<P> Santa Claus is a commonly used figure . Candy canes, fruit, animals, snowmen, angels and snowflake images are also popular choices . </P> <P> Lucretia P. Hale's story "The Peterkins' Christmas - Tree" offers a short catalog of the sorts of ornaments used in the 1870s: </P> <P> There was every kind of gilt hanging - thing, from gilt pea - pods to butterflies on springs . There were shining flags and lanterns, and bird - cages, and nests with birds sitting on them, baskets of fruit, gilt apples, and bunches of grapes . </P> <P> The modern - day mold - blown colored glass Christmas ornament was invented in the small German town of Lauscha in the mid-19th century . </P>

What is the top of a bauble called