Collecting Christmas ornaments is a tradition that many families across the world share and enjoy. Typically, young families begin their collections by decorating their holiday tree with homemade Christmas ornaments that their children made in school or at church. From there many families decide to expand their collections and to buy Christmas ornaments that can be passed down to their children when they start families of their own.

Hand blown Christmas ornaments make a wonderful addition to any Christmas tree. Americans began decorating their homes with glass blown ornaments as early as the 1880s when savvy manufacturers discovered just how in-demand these ornaments really were.

These cherished heirlooms were so important to their owners, and had such sentimental value, that they were lovingly handed down from generation to generation.

Besides their obvious beauty, hand blown glass Christmas ornaments are unique in that each one is slightly different from the next. No two ornaments are exactly the same since they are crafted by hand by a skilled artist. Furthermore, the heating process can also produce slight variations even when produced from the same batch.

Kitras Hand Blown Glass Ornaments – Pink and Amethyst
(Crafted in Canada)

This amazing glass ornament is made from hand blown glass and are loosely based on the witch balls that were so popular in 18th Century England. Originally designed to ward off spells cast by evil witches, spirits, or simply to prevent bad fortune these hollow glass spheres were typically hung from most windows in the house. Legend held that the evil spirits would become mesmerized by the ornament’s reflective beauty and would become trapped inside the ball once they touched it.

These hand blown Christmas ornaments are made from a wide range of beautiful colors and hues. Each one is completely unique and unlike any others with respect to its combination of colors and patterns. The photo depicted here is simply an illustration of one specific color combination used. Additional combination are also available.

Each glass ornament will also vary slightly in size but will typically have a diameter of 5 to 5 1/2 inches.

While you are here check out the rest of our crystal Christmas ornaments!

Not all crystal Christmas ornaments are meant to be hung from a tree. Some, like this beautiful Thomas Kinkade Crystal Snowman, will look spectacular when displayed anywhere in your home.

You will be hard presses to find another snowman figurine that is filled with more charm and personality than this little guy. His classic smile simply beams with joy while the carrot nose and cute rosy cheeks will certainly make this elegant work of art a family heirloom that will be passed down for many generations to come.

While possessing all the timeless characteristics that we have come to expect from any work from Thomas Kinkade, this truly unique crystal Christmas ornament goes above and beyond typical expectations. This highly collectible crystal snowman encapsulates a three dimensional village that comes complete with four Kinkade style buildings, a frozen pond, an arched stone bridge, and ten lucky villagers. One flip of a switch also sends a high stylized tiny train into motion around the brilliantly lit winter wonderland.

This exclusive collectible is expertly handcrafted from a precious multi-faceted crystal that helps display Frosty’s distinctive sparkle and shine. Furthermore, the hand painted details really make this quality creation take on a life of its own. You will certainly enjoy this limited masterpiece.

Other Snowman Ornament Ideas

While you are here, check out the amazing Swarovski Annual Edition Christmas Ornaments that are currently being offered on sale!

Collecting Swarovski ornaments is fast becoming a popular tradition all across the world. It does not matter whether you are young or old, male or female, these elegant crystal Christmas ornaments add a unique touch of class and sophistication to just about any type of Christmas tree.

Many people decide to begin their collection to memorialize an important event in their lives. Perhaps it is your first Christmas as a marries couple, or as parents. You might even decide to buy a Swarovski ornament to celebrate a promotion or a milestone wedding anniversary. Whatever the reason, these amazing ornaments certainly are a sparkling addition to any holiday decor.

Swarovski Annual Edition 2010 Christmas Ornament

Every year many people look forward to the release of the annual Swarovski snowflake ornaments. These are, after all, one of the most popular collector’s items each and every year. Designed by Eva Maria Ried, the recently released 2010 version certainly does not disappoint!

Measuring approximately 2 -9/16 inches by 3 – 3/16 inches this elegant piece provides yet another opportunity to give a gift that will be cherished for many years to come.

The 2010 Swarovski Snowflake comes complete with a stunning silver colored metal tag and is accented nicely with a wonderful white satin ribbon.

Similar to releases from previous years, the year of release (2010) is artfully engraved on the tag.

To fully appreciate these ornaments try and place them close to a source of light. You will be absolutely amazing and mesmerized as you watch the way the lights reflects and dances across the highly polished crystal.

Currently (at the time this article was written) you can find this ornament at a 27% discount here!

Swarovski Annual Edition 2009 Christmas Ornament

If you missed out on last year’s annual release you are in luck as distributors have managed to find a few to sell (currently our supplier only has one left).

This sparkling, beautiful ornament was produced exclusively for the 2009 Christmas season.

The theme this year is a stunning star that sparkles majestically as it hangs from a blue sating ribbon that is accented with a small silver metal plate that has the year (2009) artfully engraved on it!

When all is said and done the memories that you create are what is truly important in life. You can buy this ornament at a slight discount here.

Swarovski Annual Edition 2008 Christmas Ornament

If you want this ornament you really need to act fast. To be honest with you I am surprised that any of these are even available for sale.

This 2008 crystal Christmas ornament measures approximately 2 – 7/16 by 3 – 1/16 inches. This limited edition snowflake simply shimmers and shines and will certainly get the attention of your guests this year. Similar to the other annual crystal Christmas ornaments released a magnificent tag that is beautifully engraved with the year of release (2008).

You can also find out more about the current available for all Swarovski annual ornaments that were released prior to 2008 below.

As these items truly are rare and extremely collectible we cannot provide too much guidance as to whether or not the are currently in stock. It will simply be determined at the time of your visit.

2007 Christmas Ornament – Large Christmas Star Ornament

2006 Christmas Ornament – Large Snowflake Ornament

2005 Christmas Ornament – Large Christmas Star Ornament (Retired – Limited Quantities)

If you are looking for a fun tradition that you can start with your son or daughter collecting these anything created by Swarovski will certainly put you on the right path. Start slowly and add one crystal Christmas ornament each year. Before long you will have a collection worth talking about and memories that will last a lifetime.