Yesterday afternoon we spent a couple of hours putting up Christmas decorations in the house. As I was digging through the bankers boxes that contained all our various lights, bulbs, ornaments, and knick-knacks, I happened across the kitschiest saxophone collectible I have: a Christmas snow globe.
While I realize taste is purely a personal one—and I have been accused of having my taste entirely in my mouth 
—and some of you might find this rather appealing; I do not. My tastes run more along the lines of the animated Coca Cola bear and M&M guy…
Photo by H. Kahlke © 2014
Are they kitschy? Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends on your perspective and tastes I guess. Hey, but these guys rock out on real saxophone sounds when they play their Christmas tunes and tap their toes, or gyrate around. (I also have a sax-playing Santa who gyrates on Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, but you get the idea…)
My love of all things furry likely explains my lack of love for this cold, water-filled, poinsettia-covered, glass ball with resin bass. Oh, did I mention that it also contains a music box? It plays the chorus of Silver Bells in that tinkle, tinkle kind of way… You know, the way music boxes do. And yes, when you shake it snow flakes fly around the water-encased saxophone and trumpet.
I was given this as a gift a few years ago, but truth be told I have never put it out. The friend who gave it to me told me that if I didn’t like it, I should give it away. She had picked it up in a charity shop somewhere. This snow globe looks brand new. I suspect the last person who had it never put it out either.
Based on the Bassic Sax Illustrated Kitsch Scale, I find this Christmas snow globe a bit hard to classify. It doesn’t quite make the Extreme Kitsch grade, since: 1. It isn’t made of plastic, and 2. I can’t think of anyone, personally, in a large city who would use this to decorate their condo.
Therefore, I would place this Christmas snow globe into the Ordinary Kitsch category. That said, give it a few years and this little sax snow globe might be hipishly trendy enough to make the Extreme Kitsch category, as its kind finds its way into the holiday decorating schemes of the young and trendy urban dwellers.
I’ve shown you mine, now you show me yours. 😉 What’s the kitschiest Christmas decoration that you have. (It doesn’t have to be saxophone related.)
Upload a photo or two in the comments section of this article, and let’s see who has the best kitsch among us. Come on, it’s Christmas. I’d be willing to bet that we all have at least one piece of Christmas kitsch.
