The Christmas Tree Tradition
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Natural or Artificial Christmas Tree, There's No Celebration without an Evergreen Tree!
The Christmas tree is one of the most popular traditions linked to Christmas season and most Christians do actually place a Christmas tree in their house during the end of year holiday season.
Most of the time, a Christmas tree is an evergreen tree, commonly a kind of Fir tree which is used and decorated with bright lights and colored decorating items such as balls, icicles, snowflakes, bells, nutcracker toys, and other ornaments.
If you want to learn more about the place and storey behind the Christmas tree in Christian customs, you have come to the right place. Take a cup coffee or tea, sit down for a while and read on...
Contents at a Glance
- History of the Christmas Tree
- Early Christmas Tree Traditions
- How to Choose a Christmas Tree
- Artificial Christmas Trees to Choose Fro...
- Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Trees
- Artificial Outdoor Christmas Trees, Walk...
- Artificial Tabletop Christmas Trees
- No Matter the Type of Christmas Tree you...
- Christmas Tree Skirts
History of the Christmas Tree
Why do we place an evergreen tree on Christmas tree
In older times and still in many places today, the putting up and taking down of a Christmas tree are done on certain dates.
The practice of setting up evergreen trees, along with the burning of a Yule log, originated during "pagan" times. This practice was associated with the Winter Solstice which is on, or about, the 21st of December.
The Christmas tree decorating practice was later made into a Christian practice after the Church decided to set December 25th as the birth of Jesus in order to supplant the old pagan celebration of the solstice.
Early Christmas Tree Traditions
History behind Christmas trees
Photo: Precious Moments Resin Musical Tune: "O Christmas Tree" Rotating Musical
In these older traditions, the Christmas tree wasn't brought in and decorated until Christmas Eve and left up for only twelve nights.
It was believed that a Christmas tree would bring ill luck to whoever would put up a Christmas tree up before or after these days. However, the commercialism of the holiday has resulted in the Christmas tree being put up much earlier; as early as the first or second week in October.
Still, there are some traditions that suggest that people should keep their Christmas tree until the 2nd of February, which is the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, otherwise known as Candlemas. This is when the Christmas season is considered to be at it's end.
How to Choose a Christmas Tree
Natural or artificial Christmas tree?
Today a Christmas tree no longer has to be the traditional live tree that has been cut down.
While some people still prefer a live Christmas tree, they find it to be wasteful and senseless to kill a tree simply to celebrate the holiday. For this reason most people opt for the use of an artificial Christmas tree which will not dry out nor shed it's needles into the carpet and can be used repeatedly.
One can now buy an artificial Christmas tree that looks like a "real" one and keep it for many years.
GKI/Bethlehem Lighting 9-Foot PE/PVC Christmas Tree with Clear Mini Lights, Full Green River Spruce
Amazon Price: $599.99 (as of 02/15/2012)
List Price: $569.99
As stated above, there's no need to kill trees to have a wonderful and gorgeous Christmas tree.
The Bethlehem Glacier Christmas Tree looks really like a natural tree with their many frosted branches that makes impossible to have space between them like in any other artificial tree.
With such tree you won't have to worry about buying lights, it comes pre-lit as well as with basic decorations such as pine cones; which will allow you to just focus on personalizing the tree with your own decorations
Usually ships in 2-3 business days
Artificial Christmas Trees to Choose From
Keep off killing a natural evergreen tree: although artificial, those Christmas trees have been provided with a realistic appearance and will do the job as fine as a natural tree!
Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Trees
Tall or small, pre-lit trees allow you to pass one the purchase of string lights and simplify the Christmas tree trimming process
Artificial Outdoor Christmas Trees, Walkway Trees, Topiary Trees...
Artificial Xmas trees are often displayed in people's yard; whether as stand alone tall decoration, along the walkway or welcome the visitors on the porch and provide the neighborhood with a cheerful atmosphere
Artificial Tabletop Christmas Trees
Available in different shapes and materials, tabletop Christmas trees come in handy when you don't live in a large space
Be Creative and Get a Colofrul Christmas Tree
To spice up the holiday home decoration look!
