by Louis, age 9, asks which ornaments are worth money, about Belgium’s languages, and the EU headquarters
Dear Santa,
Hallo from Brussels. My name is Louis and I am 9 years old. My grandfather has a small box of very old glass ornaments from his own grandmother, kept wrapped in tissue paper all year, and he always tells us they are far too precious and fragile for the actual tree.
My first question is: what kinds of Christmas ornaments are actually worth money?
My second question is geography: what two main language communities does Belgium have?
My third question is from school: why is Brussels home to the headquarters of the European Union?
I left you speculoos biscuits and a small cup of Belgian hot chocolate.
Love, Louis, age 9, Brussels, Belgium
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Louis, Belgian hot chocolate might be the finest I taste all night, thick and rich. Now, to your grandfather’s precious box, and your other questions.
What kinds of Christmas ornaments are actually worth money?
Certain older or rarer ornaments can indeed be valuable to collectors. Antique hand blown glass ornaments from Germany, sometimes called kugels, made in the 1800s, are often especially prized for their thickness and unusual shapes. Early Shiny Brite ornaments from the mid-1900s and vintage Christopher Radko designs are also popular among collectors, along with certain rare early Hallmark Keepsake ornaments. Value usually depends on age, condition, rarity, and whether the original box survived, and it can genuinely vary a great deal, so your grandfather protective instincts about that old tissue-wrapped box may well be completely justified.
What two main language communities does Belgium have?
Belgium is divided mainly between Flanders in the north, where Dutch, often called Flemish there, is spoken, and Wallonia in the south, where French is spoken, with Brussels itself officially bilingual in both languages.
Why is Brussels home to the EU headquarters?
Brussels was chosen partly for its central location within Europe and partly because Belgium has long been seen as a neutral, cooperative meeting ground between larger neighbouring countries. Over decades, as European cooperation grew, Brussels became the natural home for the main institutions of what eventually became the European Union.
Tell your grandfather his box sounds like a real treasure, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
