Telegraph readers share stories behind their favorite Christmas ornaments
For Macon resident Oretha Dudley, a paper angel atop her Christmas tree is the most valuable decoration in her collection of ornaments.
Her son, Lee, made the angel in 1987, when he was just 6 years old.
"I was a divorced mother of two sweet kids. Our income was limited, so I worked long hours as a nurse. There was no time to do any holiday decoration at home," Dudley wrote when The Telegraph asked for readers' stories about their favorite holiday ornament. Lee and his sister Charlet, 15 years old at the time, decided to chip in by making decorations themselves and adding them to the family's small tree.
Almost three decades later, Lee's angel remains a part of the Christmas celebration each year, even though Dudley's children are grown, married and now parents themselves.
"She is fragile and has lost a little of her wings, but the memories take me back to the years with my babies," Dudley wrote.
Readers shared other stories about their special Christmas ornament or decoration. Here are a few of the responses:
"I was born a bit ahead of the baby boomers just after Christmas 1943. One of the maternity nurses gave my dad a small, red ornament from their tree. It has been on every one of our trees since. 2015 makes at least the 73rd. Its red paint has worn quite a bit, but it still holds a place of honor near the top of our tree."
-- Carolyn Mitchell, Gray
"This is a new ornament, but will be meaningful for our family as my 1-year-old (Baron) continues his battle against cancer."
-- Johnathan Yerby, Bonaire
"A Christmas ornament made with the discarded shell of a nut is not what most people would treasure for years. Making the shell look like an awkward duck doesn't help much. But we figured our ornament was just meant for us. We were on our honeymoon, a year late, in Mexico City, when we found a street vendor selling this handmade Christmas ornament -- in August. When its hinged wings were opened to reveal a teeny tiny bride and groom, we knew it was our ornament."
-- Fred and Mary Zampa, Macon
"When the Navy sent me to Macon for shore duty in November of 1971, I realized that I needed a Nativity scene for my home. I purchased this at an arts and craft Store in Shurlington Plaza. We have always had this as part of our Christmas décor every year since then."
-- Alan Thiese, Macon
"I was given this (Georgia-Georgia Tech) ornament as a Christmas present years ago. It becomes significant every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and I cannot wait to get my tree out and hang it front and center. Although I have a lot of UGA ornaments, this one is, by far, my favorite."
-- John Ricketson, Macon
"Our daughter, Laurie Hale Sterner, made this (Santa Claus decoration) in fourth grade, 1965. We have put it up every year since."
-- Edith Hale, Warner Robins
"My husband and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in June of this year; these ornaments are what is left of our first Christmas in 1965. We raised four boys and have eight grandchildren, and I wanted to preserve what was left! They are losing their bright color stored in the attic, so they don't go up there anymore and are in special containers. They were not expensive, and I wouldn't sell them for any amount of money."
-- Lynn and Ray Scott, Gray
"This is an ornament my mother-in-law purchased from Christmas Made in the South in 2010. My husband and I were married November 20, 2010. Unfortunately, three short weeks later she passed away from bleeding on the brain caused by a fall. This was something very unexpected. It shook my husband's family to the core. Everyone's lives changed drastically on the day she passed, Dec. 11. On Christmas Eve, surrounded by my in-laws with her picture overlooking everyone and everything, we were presented with a gift she had purchased for us. It was and still is our most prized gift we have ever received."
-- Monica Fortin, Macon
"Our special ornament was once a light bulb on our first Christmas after getting electricity growing up on Rivoli Drive in Macon in the 1920s. It is an old-style Santa 80 plus years old. He burned brightly -- even with a scowl on his face -- until my children were growing up in the 1950s. They wondered why he looked so grumpy and decided he was tired. I could not bear to throw him away, so I put a hanger on him and now he still has a place of honor on my Christmas tree in remembrance of three little Taylor children: Bill, 'Red' and me."
-- Esther Faulk, Macon
This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 9:11 PM with the headline "Telegraph readers share stories behind their favorite Christmas ornaments ."