Hallmark "Santas from Around the World: Italy" Christmas Ornament, 2004

Christmas tree ornament

2004

Designed by Edythe Kegrize and sculpted by LaDene Votruba of Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. Made in Thailand.

at Henry Ford Museum in Miniature Moments: A Journey Through Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

on bottom of ornament: ITALY / 2004 / (C) 2004 HMK. LIC. on front of packaging: Hallmark / KEEPSAKE / ORNAMENT / Santas from Around / the World / ITALY / PERES NOEL DU MONDE ENTIER on back of packaging: Santas from Around / the World / ITALY / In the country where Christmas is believed to have / originated, Italians enjoy a rich tradition. From / December through Epiphany (January 6), a / cherished activity is admiring the presepi (mangers) / displayed in nearly every church, public place, and / home. Christmas Eve includes a meatless feast and / possibly a visit from Babbo Natale, Father / Christmas. Many children wait for the good witch, / La Befana, to bring gifts on Epiphany. / Babbo Natale holds a pastry called pandoro. This star-shaped golden / cake is traditionally topped with sugar, but has many variations. One / interesting theory relates it to an 18th-century gilded bread created for / the Venetian aristocracy! / Babbo Natale's robe is styled after an Italian / tin-gazed pottery called majolica, the / finest of which was made during the early / Renaissance period. With its brightly colored / geometric and plant motifs, majolica / has been admired for centuries and / is still widely-collected. / Designed by / Edythe Kegrize / Sculpted by / LaDene Votruba / For decorative use only. Not for children under 8. / Concue a des fins decoratives seulement. Ne convient pas aux enfants de moins de 8 ans. / Porcelain - Dated 2004 on bottom of packaging: (C) 2004 Hallmark Licensing, Inc. / Mfd. for Hallmark Cards, Inc., Kansas City, MO 64141 / Made in Thailand QP1724 / www.hallmark.com