This 1982 Hallmark Keepsake Christmas Ornament is part of the Holiday Highlights Collection and features a clear, acrylic apple with green foil holly leaves, instead of apple leaves. The inscription, in red, reads: "To a Special Teacher 1982." dated copyright is on the back side of the stem.
Fun Fact: Giving an apple to a teacher is a tradition that began in the 16th century, when teachers in Denmark and Sweden accepted trade of apples and potatoes as payment. During the 18th and 19th centuries, American settlements encountered the same food insecurities as the Scandinavians and extended this practice to include housing and feeding the schoolteachers. Since families on the frontier were usually farmers and the start of the school year coincided with the Autumn apple harvest, which made the fruit an economical and convenient contribution for poor children to gift to their teacher. The phrase "apple polishing" became a slang phrase for attempting to win a teacher's favor, and was commonly used, even after the tradition faded.
Ed Seale is from Ontario, Canada, and worked for Hallmark from 1968-1999. He's best known for being one of the founding artists in the Frosty Friends series, the longest-running Hallmark Keepsake series. "The warmth of fun and friendship in an icy, cold place. We lived on a farm in Canada — and the pond was the biggest source of entertainment."
Material: Plastic and metal (eyelet)
Artist:
Ed SealeSize: 2.984" L x 0.316" W x 3.496" H
