The first Christmas glass ornaments were created in the 16th century in Germany. At the time, Christmas trees were decorated with edible ornaments such as gingerbread and apples. However, as the popularity of Christmas trees grew, people began to look for more durable decorations that could be reused year after year. Glassblowers in Germany began creating glass ornaments in various shapes and colors. The early ornaments were simple, with basic shapes such as balls and stars, but as the tradition grew in popularity, glassblowers became more creative, making ornaments in the shapes of animals, fruits, and other objects.

In the late 1800s, the popularity of Christmas glass ornaments spread to other parts of Europe and to the United States. American glass manufacturers began producing their own ornaments, and soon, the demand for these delicate decorations was so high that entire factories were dedicated to producing them.