One of the best parts of the holiday season may be the candy and cookies associated with holiday gathering.  Tasty treats have always been a part of the celebration, from the earliest decorations for the tree, which were fruits and nuts and other edibles, to the oranges tucked in the toe of a stocking in the days when fresh fruit was prohibitively expensive, especially in winter.

Since food plays such an important part in the social aspects of the holiday, it's not surprising that food themed items are popular Christmas collectibles.

Chocolate Molds

Originating in Germany during the late 1800s, chocolate molds are made of tin, and more rarely, cast iron or nickel.  The two piece molds created hollow, three dimensional figures, and one sided molds created flat figures that were molded on one side only.  The earliest molds depict St. Nicholas or angels, but in the 1920s in Art Deco years, the figures became more streamlined and stylized.  After the 1950s, cartoon characters started appearing, and the molds were made of plastic instead or iron or tin.  A twelve inch Victorian Santa mold may bring as much as $250.

Cookie Cutters

It wouldn't be Christmas without delicious and beautifully decorated cookie in the shape of stars, bells, Santas, Snowmen, trees, reindeer, candy canes and the like. In fact, some of the earliest decorations were decorated sugar cookies that were strung with ribbon and hung on the tree, then eaten on Christmas day.  Collectors pay the highest prices for the oldest cookie cutters, which tend to be the carved wooden ones.  Newer ones in tin, aluminum, and pottery fetch more reasonable prices.