When did the Christmas tree originate? When did people start decorating Christmas trees, and when should they be taken down? These are things not everyone knows.
When should you decorate the Christmas tree?
The tradition of the Christmas tree began to gain popularity in Germany in the 16th century, when Christians brought evergreen trees into their homes and decorated them for the Christmas holiday. In places where trees were not available, they created pyramid-shaped objects made of wood, adorned with candles and branches of greenery. This tradition gradually spread to other European countries.
By the end of November, families begin gathering to decorate the Christmas tree. (Photo: Walesonline).
In the past, according to Roman Catholic tradition, the Christmas tree was set up on the evening before Christmas Eve. However, nowadays, people often decorate their trees earlier to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere for a longer time.
Another school of thought suggests that the Christmas tree should be erected when Advent begins, lasting for the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. This year, Advent starts on November 27. The British Christmas Tree Association recommends that people buy their trees starting from December 1.
When did Christmas trees start being lit up?
Lighting the Christmas tree has become a traditional ritual that marks the beginning of the festive season at the end of the year. However, not everyone knows where this idea originated or when it became popular.
According to legend, Martin Luther, the German religious reformer, was inspired by a starry Christmas Eve and lit the first Christmas tree about a century ago. However, many records indicate that in the 17th century, Germans began the practice of illuminating Christmas trees each Christmas season. They used small candles attached to the ends of branches with beeswax and clips to create beautifully glowing trees during the cold Christmas nights.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that the Christmas tree made its way to the United States thanks to a German man named Moravians, who moved to Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Originally, Christmas trees were only lit with candles.
In 1832, Harvard University professor Charles Follen, inspired by the German tradition, is credited as the first American to light a Christmas tree when he decorated it with candles. However, it wasn’t until 1856, when President Franklin put a Christmas tree at the White House surrounded by candles, that the public began to take notice.
At that time, electricity was not widely used in daily life, so lighting trees with candles posed many challenges, including the fact that candles could not be securely attached to branches. They had to use pins and hot beeswax to adhere them. Although later on, candle holders were invented for direct attachment to branches, concerns about fire hazards meant that these trees could only be lit for a maximum of 30 minutes at a time, with someone always standing by with a bucket of sand or water. Due to these inconveniences, decorations on the trees were typically set up only on December 24, but unfortunate accidents still occurred. Eventually, a group of insurance companies refused to cover damages caused by Christmas tree fires, and they began implementing risk clauses in their insurance policies.
On December 22, 1888, Edward Johnson, a friend of Thomas Edison and vice president of Edison Electric Light Company, was the first to display a Christmas tree with decorative light bulbs at his home in New York. This light display was powered by a generator and included 80 red, white, and blue bulbs.
The person credited with popularizing the lighting of Christmas trees with electric lights is Albert Sadacca. In 1917, as the incidence of fires from candle-lit trees increased, 15-year-old Sadacca came up with the idea for his invention. He and his family began producing light bulbs for Christmas trees.
How to keep the tree fresh?
The best way is to buy a tree that has just been cut from a Christmas tree farm. You should keep the tree cool, avoiding direct sunlight, heating units, or hot drafts. Once you bring it home, cut a bit off the base and place it in a bucket, watering it immediately so the tree can absorb water.
Additionally, you should hang low-heat decorative lights and turn off the lights whenever you leave the house or go to sleep.
When should you take down the Christmas tree?
Traditionally, people usually wait 12 days after Christmas, which is January 6, to take down the Christmas tree.
In some places in Europe, trees are often taken down after they become dry and pose a fire hazard. Some people, unable to tolerate mischievous cats destroying decorations, take down their trees early.
Christmas 2020 is approaching, do you already know how to decorate the Christmas tree? Let’s refer to the Christmas tree decoration guide we provide.
