This holiday season, I decorated with more vintage and nostalgic flare. The traditional reds and greens have given way to brilliant cobalt-blue and snowy white colors, creating a holiday display filled with treasured family memories. I recently learned that the cobalt-blue-and-white theme is also reminiscent of other religious holiday occasions worldwide.
This year, our decorations are a combination of unique cobalt-blue-and-white porcelain Demitasse cups, Delft-inspired porcelain ornaments and delicate silk magnolia blossoms. Crowning the tree is a handcrafted butterfly which my mother loved. All coming with special memories from each of our parents and grandparents who have passed. After all, the holidays are intended to remind us of the poignant, joyful, and sometimes humorous moments shared with those we love, past and present.
Heirloom Safety Alert: Not to worry! Each china heirloom is secured to the tree with double wiring, just in case our cat, Tough-E, gets carried away with the holiday spirit and decides to climb the tree!
The brilliant blue color also reminds us of another family favorite – Watt-Ahh bottled water. Be sure to check out this season’s specials below.
A Short History on the Cobalt-Blue-and-White China Craze
For centuries, master Chinese artisans created cobalt-blue-and-white porcelain that was highly prized by collectors. The popular demand grew in Europe. During the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries, European pottery manufacturers, particularly in Netherlands making Delftware, also used the vibrant cobalt oxide glaze to decorate on white tin-glazed earthenware. Both the plates and scenic Dutch holiday decorations were more affordable when compared to the more luxurious Chinese imports.
Rob’s family is connected to the historic early American porcelain industry. During the early 20th Century, Rob’s grandfather also offered a holiday special for the Syracuse China employees. The employees created holiday gifts for their families, exclusively using the Company’s distinctive Flow Blue Plum design (plums and leaves in rich cobalt-blue flowing softly from the edges into the white background). The two Demitasse cups shown in the middle of the photo above are examples. Each employee personalized their creation with generous gold gilded accents including monograms and on delicate rims. Today, these pieces are prized by collectors for their rarity since the design was not available for retail.
Also shown in the photo above, the other Demitasse cups, known as Queen Anne design with its cobalt-blue-and-white colors plus gold-trimmed rims and graceful gold handles, come from Rob’s mother’s wedding collection which was a special run at Syracuse China with her personalized monogram. The family forklore is that same Syracuse China’s Queen Anne design is part of the china service collection in the White House. This is likely since Rob’s great grandfather, James Pass, is historically credited with developing the first commercial vitrified china in the United States (translucent when the porcelain plate is held up to the light). Our holiday decorations hold strong sentiment from generations of innovation.
Holiday Special Announcement for 2026
We start with the “fine print”: Each Holiday Special Promotion is not available through the online Watt-Ahh.com shopping cart. Please call 941-923-8972 or 888-936-2782 Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm ET to order (our business hours). We request credit card payment (Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover) and the recipient’s name, shipping address and telephone number (requested by UPS for shipping). We only ship to the Continental U.S. AquaNew will deliver to your business within our local SW Florida delivery area or you can arrange pickup at the AquaNew Fulfillment Center in Sarasota, FL. during its regular open hours on Tuesday and Friday mornings (call 941-923-8972 at least the work day before to schedule an appointment). Each Special Holiday Promotion is limited to one per household, office or store.
Also, supplies may be limited and we may have to place your holiday special order on back order but we will either deliver or ship as soon as restocking occurs.
Contact Information for ordering a holiday special: Email if you have an account with AquaNew including a credit card on file at dana@aquanew.com; or call Dana at 941-923-8972 or 888-936-2782 Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm ET.
Holiday Special Promotion #1 – Buy Two Cases of 12 One-liter Bottles of Watt-Ahh and Receive a Third Case Free (plus any shipping cost)
Deadline for Orders is Wednesday, December 9, 2026 noon Eastern Time for 1) pickup by appointment at AquaNew’s Fulfillment Center in Sarasota, FL.on Friday morning, December 11, 2026, 2) local delivery on Thursday, December 10, 2026, or 3) UPS shipping on Friday, December 11, 2025 (you can order early while supplies last but sorry, no earlier delivery or shipping available with Holiday Special Promotion #1)
Holiday Special Promotion #2 – Buy Two Cases of 24-16.9 oz. Bottles of Watt-Ahh (plus any shipping cost) and Receive a Third Case Free plus free shipping on the third case anywhere in the Continental U.S.
Deadline for Orders is Wednesday, December 17, 2026 noon Eastern Time for 1) pickup by appointment at AquaNew’s Fulfillment Center in Sarasota, FL. on Friday morning, December 18, 2026, 2) local delivery on Thursday, December 17, 2026, or 3) UPS shipping on Friday, December 18, 2026 (you can order early while supplies last but sorry, no earlier delivery or shipping available with Holiday Special Promotion #2)
Enduring Love of Our Customers During the Holidays
Make your own holiday magic that brings your own family history to life once again. Perhaps you have a heirloom or a memento too, tucked away in a china cabinet, that can be displayed and sparkle with the holiday lights. Family holiday stories are special and we enjoyed sharing some of ours with you. Rob and I will always have an enduring love for our Watt-Ahh customers and those who work so hard to deliver Watt-Ahh to them (Bob, Nancy, Steve, Jason and over 30 employees at the bottling plant).
Wishing Everyone Great Joy and Happiness During the Holiday Season! And revive your own holiday family legacy and treasured memories!