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Everyone’s got their own holiday traditions. Whether your family dresses up in matching pajamas or partakes in family game night, there are thousands of ways you might choose to bond with your loved ones come this time of year. One of our favorites? Trimming the tree with the best Christmas ornaments around!
Each year, ornament makers release special editions of their designs that get people excited about expanding their collections. These limited-edition adornments not only add an extra bit of festive flair to your holiday décor, they serve as treasured keepsakes that can be passed down from generation to generation, making for a time-honored holiday tradition you can share with the whole family.
Where do Christmas ornaments come from?
With roots that date back to 16th century Germany, the first ornaments weren’t actually ornaments at all, but rather apples that people hung from evergreens they dubbed “paradise trees.”
As the legend goes, a poor glassblower named Hans Geiner began to make his own ornaments out of glass when he couldn’t afford to adorn his tree with real fruit. Others quickly took note of his unique designs, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Types of Christmas Ornaments
These days, Christmas ornaments run the gamut from classic glass ball embellishments to hand-blown shapes that bear the likeness of your favorite holiday figures or characters found in pop culture. For those looking to add a personal touch to the tree, there are also customizable ornaments, which feature family photos or engravements.
The Best Christmas Ornaments
The best Christmas ornaments are the ones that will remind you of all the joy you felt in a given holiday season each and every time you hang it. We’ve rounded up a slew of limited-edition picks for 2019 from trusted brands such as Hallmark, Precious Moments, and more that will help you start your own ornament collection or expand upon your existing one. They also make for great stocking stuffers for family members who want to share in their joy. Keep scrolling for FIRST for Women’s picks for the best collectible Christmas ornaments of 2019.
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Families have been delighting in the whimsical, child-like figurines that are Precious Moments for more than 40 years now, with the company making its grand debut in the mid ‘70s. The tradition continues with this year’s hand-painted porcelain Christmas ornament, which features a darling little girl holding a hot beverage.
Bells are a long-standing symbol of Christmas, and this 2019 dolomite version (a mineral found in crystals) is just what you’ll need to celebrate a year well-lived. It’s got a Christmas tree on the front and a gold Santa topper that perfectly embodies the holidays.
Mickey’s getting getting into the Christmas spirit in a big way this year with a little help from his friends at Hallmark Keepsakes. His 2019 ornament sees him sporting a festive Santa hat and a green and red scarf that will perfectly complement your tree as he sits atop a glittery sign that reflects the current year at hand.
Modern decorators will love Holiday Lane’s take on Christmas décor, which ditches conventional holiday motifs in favor of glitzy golds, sleek blacks, and chic polka dots. Featuring an array of minimalistic glass balls and present- and champagne-shaped trinkets, this exclusive 2019 collection for Macy's offers up a unique way to trim the tree that still feels plenty celebratory and festive.
As the story goes, magical scout elves — like this one — help Santa take stock of his naughty and nice list by vanishing into the night to report on the behavior of the families they live with to the man in red. You won’t have to look too hard to find this 5-inch commemorative Elf on the Shelf ornament, however: with any luck, he’ll be nestled right into your tree branches!
Pooh Bear’s tummy full of honey has been replaced with a tummy full of Christmas lights he’s managed to tangle himself up in — oh, bother! This sweet little porcelain tree decoration also sees everyone’s favorite woodland bear donning a Santa hat with the year imprinted on its trim.
Not only does this new plastic keepsake ornament bring the 1964 classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, to life via this heartwarming scene from the film as recreated by artist Nello Williams, it plays music — more specifically, Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas” — that will instantly fill you with nostalgia and joy.
Fans of traditional holiday décor will flip for this commemorative glass ornament from Poland, which was crafted in the manner of Renaissance-era artists, using carving, glass-blowing, and finishing processes of yore. Depicting a burgeoning sack of presents, it's also highly detailed, with little gingerbread men and geometric patterns covering the wrapping paper and a bulb-covered exterior that proclaims the year.
Start the New Year off right with this glitzy glass ball ornament from Waterford. Designed to be a replica of Times Square’s own New Year’s Eve ball, it’s crafted from sparkling crystal panels that are sure to take center stage on your tree for years to come.
Craftsmanship is alive and well in this nutcracker ornament from Old World Christmas. Delighting customers since 1979, the company creates its wares from molten glass that has been mouth-blown into pint-sized carved molds. The newest addition to the company’s extensive ornament collection comes in the form of this colorful toy soldier figurine, which stands nearly 5 inches tall and has a 2019 drum. It comes ready to hang with a heart-shaped charm.
Rudolph gets his turn in the spotlight this year — red nose and all — in the form of this 2019 polyresin piece. Outfitted with a bright scarf and a seemingly cheery disposition, the beloved Christmas character will be far from a misfit on your tree.
The best Christmas keepsakes are the ones you create, and this personalized glitter ornament from Shutterfly, which can be customized online, provides you with all of the tools you'll need to do just that. With space for three of your most-treasured photos plus a message from your family, this glass ball is sure to be an instant hit. It comes ready to hang with a festive red ribbon.
With an ornament collection that dates back decades, Lenox has an extensive offering of options to shop for 2019. Our favorite, however, is this 2019 Merry Christmas Santa. Made from chip-resistant porcelain, this ornament is 4.25 inches tall and comes with a 120 day breakage replacement guarantee.
You’ve made your mark upon the world this year, and now, it’s time to make your mark upon your tree. These Baltic birch pinewood “stamp” ornaments can be individualized with a personal photo and a date for a meaningful decoration that you — and your loved ones — will be sure to cherish.
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