Christmas Ornaments with Meaning

Decorating the tree is a Christmas highlight for many. These Buzz families highlight some of their favorite ornaments they have collected over the years, and their special meanings.    

Carlin Family: Teacher’s Star Student 

Nicholas Carlin’s felt and thread masterpiece.

“While I have many ‘fancy’ glass ornaments, nothing beats the ones that were made by our children, Kate and Nicholas,” shared Michele Carlin. A favorite is one Nicholas made when he was 8. Now he is 18 and a senior at Episcopal High School; he will head to Texas A&M University in the fall.

“I have Jenny Wood, Nicholas’ amazing West University Elementary second-grade teacher, to thank for a priceless keepsake he made while he was in her class,” she said. 

"Mrs. Wood never missed an opportunity to teach the kids something. So, of course, the kids were going to learn to sew and make these darling felt ornaments for their parents as a gift. It's an imperfect star with imperfect stitching that, in my opinion, perfectly captures a small snapshot of Nicholas at the time. It's not only meaningful because he made it, but it serves as a reminder of what a great year that was. And if you were lucky enough to have had a child in Mrs. Wood's class, you know exactly what I'm talking about!"

Nicholas Carlin with his second-grade teacher, Mrs. Wood, who inspired him to stitch a beautiful star ornament for his family 10 years ago.

Nicholas’ second-grade self would be most pleased that he will be an Aggie. If you look closely at two of the points on the star, you will see the A&M logo that he carefully stitched 10 years ago. 

Michele, husband Clint, and Nicholas’ big sis, Kate, also went to A&M so there is a lot of whooping going on at the Carlin house. 

Everist Family: Life Adventures

The Everist family has an annual tradition of going as a group to buy Christmas ornaments. Tracy, her husband Jeff, and four adult sons, Drake, Troy, Adam, and Mason, pick an ornament that represents something special they did that year. 

“There is the hot air balloon ornament from the one year we went ballooning in North Carolina to see the fall foliage. Another is a small heart ornament made out of olive wood we got in Bethlehem on a trip to the Holy Land.” 

Tracy cherishes the silver James Avery angel ornament Jeff gave her when her mom, Kittsie Thomas, passed away December 21, 2013 (10 years ago this week).

Feliz Navidad! Tracy Everist holds up the mariachi ornament she bought to commemorate the fun Spanish lessons she took with her girlfriends.

Another stand-out ornament came from a fun experience with friends. “A few years back, my friends Peggy O’Connor, Gail Lloyd, Cindy Seligmann, and I took Spanish lessons at the West University Place Senior Center so I bought a cute little mariachi guy to commemorate that fun experience. Feliz Navidad!” 

“Each year I look back and fondly remember a special time in my life. So much fun! “

Elwood Family: Red Birds of Hope and Love

Among all the sparkly ornaments and smiling photos of kids and grandkids, Laura and Dick Elwood’s tree has about a dozen red birds.

Laura Elwood has a special place in her heart for cardinals. She has over a dozen on their Christmas tree.

Laura said, “Since I was young, cardinals have always been a special symbol for my family. The beautiful red birds seem to always show up at very special times, especially during very difficult times like when a relative passes away. For me they are a real sign that God is with us and represent hope and peace. It makes us happy to see them on our Christmas tree!” 

It also makes sense Laura and Dick love cardinals since their children, Richard Elwood and Josie Elwood Brown, are Bellaire High School Cardinal alumni. 

Heldenfels Family: Handmade Heirloom

In honor of Catherine Heldenfels’ first Christmas in 1997, her great-grandmother, Steve Aileen Thackston Conn, known as Grandear, made a special ornament for her. A talented artist who loved all kinds of crafts, Grandear was part of a group who made ornaments each year as a church fundraiser. 

Catherine Heldenfels‘ Grandear created a special ornament for Catherine's first Christmas. 

Grandear, 87 at the time, intricately decorated a Styrofoam shape with jewels, pearl beads, and gold trim around a baby picture of Catherine. Everything was handmade, down to the hanger for the ornament. 

“It’s a family heirloom that will forever be cherished not only because it was my first Christmas but also a reminder of Grandear, who passed away in 2001,” said Catherine. “I think it is so sweet that she wanted to make sure I had something personal from her. I smile thinking of her whenever I see the ornament every Christmas. Hopefully someday, my great-grandchildren will be smiling at it too.”

Johnson Family: Bring on the Luck

The Johnson family likes to keep their tree lucky. In addition to sentimental ornaments passed down through the generations and treasures from world travels, when Katrina and her children, Cleary and Joss, and grandson, Rhett, decorate their tree, they hang a few extra special ones that tradition says bring good luck.

Katrina shared, “There is a poem our family likes to say… 
The Swedes have a saying, told by a seer,
A nest on your tree brings a happy new year!

Legend has it that prosperity will come to any home that finds a bird's nest nestled among the branches of the family Christmas tree."

Katrina Johnson and her family hang a pickle ornament on their tree to bring good luck.

In addition, visitors might be surprised to see a pickle ornament hanging on the Johnsons’ tree. “The Christmas pickle is a German tradition that says the first person to find the hidden pickle will receive either a reward or good fortune for the next year. In our house we like to say that everyone that sees the pickle will have good luck. We plan to look at that pickle ornament a lot this year and get ready for an extra happy 2024.” 

Cheers to enjoying the treasures hanging on your Christmas tree this holiday season, and best wishes for a happy and full of good fortune and luck 2024 new year. 

Editor’s note: Find more on ornament traditions in our December Buzz Baby article.