- Baubles first appeared in Britain in 1848. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were photographed beside their Christmas Tree, decorated with, among other things, glass baubles.
- Prince Albert had brought the tradition over from Germany. They were made in a town called Lauscha, in the mountains, which was already known for making things out of Glass, such as marbles, barometers and glass eyes. The demand for glass baubles Prince Albert sparked off meant the industry of making ornaments for Christmas trees and exporting them boomed.
- The process of making such objects from glass actually originated in the 16th century, pioneered by a man named Hans Greiner.
- Artisans heated a glass tube over a flame, then inserted the tube into a clay mold, blowing the heated glass to expand into the shape of the mold. Silver nitrate would be added as the glass cooled. The original ornaments were only in the shape of fruits and nuts.
- To this day, there is a Christmas market in the town which specialises in selling baubles.
- In America, FW Woolworth became the main importer in 1880. The craze for these new tree decorations made him rich.
- The inspiration for the very first baubles was blown birds' eggs, which could be painted and hung on a tree.
- Today, baubles are far more likely to be made of plastic than glass, making them more affordable, but you can still get the glass ones, including very valuable antiques.
- They're also more likely to have been made in America than in Germany nowadays as America became the main manufacturer after the second world war. This started when two companies called Corning Glass and Shiny Brite teamed up and started using the machines they usually used to make light bulbs to make baubles.
- Former US President George W Bush had a talent for painting pictures of birds onto baubles.
My Christmas Novella!
A Very Variant Christmas
Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.
The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?
Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.
Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.
Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.
Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.
Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.
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