6 Collegian Magazine Thursday, Dec. 10, 1981,
Decorate a tree with imagination
By JOYCE A. VENEZIA
Daily Collegian Staff Writer
No matter how you decorate it, a Christmas tree looks
good. Whether covered with fragile glass ornaments
handed down from generation to generation or just
decorated with simple strings of popcorn and•colored
paper chains, a tree has a special charm that brings out
the innocent childlike side of our nature.
The original Christmas tree ornament is the delicate
glass ball. Until World War 11, the tiny . "storybook"
town of Lauscha in Germany supplied virtually all
American glass balls. It was typically a family
business, with the husband making each ball and his
wife and children hand-decorating each one. More than
600 ornaments a day were made.
But glass ornaments are only one type of Chiistmas
tree decoration. Pennsylvania is famous for the many
different variations in ornaments that came about in
later years.
Old newspapers throughout the state describe many
traditions: in York, a tree held ". . . cakes of various
form and quality, drooping frqm the different - limbs;
birds of paradise, humming birds, robins, peewees and
MERRY clinrort#o
PENII OPTATE I
a variety of others seem to twitter among the
evergreens."
One tree in Norristown held decorated eggs, while
another in Lewisburg was decorated with oranges and
figs. One tree in Chambersburg was "handsomely
decorated . . . with popcorn balls," and one in
Harrisburg held ". . . strings of apple snitz (unpared)
which drooped froin the pendant limbs of the pretty
holly."
And no good traditional Pennsylvania Christmas
would be complete without a Pennsylvania Dutch tree
trimmed with what else? pretzels! A newspaper
tells of students in Norristown who every holiday season
marched passed a tree covered,with pretzels and were
given one as a present. One loyal Pennsylvania
Dutchman sent Christmas greetings to his friends using
the pretzel as a traditional wish; the card's inscription
read, "I wish you a merry Christmas time and a happy
New Year, a pretzel as big as a barn-door and a sausage
as thick as a stove pipe."
University students are not always fortunate enough
to have the family stock of Christmas ornaments: those
delicate baubles are usually reserved for the home tree.
But if you have a tree in need of decoration and are
looking for ways to trim it, try improvising.
Strings of colored paper ; popcorn and cranberries are
an inexpensive garlands for winding around the tree. If
you are creative apartment dweller, ye.sterday's can of
peas can offer you a bright ornament if cut the lid
into a star shape, or that box of baking cups hidden in
the back of the cabinet can provide a colorful clustered
ornament.
Decorate your way to someone's stomach by hanging
candy, cookies and sticks of gum with colorful
wrappers. Or consider the "natural" , look by decorating
with pine cones, nuts and seed pods.
By simply using your imagination, you can develop an
ornament out of almost anything: use eggshells as the
early settlers in Norristown did, or try doilies, ribbons,
Christ Mas cards anything that looks colorful and
ingenious. -
And yes, Penn State fans; 'even Penn State Christmas
ornaments are,available through various companies.
The Penn Stater, the University's alumni magazine,
recently advertised for blue and white glass balls
decorated with the Nittany Lion, or even needlepoint
ornament kits to create modern geometric blue and
white ornaments.
~f * . `'r= ~ F " + ^~;4~"^'r'~3'",- ~ .~~.•, rte. ~ ~ ~~`.;G=~ 3 .T~?:f?t[~v~=~'iY~~ ~ ~ r',
'~.. '~.
•ko`' " 4'-).A•74-3.Ac-1i=.74-
10% DISCOUNT
on any purchase over
- Dollars
(with this coupon)
only one coupon per purchase
at
e 4(14) ferAffideie
125 S. Allen St. ' This special offer.
237-3896 expires Dec. 24th
14 ' -'- . ~" .. nr .w= •
,
BUY A DOUBLE HAMBURGER .
GET A SINGLE HAMBURGER , 1
il
P • % FREE
S
.
E _ (...,,- 316 ' (ChEESE ANd TOMATOE
W
c/a0..7" 0 11 fl
ti
~ , 1
NOT iNdUdEd) vl
ox.x) rAsx-xxcuslED ' Er
OrrER EXPIRES 12/31
BlAMBlinens
'' NOT USABLE WiTh OThER 1
COUPONS
1 1
.5,
1610 N. AThERTON 1M LI
/„'? .~E Y ' `'om' Yf'~~r~Y✓`~Y~`~ t yG +. `~~:'+ £r 'v 6r~rr Zi p ~.
d
Semi-Annual
Shoe Sale
Save 20t050 96
Dressy and casual styles by 4
Mia 0 Natural Comfort 0 9 West 0 Etienne Aigner ,
2 ( 944244 . 42 lay Va . 44:149141
110 S. College Avenue, State College '
critsvvis,osl
:Hr
=E=IMMM
WOOL KNIT TIES
5 00
EACH
WITH THIS COUPON
VALID THRU 12/24
MICHAEL'S CLOTHING CO.
tat gentieft i
FRASER ST.
MINI MALL OPEN DAILY FROM 10-5 238-4050
9tf , S.V 4- "e• s Z - :;z1 , - - e 4 AV-'41) 4 reV- -- -#A5Kg — il'
$25 DO IT FOR THE HEALTH OF IT! • $25
This coupon is worth $25 toward a one year or
lifetime membership. Clip it in half and use it
toward a 6-month member Ship.
re s nautilus
L . • P A HUMAN .PERFORMANCE CENTER
•
134 E. Foster Ave. 238.2038
$25 expires January 8, 1982 $25
1
1 -
(so
ji
lie
Collegian Magazine Thursday, Deo. 'lO, 198
Oxfoßd ShoppE
DOWNSTAIRS at 113 SOUTH ALLEN STREET
Phone 234-4541
Additional 20% Off Our Already
Discounted Prices On Selected
Modern Junior Separates.
Bring Ad.