What type of Christmas tree are you going to choose this year? What do you think about an elegant and really original black Christmas tree? It will certainly look gorgeous decorated with a monochrome theme such as silver or gold; although a multicolored theme would work wonders. Another way to be absolutely elegant this year is to have a white Christmas tree pre-lit with pink lights. A pink decoration theme would naturally complete the overall look of your tree.
Red is one of the main colors of Christmas and, therefore, nothing should keep you away from getting a fantastic red Christmas tree. Decorated with a black theme it would become the focal point of your Christmas celebrations! Wanna celebrate Christmas in Hawaai but don't have the budget to move abroad? Then opt for a light blue Christmas tree, blue like the ocean... decorated with a monochrome theme it will be a fantastic Christmas tree.
Purple is a quite popular color these days and you'll surely enjoy having a marvelous purple Christmas tree in the house this year. A purple Christmas tree can be decorated with different themes: a turquoise theme would work wonders on it.
No Matter the Type of Christmas Tree you Choose...
I hope that you'll enjoy the holiday season as much as I do and wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Photo: 5' Natural Alpine Artificial Christmas Tree Trio Set - Unlit
Whatever the style of the Christmas tree you choose to decorate and celebrate the holiday with, is up to you.
Just make sure that the Christmas tree you're going to trim with your family is safe for everyone and that you don't use dangerous decorations such as lit candles, or so. A fire makes for a very unhappy holiday, indeed.
Enjoy your beautifully decorated Christmas tree and have a Merry Yuletide season!
Christmas Tree Skirts
Add a touch of style using Christmas tree skirts (so that your tree stand isn't visible). Skirts for Xmas trees are available in many designs and some can even be personalized!
Christmas Tree Stands
If you can stand alone supported by your feet, your Christmas tree definitely needs a stand. Make sure to select an Xmas tree stand that supports your tree's dimensions!
Christmas Tree Decorating Themes
From Victorian to annual ornaments to silver tree toppers and more, here are a few themes to take into consideration when it comes to Christmas tree trimming
More Ideas to Decorate your Christmas Tree
Get some more ideas for your next Christmas tree: from choosing and trimming a purple Christmas tree to getting themed ornament ideas to the most beautiful Christmas tree train sets, here's some food for thoughts
Get a Cheap Artificial Christmas Tree
Bid on these evergreen trees
Do You Want to Learn More about the Christmas Tree?
The story of the Christmas tree
- All about the Christmas tree
- Some have traced the Christmas tree back at least as far as the Prophet Jeremiah who wrote the book Jeremiah in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). Opposition to the Christmas tree was strong in past centuries. The early Christian Church in the third century strictly prohibited the decoration of their houses with evergreen boughs.
- Christmas tree - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- The Christmas tree is a decorated artificial or living tree, a popular tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. Normally an evergreen coniferous tree that is brought into a home or used in the open, a Christmas tree is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the days around Christmas.
- National Christmas Tree Association
- The National Christmas Tree Association represents the growers of trees and greens, and producers who support the holiday season. Myths, urban legends, misperceptions and sometimes outright lies. We know there are some crazy things that people have been told about Christmas Trees over the years.
- The Christmas Archives
- Chronological history of the Christmas tree from the 7th century to today. hy do we have a decorated Christmas Tree? In the 7th century a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, went to Germany to teach the Word of God. He did many good works there, and spent much time in Thuringia, an area which was to become the cradle of the Christmas Decoration Industry.
- Christmas Trees - History of Christmas Trees - History.com
- Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Explore the articles on this page for information about the history of the evergreen and its association with Christmas from the earliest winter solstice celebrations...
- History of the Christmas Tree
- The history of the Christmas tree comes as a shock to many. This famous symbolism of Christmas is displayed in homes in the United States, Europe, and in many countries around the world.
