A well-decorated Christmas tree is a thing to behold, but have you ever wondered: Who hung the first glass ornament on a delicate pine branch? ⁠ ⁠ According to legend, the glass bauble was invented in Lauscha, Germany in the 1830s. A glassblower, unable to afford fresh fruits and nuts to adorn his Christmas tree, decided to make glass versions of these edibles instead, turning them into everlasting keepsakes. ⁠ ⁠ At the time, the town had a near exclusive position supplying glass ornaments worldwide, with over 3,000 artisans blowing the globular baubles, silvering the insides, and hand-painting them to perfection. These festive glass trinkets eventually became recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021. And while there are only nine or so workshops that remain today, visitors from around the world make the trip to Lauscha to see how the Christmas magic is made. The town also hosts an annual Kugelmarket, or ball market, during the first two weeks of December (On Dec...