Home »  Festivals »  Christmas »  Christmas Tree The Christmas tree is a bejeweled evergreen coniferous tree, whether real or artificial. Decorating Christmas tree is a most admired custom connected with the Christmas celebrations.

The Christmas tree is usually decorated in the house but can also be decorated in open with glitzy Christmas lights hanging on it. On top of the Christmas tree an angel or a star is positioned which signifies that the host of cherubs or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.

Origin of Christmas Tree

The origin of a Christmas tree dates back to 1900. The tradition of positioning the Christmas tree is evident from the 16th century in Northern Germany.

Steadily the tradition spread across Germany and it was after the starting of the 19th century that it developed into a general German custom. It was soon embraced by the Slavic residing in the Eastern Europe.

In 1539, the Cathedral of Strasbourg witnessed the erection of a Christmas tree. During that period, the federations started positioning Christmas trees in front of their societies. Researchers found a Bremen group account of 1570 which states how a petite fir was embellished with apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and paper flowers and was placed in the guild-house. This was done for the advantage of the children of guild associates' who gathered the exquisites on Christmas Day.

Another early mention is from Basel in 1597, where the tailor carried a tree embellished with apples and cheese around the city.

In some records, Martin Luther is attributed with decorating the tree with lights and hanging the fir branches from the ceiling in a traditional manner. Some of the fake declarations were made about erecting the first Christmas tree in Riga, Latvia and Tallinn, Estonia. Such fake declarations are still religiously mentioned in tourists' brochures.

Association of Christmas tree with dates

Erecting a Christmas tree and taking it down are related with specific dates. The tradition of placing the evergreen trees in Europe dates back to pagan times. This tradition was related with the Winter Solstice, which takes place around December 21. It was later when the Church established December 25 as the date of celebrating birth of Christ, the tree decoration was accepted as a Christian practice. This replaced the pagan festival of the solstice.

Conventionally, Christmas trees were not purchased and embellished until Christmas Eve (24 December). They were later taken down after twelfth night (6 January). To still have the Christmas tree before or after these dates was regarded as inauspicious. It is because of the growing commercialization that the trees are been erected and set up much before the Christmas Eve. In UK as early as later October, shops display Christmas Trees and in US Christmas tree retailers set up their shops immediately after Thanksgiving.

In Germany, conventionally the tree is erected on the 24th of December and is removed on the 7th of January. In Roman Catholic houses the tree is not removed until late January. While in Australia, the Christmas tree is generally erected on the 1st of December while in South Australia most people erect their trees after the Adelaide Credit Union Christmas Pageant which takes place in early November.

Some customs recommend that Christmas trees should be kept erected till 2nd of February. The occasion is generally known as feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas) after which the Christmas festivity effectively ends. Fallacies suggest that it's inauspicious to not remove the Christmas greenery by Candlemas Eve.

Artificial Christmas Trees

The selection of the Christmas tree should be done meticulously because they last for more than 15 years. While selecting the tree the height of the roof where it will be placed and its floor area should be taken into consideration. This will help in determining the height of the tree and the breadth of the Christmas tree to be purchased.

The height should be so designed to permit space for the tree topper. The breadth of the trees can be lean, trim or normal depending on the area available in the room where it will be erected.

Here are the two ways of attaching the tree to its trunk:

• You can attach the hooked branches in the space provided for the purpose. Although it is very time consuming but is comparatively cheaper.
• You can also fix up the crux branches of the tree which unfolds like an umbrella. This is much faster and simple but a little expensive.

The crux trees can be stored because they come along with lights and embellishments. These kinds of trees can be used year after year, whereas the trees with hooked branches would have to be reorganized after every consecutive year.

Opt for artificial Christmas Metal tree stand which are safer and best to hold up your tree. These stands do not easily fall and can bear the burden of the heavy tree with all the lights and decorations.

Make sure that the wires in the branches are tough enough to sustain the heavy embellishments. After the Christmas season is over preserve your tree in a dust and insect proof storeroom or in a Christmas tree bag to retain its shine and shimmer. To opt for an inexpensive tree you can buy a smaller one. To increase its height you can position it on a high firm wood box that can be secreted by the Christmas tree skirt.

Christmas tree Decoration

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the most vital phases of the holiday celebrations. It is during decorating the Christmas tree that we feel the true Christmas spirit. Several knick-knacks are accessible in the market, with which you can embellish your Christmas tree. Here are some great ideas for decorating the Christmas tree:

• From top to bottom, the lights should always be spread throughout the Christmas tree.
• It is not compulsory to use very luxurious decorative items. Even plain things, like ribbons and candy, if placed exclusively, can make your Christmas tree look very pretty.
• Light up colorful candles which can give a traditional as well as comfy look to your home.
• Do not use decorations that are delicate or have pointed edges.
• Vibrant balls lend the Christmas tree a very gorgeous look and are also very economical.
• To give your Christmas tree an angelic look place cherubs on top of it. This will go together with the festive ambiance also.
• Synthetic snowflakes can also be used for embellishing the tree.
• The traditional stars are a must as far as adorning the Christmas tree is concerned.