise play that was commonly performed in the squares that can be traced back to 1194. This play would retell the story of Adam and Eve and the fall of man leading to the Christmas story. All throughout the squares, trees would be filled with apple decorations to symbolize the fruit that Adam and Eve ate in the garden. Today, people hang an apple on their Christmas tree as a reminder of why Christmas is celebrated to begin with. Many people say it helps them to keep the true meaning of Christmas close in thought.