You can't judge a Christmas ornament by its hideous appearance

This ornament has been on my family's Christmas tree as long as I've been alive, and then some. It's older than my mother, older than my sainted late grandmother. This is Happy Hooligan, and every year he got a very special place on the back of the  Christmas tree - tradition required us to hang him up, but nobody much wanted to see him. He's ghastly, and I don't think he looked much better when he was brand new, back around 1900.

According to family lore, Happy Hooligan belonged to my great-grandfather. I remember Pap-pap a little, and he was a kind, delightful man with a shining bald head, round wire-framed glasses, a ready smile and terrible taste in Christmas ornaments. If you're going to have a fault, though, better that you have terrible taste in holiday ornaments than to be mean-spirited.

As my brother and I grew older, we fought over Happy Hooligan - not over whose turn it was to hang him on the tree, but who would eventually inherit him. I insisted that my brother should have him, and of course, my brother thought he should come to me.

And then we found out what Happy Hooligan was worth.

As Christmas ornaments go, quite a lot. According to one of my guidebooks, between $450 and $600. I saw one on eBay go for around $500 a few years ago. I don't know what he might be worth now, but it doesn't really matter, since we're not going to sell him. He's part of the family. He's the part of the family that my parents lock in the attic the better part of the year, but he's family nonetheless.

Happy Hooligan (who was a hobo in a comic strip that began in 1900) is in a category of rare glass Christmas ornaments known as extended leg figures. They were expensive even in their day, so I've read, and were purchased only one or two a year.

So I've learned to love Happy Hooligan, or at least appreciate the fact that he's special. And who knows? Maybe that early exposure to old Christmas ornaments planted the seed of an interest that would become close to an obsession.

Still, you've got to admit: that is one unattractive Christmas ornament.

And my brother still says that when the time comes, Happy Hooligan is coming to live with me. 

Comments

[laurie magpie ethel]

He may be unattractive, but what a charming story and family history. I would be happy to have a Happy Hooligan hang on my tree.

[Kim]

Great memories associated with Happy Hooligan despite his appearance. I would have never guessed him to be worth so much money.

[Renee]

We have such ornaments...okay not quite as goofy but still the love out weighs the look of the ornaments. It is just so neat to see these fragile pieces last throughout the year! Smiles...Renee

[Patty]

Oh wow! As a lover of face jugs, I think this ornament is spectacular!! Should a petition begin about not placing him at the rear of the tree?

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

Will you look at that grimace? Even he knows how unattractive he is! Whoever gets to be the next keeper of Happy, hopefully he'll be treasured for many years to come!

[Kathy]

Granted, I'm not sure sure I would want him on my tree and after so many years of faithful service I think he deserves the rest. If Happy lived at my house I would buy him his own little bell jar to retire in and display him year-round, right along with some on my other curiosities.

[Ruthann]

Oh wow, to have an ornament that old that actually belonged to my family! The legs remind me of the Italian ornaments in the 1950's.

[Joy]

What a cool piece of history! Once you inherit him, you def. have to put him in his own display case like the bell jar Kathy mentioned or something. I think I would be too afraid to put him on the tree worried he might get broken or something.