the pickle. Yes, the pickle!
TREE
The high luster aluminum tree with Rotochrome color spotlight wheel surged in popularity in the
1960s, but was soon relegated to antique shops (perhaps hastened by Charlie Brown's procurement of
a scraggly sapling in preference to a gaudy silver tree in the 1965 premier). More than a million tin
trees were manufactured and sold for around $25. Because draping lights on the metal tree invited
short circuiting, a rotating clear plastic wheel was used to cast colors on the tree's metallic branches.
Some lucky homes even had a rotating tree stand. The aluminum tree has been dubbed the Space Age
tree as well as an icon of bad taste. But a rare pink aluminum tree sold at auction for $5,000 in 2005.
ELF
The Elf on the Shelf had a predecessor in the 1950s, a knee-hugging elf who simply hung on the tree
without retreating to the North Pole, relocating daily, or professing to "don't touch" magic powers. And
this diminutive creative did not spy and tattle about naughty-nice behaviors. Now an omnipotent elf
has emerged from a book in 2005 followed by a TV special, and over 20 million elves sell annually.
Dare I mention the elf accessories market? Look carefully and you might spy the 50s humble, hugging
elf still hanging around antique stores for around $15.
PICKLE
An old tradition involved hiding a pickle deep in the branches of the family tree. The most observant
child would spy the pickle first on Christmas morn and, therefore, be worthy of an extra present and a
year of good fortune. In fact, Berrien Spring, MI is the Christmas pickle capital of the world and holds
an annual festival in December. Woolworth's first imported these glass blown decorative gherkins to
the US in 1892. Most of the originals have disappeared, but your might just get lucky as a pickle
picker at a antique store or holiday bazaar.
No comments:
Post a Comment