My Annual Trip Down Memory Lane | WOW! Travel Small Group Travel

December 12, 2021 (or: 12.12.21!)

Every December, when I decorate my Christmas tree, it’s a trip down memory lane.

On my very first international trip – back in 1978 – I bought three felt ornaments in Hong Kong. In the years since, wherever I roam, I try to find a little something that could be hung on a tree as an ornament. It’s fun to recall the memories of that place and time!

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The origin of this one is easy! Hand-blown glass from Venice, it wasn’t cheap – but I’ve never regretted the investment!

I recommend – even though I haven’t always followed my advice – documenting the place and date from whence it came. Otherwise, I’d probably never have remembered getting this in Nova Scotia in 1999!

Left: An Indonesian shadow puppet (Bali). Right: You guessed it – Antarctica!

Don’t remember buying this one but I can tell from the images – of an ancient sailing ship and of a lighthouse – this must be from Portugal!

I’ve collected traditional footwear from Amsterdam, Turkey. Japan, and Morocco. Fun fact: The little sandals from Japan are called “gita,” and had the practical application of elevating the Geisha so that her kimono would not drag on the ground!

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In the Central Market in Budapest, they sell beautiful ornaments made from hollowed-out eggs which are then hand-painted, etched or otherwise decorated with folkloric motifs.

A sweet “thatched” cottage from Ireland, complete with bricks of peat to burn in the fireplace for heat.

Though it was probably made in China, this ornament is indicative of 1) my love of travel, and 2) my love of India!

And . . .

I have one special ornament that pre-dates any of my travels. I was a Home Ec Education major (… so glad THAT didn’t work out!) at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. When I was student teaching – back in 1976 – I had my class mix up a batch of dough from which they were to fashion Christmas ornaments. One of my students was quite the rascal. You know the type; the jokester, the class clown … disruptive in a charming sort of way. He made an ornament which he gave to me. On the back, he wrote: “To Murph, Lloyd Laurian, 1976”

Every year, without fail, I wonder the same thing, “Whatever happened to Lloyd Laurian?”

Only 45 years old, Lloyd’s bread-dough ornament is crumbling and can no longer by hung on my tree! But I’ll never toss it out!

How ’bout you? Do you collect ornaments when you travel?? Do you have a favorite?

8 Comments

Glenda Burnett December 12, 2021 at 11:06pm

I have a Christmas Parade of small figures that I have collected during my travels through the years. It started with a small red coffee wagon that is the symbol of Costa Rica. The next year the wagon was being pulled by a hand painted Swedish horse. Then I began to collect the figures – mostly of people dressed in their native costumes. I now have about 50 small figures which include the likes of a whirling dervish, an Israeli fiddler, an Australian Aborigine playing his didgeridoo and many more. They march each Christmas on a long table in my entry hall.
I do recall where I got them, but would have to dig deep in my memory to figure out what year. Thanks, Marilyn, for sharing your “memory bank”. I’ve loved shopping for mine.

Marilyn December 13, 2021 at 9:12am

Glenda – I love this! Would love to see a photo of your Christmas parade!!! Thanks for sharing! MM

Ellen Gruetzmacher December 13, 2021 at 9:16am

Seems like you need to “complete” your collection by making a trip to Switzerland! Hmmm… and I wonder, too, what happened to Lloyd Laurian.

Tina December 14, 2021 at 6:39am

Hi dear Marylin
I loved all your ornaments and the stories behind them. All of my ornaments have special meaning too. I have ones that came from my momma and also special ones from my mother in law, ones from different places Tom and I have been to, and the ones I have collected from my travels to India. I have a whole animal collection but we need a Duke ornament poor guy! And then there all the ones that either my sister sent me from Switzerland or that I have collected from all my trips there with her. This year was especially “memorable” as you know she had passed in October. So many wonderful, fun and amazing memories… oh my heart got squeezed many times which made my eyes leak! Anyways, thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you, Scott and family. xoxo

Julie Ringwood December 14, 2021 at 12:57pm

Thanks so much for sharing your ornament stories. My ornaments are all special to me as well. I have collected pieces when I have traveled reminding me of my wonderful moments abroad or in the US; I have special items that were given to me when my daughter was born; my grandson and my daughter made ornaments in school when they were young; many have been given to me by my family as they know my penchant for collecting ornaments; and of course there are the dog ornaments. Little wooden paw prints or photos with names on them to represent dogs that have passed. Each year when I trim our tree I am reminded of so many fond memories of my life that it’s truly a joy for me. My favorite is one I purchased when in the mountains. It’s a tent with a little string of Christmas lights on it along with other decorations. The best part is the tent is illuminated inside when it is positioned over a small bulb on the tree. Happy holidays!

