Celebrate the birth of Christ with religious Christmas ornaments that keep the true meaning of the season close to home. Sisters of Carmel offers Catholic Christmas ornaments featuring the Holy Family, angels, saints, the O Antiphons, and Nativity-inspired designs, including porcelain and olive wood options. Choose a complete O Antiphon set for a meaningful Advent tradition, an angel or Holy Family ornament for a family tree, or a saint or olive wood piece for a thoughtful Christmas gift. Each design is a beautiful reminder of the faith and joy at the heart of Christmas.
The meaning and message of the Christmas tree appear completely and deeply religious. It stands in the home both as a symbol of the tree of life in the garden of paradise, as well as a symbol of the cross. The tree is evergreen, since with the coming of the Redeemer we have the promise of eternal life!
Historically, the ornaments on the Christmas tree consisted of apples, sweets and candies wrapped in bright colored papers, and small wafers reminiscent of the Holy Eucharist. The apples represented the apples in the Garden of Eden, while the sweets stood for the sweetness of the promise of Redemption. The wafers represented Christ Himself, who hung on the cross (also symbolized by the tree) for our Redemption. The candles were also Christ as the “Light of the World.” Eventually the sweets were replaced by colored Christmas balls, the candles were replaced by electric lights, and other decorations became common. The Nativity scene (introduced by St. Francis) was also displayed beneath the tree, so the Angel or Star became a common decoration for the top of the tree.
The Christmas tree first appeared in the16th century, and was a combination of two older Christmas customs: The Paradise tree, part of the “Paradise plays” that depicted the fall of Adam and Eve and were part of Advent celebration. The tree bore the apples that was a symbol of the fall, but also sweets and small wafers, a symbols of the Eucharist, and the sweetness of the promise of redemption. The “Christ light” was a candle or pyramid of candles that was lit on Christmas Eve and burnt all through the night.
It was in Western Germany that people began to combine two symbols, transferring the Christmas light to the tree which already bore the decorations of apple and sweets. In the 19th century it became a general German custom and spread rapidly to the Slavic people of Easter Europe. It was introduced into France in 1837. It went to England around the middle of the last century when Prince Albert of Saxony, the husband of Queen Victoria, had a tree set up at Windsor Castle in 1841. From the royal court the fashion spread, first among the nobility, then among the people in general, until by the second half of the last century it was very much a part of the English Christmas celebration.
America has added one new feature to the traditional use of the tree. It was in Boston that the custom originated (in 1912), of setting up lighted trees in public places. This custom spread rapidly all over the country and found its way to Europe after World War I, where it became quite general shortly before World War II.
The O Antiphons are ancient titles of Christ used in the Church’s evening prayer from December 17 through December 23. An O Antiphon ornament set offers a meaningful way to mark each day of this final week of Advent, while individual ornaments make thoughtful additions to a Christmas tree.
Choose an ornament based on the devotion or tradition most meaningful to the recipient. Holy Family and Nativity designs are fitting for family trees, angel ornaments are a classic Christmas choice, and saint or olive wood ornaments make thoughtful gifts for Catholics of all ages.
Yes. A religious ornament is a meaningful Catholic Christmas gift that can be displayed year after year. Consider an O Antiphon set for someone who observes Advent traditions, or choose an angel, Holy Family, saint, or Nativity design for a more personal gift.
We offer a variety of traditional Christmas ornaments meant to enhance and encourage the true meaning of Christmas and Christmas devotion. They are either carefully selected by the Sisters, or designed and handmade by them. We offer resin, wood, porcelain, glass and aluminum ornaments.