Christmas Decorations, Traditions, Stories, Gifts and Parties
Gather more information about Christmas
How to Make Any Day a Holiday
- Best Christmas Tree Ideas
- Welcome to "It's Christmas Time", our comprehensive Christmas online resource. Our mission is to provide you with ideas for making Christmas homemade decorations to make your home stand out from the crowd on Christmas day! In addition, you'll also find extended tips on how to make Santa costumes for kids and adults, Christmas cards, crafts, recipes, gift ideas for those you love and care for, how to throw Christmas parties, tell children tales and much more.
- Holly Day|Make any Day a Holiday
- Holly Day is the gathering of online pals who made decision on creating the largest online resource to help you make any day of the year a holiday. Created in the form of monthly calendars you will find ideas on how to throw themed parties (for example, in July we planned a Luau party), decoration, card, craft, recipe ideas to make for major yearly holidays as well as extended information about international day celebrations and the best holiday destinations in the world.
Join Holly Day on Facebook and Share your Own Christmas Ideas
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Do you Prefer a Natural or an Artificial Christmas Tree?
Let me know the kind of Christmas tree you're going to decorate this year
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ChrisDay
Feb 11, 2011 @ 2:56 pm | delete
- We don't put ours in the window but we always have an 8-foot tree (show offs) as that's the tallest we can accommodate in the house. Christmas tree tradition is deeply ingrained and a source of great wonderment for children.
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The Lesser Elf
Dec 19, 2010 @ 11:14 pm | delete
- What i would like to know is, why are Christmas trees put in windows? Is this from some sort of old tradition or is it just to show off?
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mcochs
Dec 14, 2010 @ 8:06 am | delete
- I'm one of those that find cutting down a live tree wasteful, I'm afraid.This is an awesome lens and glad you made mention of that. Blessed by a Squidoo Angel on 12/14/2010. Have a wonderful Christmas!
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JaguarJulie
Apr 28, 2010 @ 5:43 pm | delete
- We haven't had a "real" Christmas tree for years ... we are saving the tree -- you know, our green initiative of sorts ... we unpack the tree each year and put it up all decorated.
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d-artist
Jan 24, 2010 @ 8:53 pm | delete
- great lens...5*... will lensroll it to my Xmas tree lens
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ElizabethJeanAllen
Nov 30, 2009 @ 5:02 pm | delete
- I'm so looking forward to putting up the tree this year. Next weekend...
Thanks for sharing
Lizzy
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Nov 15, 2009 @ 6:46 pm | delete
- Nicely done & blessed!
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Sylvestermouse
Nov 12, 2009 @ 6:38 pm | delete
- This is a beautiful lens full of great information and wonderful selections. I was totally surprised and extremely grateful to see that you had featured my Christmas lens here. Thank you! I am going going to feature this lens on The Christmas Tree
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prosperity66
Nov 12, 2009 @ 1:35 am | delete
- Thank you so much for your kind comments :)
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stargazer00
Nov 12, 2009 @ 1:30 am | delete
- A beautiful lens!
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Angels Sprinkled some Dust on my Christmas Tree
by prosperity66
All Christians put a Christmas tree in their home for Christmas. What do you know about this tradition
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Upside Down Christmas Tree Idea
A touch of fun in those traditions
Barcana 3-Foot 200 Clear Christmas Light Ready Trim Chandalier Upside Down Christmas Tree
Amazon Price: (as of 02/15/2012)
Add some fun to the traditions and get an upside down Christmas tree!
Angel Christmas Tree Topper
Kurt Adler 16" UL 10-Light White and Silver Angel Treetop
Amazon Price: (as of 02/15/2012)
A 16" angel tree topper will make your Christmas tree look gorgeous!
Decorative Christmas Tree Idea
Thomas Kinkade Wonderland Express Animated Tabletop Christmas Tree With Train by Hawthorne Village
Amazon Price: $149.99 (as of 02/15/2012)
Thomas Kinkade has a thing to make us feel nostalgic for Victorian times on Christmas.