Ron Murphy December 16, 2021 at 3:56am

I suppose there’s a favorite amongst my collection of very-standard ornaments. None that come to mind at the moment, though. And none that really have a story behind it.

Carol Murphy Lingman December 18, 2021 at 10:21am

Hi cuz, I love this idea—and your mostly hand-made ornaments–and the fact that you do it so regularly. I’ve done a few by chance (e.g. the requisite gondola from Venezia) but wish I’d done more so I could make my tree alive with travel memories in addition to the family and friend memories. My favorite is probably the “gentle pony”, a small wood carving, which always adorned my mom’s (your aunt Harriet’s) tree and every year was the final thing put on the tree by my son JohnPatrick. Thanks for asking such a great question—what is YOUR favorite ornament memory?

Karen Bruce December 31, 2021 at 8:30pm

I loved seeing your ornaments from your travels ,Our tree is very similar, many ornament and wonderful memories from our travels…. i have 2 favorites! First a large clear glass blown ornament with purple & pink glass blown flowers on the inside ! from Paris.. Second is a glass cuckoo clock from one of our trips to Switzerland …. Happy New Year!

Glenda Burnett December 12, 2021 at 11:06pm

I have a Christmas Parade of small figures that I have collected during my travels through the years. It started with a small red coffee wagon that is the symbol of Costa Rica. The next year the wagon was being pulled by a hand painted Swedish horse. Then I began to collect the figures – mostly of people dressed in their native costumes. I now have about 50 small figures which include the likes of a whirling dervish, an Israeli fiddler, an Australian Aborigine playing his didgeridoo and many more. They march each Christmas on a long table in my entry hall.
I do recall where I got them, but would have to dig deep in my memory to figure out what year. Thanks, Marilyn, for sharing your “memory bank”. I’ve loved shopping for mine.
- Marilyn December 13, 2021 at 9:12am
  
  Glenda – I love this! Would love to see a photo of your Christmas parade!!! Thanks for sharing! MM
Ellen Gruetzmacher December 13, 2021 at 9:16am

Seems like you need to “complete” your collection by making a trip to Switzerland! Hmmm… and I wonder, too, what happened to Lloyd Laurian.
Tina December 14, 2021 at 6:39am

Hi dear Marylin
I loved all your ornaments and the stories behind them. All of my ornaments have special meaning too. I have ones that came from my momma and also special ones from my mother in law, ones from different places Tom and I have been to, and the ones I have collected from my travels to India. I have a whole animal collection but we need a Duke ornament poor guy! And then there all the ones that either my sister sent me from Switzerland or that I have collected from all my trips there with her. This year was especially “memorable” as you know she had passed in October. So many wonderful, fun and amazing memories… oh my heart got squeezed many times which made my eyes leak! Anyways, thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you, Scott and family. xoxo
Julie Ringwood December 14, 2021 at 12:57pm

Thanks so much for sharing your ornament stories. My ornaments are all special to me as well. I have collected pieces when I have traveled reminding me of my wonderful moments abroad or in the US; I have special items that were given to me when my daughter was born; my grandson and my daughter made ornaments in school when they were young; many have been given to me by my family as they know my penchant for collecting ornaments; and of course there are the dog ornaments. Little wooden paw prints or photos with names on them to represent dogs that have passed. Each year when I trim our tree I am reminded of so many fond memories of my life that it’s truly a joy for me. My favorite is one I purchased when in the mountains. It’s a tent with a little string of Christmas lights on it along with other decorations. The best part is the tent is illuminated inside when it is positioned over a small bulb on the tree. Happy holidays!
Ron Murphy December 16, 2021 at 3:56am

I suppose there’s a favorite amongst my collection of very-standard ornaments. None that come to mind at the moment, though. And none that really have a story behind it.
Carol Murphy Lingman December 18, 2021 at 10:21am

Hi cuz, I love this idea—and your mostly hand-made ornaments–and the fact that you do it so regularly. I’ve done a few by chance (e.g. the requisite gondola from Venezia) but wish I’d done more so I could make my tree alive with travel memories in addition to the family and friend memories. My favorite is probably the “gentle pony”, a small wood carving, which always adorned my mom’s (your aunt Harriet’s) tree and every year was the final thing put on the tree by my son JohnPatrick. Thanks for asking such a great question—what is YOUR favorite ornament memory?
Karen Bruce December 31, 2021 at 8:30pm

I loved seeing your ornaments from your travels ,Our tree is very similar, many ornament and wonderful memories from our travels…. i have 2 favorites! First a large clear glass blown ornament with purple & pink glass blown flowers on the inside ! from Paris.. Second is a glass cuckoo clock from one of our trips to Switzerland …. Happy New Year!