Older Christmas collectibles bring top prices Terry Kovel The most popular holiday collectibles are related to Christmas. Most families who decorate a tree buy a few ornaments each year and save them along with decorations from earlier years. There are even special boxes to store the fragile, round ornaments. The first decorated Christmas tree in America was put up in Pennsylvania in 1747, but the idea was slow to catch on. It wasn't until 1832 that another group decorated a tree in Massachusetts. Early trees were decorated with natural items like popcorn, colored leaves or pinecones. But the 1830s tree was the start of the Christmas decorating custom that has grown into a huge business with garlands, ornaments, figurines, dishes and toys. Even food jars, candy bars and cans feature Santa and trees on special holiday labels.