Christmas Ornaments Key Terms

Know Christmas ornaments key terms for a well-rounded knowledge on the most popular decorations

By Angela King, Freelance Writer

Christmas ornaments are available in a wide variety of types, styles, colors and sizes to fit any taste and budget. From delicate hand-blown and Old World ornament styles to collectible and musical Christmas ornaments, Christmas ornaments exist to meet any need.

Whether you are a distributor of Christmas ornaments or need a wide selection of ornaments to sell in your business, familiarize yourself with these Christmas ornaments key terms to ensure you stock the Christmas ornaments you need.

Hand-blown Christmas ornaments

Hand-blown Christmas ornaments are glass ornaments that are shaped and styled using extreme heat and precise hand and blowing techniques.
Try: For more information on the history of hand-blown Christmas ornaments, read this article at Life123.com.

Collectible Christmas ornaments

Collectible Christmas ornaments are a type of ornament produced yearly and often have a specific theme. Collectible ornaments are usually more expensive to purchase but increase in value over time. They can be made of almost any material such as glass, metal, molded resin or porcelain.
Try: CollectiblesToday.com offers examples of popular collectible Christmas ornament themes and more information on collectibles in general.

Christmas bulb or ball

A traditional staple on most Christmas trees, the Christmas bulb or "ball" ornament is usually made of shatter-proof glass or plastic. Christmas bulbs exist in a wide variety of sizes and colors to meet diverse needs and can often be customized for a personal touch.
Try: Bronners.com offers examples of Christmas bulb ornament sizes, styles and colors.

Antique Christmas ornaments

Antique Christmas ornaments are ornaments that are at least 50 years old. Antique Christmas ornaments come in a variety of styles but the most popular types of antique ornaments are hand blown and hand painted ornaments.
Try: Read more about antique Christmas ornaments at the eSsortment website.

Old World Christmas ornaments

Old World Christmas ornaments are glass, hand-painted ornaments that copy Old World European styles of Christmas ornaments. The makers of Old World style Christmas ornaments usually use the same techniques used to create the original Old World ornaments.
Try: Old World offers a wide variety of examples of Old World Christmas ornaments.

Promotional Christmas ornaments

Available in a plethora of styles, promotional Christmas ornaments can be customized with a business name, logo or slogan. Promotional Christmas ornaments can be purchased in bulk for cost-effective, volume price discounts.
Try: Visit Howe House for examples of promotional Christmas ornament styles, types and sizes.