The small town of Lauscha, deep in a fir tree forest in Germany’s Thuringian mountains, is the birthplace of glass Christmas tree ornaments. Entire families have been making them there since the ...

American merchant F.W. Woolworth was first shown a Lauscha glass ornament in 1880. Though unconvinced of their appeal, he reluctantly agreed to sell $25 worth of the German-made decorations in his ...

In the 19th century, a glassblower from Lauscha decided to use glass to make ornaments for the Christmas tree. They soon became a huge success around the world and are still made by hand in ...