Does anyone know how Christmas ornaments came about?

Up to now trees had been decorated with the creative efforts of the loving hands of family and friends. In the latter part of the 19th century various German entrepreneurs began to make ornaments that were mass produced and sold strictly as Christmas ornaments.

In the 1800s people began to decorate Christmas trees with fruit and nuts particularity apples. Other fruits began to be added, along with paper streamers and bits of shiny metal foil. Whether a tree was lighted or not, the idea of reflecting the light in the room where the tree stood grew in popularity.

Another concept began to take hold with the German families in whose homes the first “popular” trees resided. Food, often gingerbread or other hard cookies, would be baked in the shape of fruits, stars, hearts, angels and — yes — bells.

One of the first American mass merchandisers, F.W. Woolworth, began importing German glass ornaments into this country in the 1880s and by 1890, according to one source; he was selling $25 million worth of them. Need we remind you that the name of his stores was Woolworth’s Five and Dime Stores? That’s a lot of ornaments.

Today we decorate our trees with many different kinds of lights and ornaments. It might even be your tradition to get a new ornament each year to add to your tree.

This year come down to the senior center on Monday or Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. and start a new tradition by making your own glass ornament.

You can choose the design and personalize it with by writing on it. To sign up for this fun class stop by the Senior Center front desk or call 433-2370 ext. 3.

 

Upcoming Events

Monday: Blood pressure checks, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Glass Christmas Ornament Class, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Silver Sneakers, 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Zumba Gold, 4 p.m.;

SilverSneakers, 4:30 p.m.;

Zumba, 5:30 p.m.; Movie: “Dear John,” 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Wood Carvers, 8:30 a.m.; Tai Chi, 9:30 a.m.; Mac Degen Support, 10 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Cribbage, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Stitching Bees, 1 p.m.; open chess, 1 p.m.

Thursday: SilverSneakers 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; Cargivers Coffee, 10:30 a.m.; cards (Pinochle), 12:30 p.m.; Bingo, 1 p.m.; open chess, 1 p.m.; Computer class, 2 p.m.; Zumba Gold, 4 p.m.;

SilverSneakers, 4:30 p.m.;

Zumba, 5:30 p.m.

Friday: Tai Chi, 9:30 a.m.;

cards (Bridge Tournament), 12:30 p.m.

 

Weekly Card Results

Monday Bridge

Oct. 31, three tables

1st Ron Peters, 2nd Jaynard Johnson, 3rd Dave Solomonson, 4th Joann Maxfield, 5th Mary Johnsen, 6th Lois Johnson

Tuesday “500”

Nov. 1, four tables

1st Lois Anderson, 2nd Dorothy Stern, 3rd Wilbur Mittag, 4th Helen Broitzman,

Tuesday Afternoon Bridge

Nov. 1, five and a half tables

1st Dick Hansen, 1st Larry Crowe; 2nd Bud Higgins,

2nd Jim Fisher; 3rd Russ Vaale, 3rd Mabel Vaale;

4th Vande Neuman, 4th Steve Howard.

Friday Bridge

Nov. 4, four tables

1st Arnie Lang, 2nd Bill Meyer, 3rd Judy Bungum,

4th Ella Rouchoff, 5th Lois Johnson

Pinochle

David Solomonson

Weekly “500”

Nov. 4, four tables

1st Patricia Andrews, 2nd Fran Bolstad, 3rd Eddie Hall, 4th Gene Rauen

Weekly Cribbage

Nov. 2, three and a half tables

1st Barb Dickman, 2nd John Allen, 3rd Quentin Fiala, 3rd Lorraine Low

 

Semcac Daily Meals

Monday: BBQ meat balls

Tuesday: Baked chicken

Wednesday: Roast turkey

Thursday: Hotdish

Friday: Pork steak