Tuesday, December 12, 2023

A Review of The Christmas Tree And Traditions

Christmas Tree

One of the traditions I love is putting up and decorating the Christmas tree which we usually do in the second week or December. We usually play Christmas music and for us it feels like the beginning of Christmas! Closer to Christmas we put the presents under the tree. 

Our local towns and cities usually have a Christmas tree displayed somewhere central which look beautiful.

A Minster local to us holds a Christmas Tree celebration each December where all the local charities put up and decorate a Christmas tree in unique and traditional ways in the Minster. People visit and the money raised goes to the charities. It is a wonderful way of raising awareness for the charities, seeing beautiful decorations and having fun for all the family!

Every year an enormous Norwegian Fir tree is cut down in Norway and shipped to London UK to be proudly displayed as the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. This has been a tradition since 1947 when Norway has thanked Britain for its support during the Second World War. 

Whether its a real tree or an artificial one for many of us it is the centrepiece of Christmas decorating in our homes and a really fun part of Christmas for adults and children alike. 

Presents under the Christmas tree


History Of The Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree has become a mainstay of the festive season, but it is not a new decoration. Its origins date back a long time when the tradition of bringing evergreen trees or branches into the home in winter can be traced all the way back to cultures such as the Vikings, Romans and  Egyptians.

These civilizations viewed evergreen trees as symbols of life and rebirth, and brought them indoors to ward off evil spirits during the winter solstice. They also served as a reminder during the depths of winter, of the life of Spring to come. 

However, the modern Christmas tree as we know it today has its origins in Germany.

Decorating a tree with ornaments, garlands and candles became popular in the 16th century and became a tradition in Europe and beyond. 

The Christmas tree was introduced to England in the 19th century. Queen Victoria's German husband, Prince Albert, brought the tradition with him to the royal court. Once people saw the Royal family with a Christmas Tree people aspired to have one for themselves. 

In America, the Christmas tree tradition was popularized by German immigrants in the 19th century.

By the early 20th century, the Christmas tree had become a firm favourite and treasured symbol of the festive season and it remains a beloved tradition for many people.

Decorated Christmas Tree

Christmas Trees In All Shapes, Sizes And Decor.

Some of us choose large trees, some small. Some people like a modern tree which may be made of wood or metal, a pre lit bare branched tree, or a full branched traditional one either green or snowy to name a few.

They can be small, large, real ones chosen from the fields or artificial and pre lit or not. They can be decorated with all manner of items from real pine cones to baubles, family pieces and handmade crafted items and lights which can be bright white, soft gold or colours. 

Some ornaments are handed down through generations, or new ones bought each year. 

We still have Christmas baubles and tinsel handed down to me from my parents which we display every year and we occasionally add to our collection. 

Close up of decorations on the Christmas tree

People site their Christmas trees in different places. For many it will have pride of place in the main living room, others may have it in the entrance hallway or in the dining room and some may have a couple of trees, maybe a main large one then a smaller table top one. 

A Christmas tree can be decorated in traditional red and green, or golds, bronze, pinks, silver and white or really anything you choose! 

Some people like it decorated in a restrained way while for others no amount of decoration is too much. 

Some people let their children decorate it in any way they wish, while others have a strict theme.

Its really anything you and your family desire and makes you happy! We love ours especially in the cold, dark winter evenings when the golden lights twinkle and it is just a really pretty, cosy look to our main living room. 

  

So in this way the Christmas tree whether real or artificial has evolved over time from a symbol of life and rebirth, to a cherished holiday tradition for Christmas celebrations. It is certainly a key part of our Christmas traditions and we love it ! 

Love to hear which Christmas Tree you choose for your home and how you decorate it!  

Wishing You Happy Christmas!!


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5 comments:

  1. I love putting up the Christmas tree each year and each ornament brings with it fond remembrances of Christmas past. When my parents "retired" from their business in the city, they started a Christmas Tree farm about 45 minutes away from the downtown area. They had acres of trees where people could choose the tree they wanted and cut it down. The local youth group from their church would sell hot chocolate and cookies and everything was so festive. They also would make wreaths and grave blankets. It turned out to be a good business along with a fun Christmas tradition. They ran it for 15 years until their health forced them to close. Great memories of "Grandpa Erv's Christmas Tree Farm".

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  2. Selecting just that perfect Christmas Tree each year tended to be a whole family outing. I remember it well. I think Christmas tree traditions are as individual as people themselves. And every arrangement is lovely. This is a lovely reminder, Raintree Annie.

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  3. Decorated Christmas trees are beautiful, but they are about so much more than appearance. Our Christmas tree is always decorated with the ornaments we have collected or been given over the years. Each ornament brings back fond memories of the giver as I add them to the tree. That time of recollection is important to me. We have ornaments from loved ones who are no longer with us and ornaments our children made when they were elementary school age. They are all precious treasures! I guess you could say, when finished, our decorated Christmas tree is a reflection of our entire lives together. Pretty cool when you think about it! If I have previously read the history of the Christmas tree, I have forgotten it. Thank you for the very interesting historical information.

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  4. Many of our Christmas tree ornaments were handcrafted by my mother, my sister, or me and each evokes happy memories of sitting around a table laden with colored glass ornaments, glue. and all manner of festive trims — sequins, glitter. lace, velvet ribbon, etc. My mother was also a gifted needlewoman and embroidery instructor, so we also have some beaded crochet lace angel ornaments and some embroidered ones. Thank you so much for sharing your own Christmas tree traditions and the history of this beloved tradition.

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  5. A lovely history lesson for us all and thank you for that Raintree Annie. We have moved to a really small tree that is covered in tiny little ornaments and lights. We just don't have the space for anything bigger and with our health issues, it's better that we don't have a large tree. I still love the little one we have, but we try to focus more on the "Nativity" rather than the tree and presents.

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