Does anyone know how Christmas ornaments came about? Up until 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, particularly 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, too, 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 his stores were Woolworth’s five and dimes? That’s a lot of ornaments.
Today we decorate our trees with many kinds of lights and ornaments. It might even be your tradition to get a new ornament each year to add to your tree.
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Come to the senior center at 6 p.m. today and start a new tradition by making your own glass ornament. You can choose the design and personalize it 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
Tuesday
• 8:30 a.m., Silver Sneakers.
• 9 a.m., Exercise with Evie.
• Noon, Cards: Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge.
• 4 p.m., Zumba Gold.
• 4:30 p.m., SilverSneakers.
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• 5:30 p.m., Zumba.
• 6 p.m. Movie: "Dear John."
Wednesday
• 8:30 a.m., Wood Carvers.
• 9:30 a.m., Tai chi.
• 10 a.m., Macular degeneration support group.
• 12:30 p.m., Cards: Pinochle, Cribbage, Duplicate Bridge.
• 1 p.m., Stitching Bees.
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• 1 p.m., Open Chess.
Thursday
• 8:30 a.m., SilverSneakers.
• 9 a.m., Exercise with Evie.
• 10:30 a.m., Caregivers Coffee
• 12:30 p.m., Cards: Pinochle.
• 1 p.m., Bingo.
• 1 p.m., Open Chess.
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• 2 p.m., Computer class.
• 4 p.m., Zumba Gold.
• 4:30 p.m., SilverSneakers.
• 5:30 p.m., Zumba.
Friday
• 9:30 am., Tai chi.
• 12:30 p.m., Cards, Bridge Tournament.
Weekly card results
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Monday Bridge results for Oct. 31, with three tables playing:
First — Ron Peters; second — Jaynard Johnson; third — Dave Solomonson; fourth — Joann Maxfield; fifth — Mary Johnsen; sixth — Lois Johnson.
Tuesday "500" for Nov. 1, with four tables playing:
First — Lois Anderson; second — Dorothy Stern; third — Wilbur Mittag; fourth — Helen Broitzman.
Tuesday afternoon bridge for Nov. 1, with 5 1/ 2 tables playing:
First — Dick Hansen and Larry Crowe; second — Bud Higgins and Jim Fisher; third — Russ Vaale and Mabel Vaale; fourth — Vande Neuman and Steve Howard.
Friday bridge for Nov. 4, with four tables playing:
First — Arnie Lang; second — Bill Meyer; third — Judy Bungum; fourth — Ella Rouchoff; fifth — Lois Johnson.
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Pinochle
David Solomonson.
Weekly "500" results for Nov. 4, with four tables playing:
First — Patricia Andrews; second — Fran Bolstad; third — Eddie Hall; fourth — Gene Rauen.
Weekly cribbage for Nov. 2 with 3 ½ tables playing:
First — Barb Dickman; second — John Allen; third (tie) — Quentin Fiala and Lorraine Low.
Semcac daily meals
Tuesday
• Baked chicken.
Wednesday
• Roast turkey.
Thursday
• Hotdish.
Friday
• Pork steak.
