I received an email from a woman that was depressed that she couldn’t afford a $100 for a Christmas tree at the local tree lot.

I remember seeing a number of creative Christmas trees that people had made using only the stuff they happened to have and did a search to give some examples to her.

After sending them off, I thought it would also be worthwhile sharing them here in the blog. You don’t need to buy a “typical” Christmas tree to get into the Christmas spirit.

Here are 10 Christmasmas trees that aren’t typical, but certainly a lot of fun and show how a bit of creativity can brighten up the holidays no matter where you may be: (more…)

A great way to use your Christmas tree ornaments for decorating is to use them to adorn wreaths. You can easily give a new look to a wreath that may be old or outdated.

Simply attach the ornaments with a little piece of wire or ribbon through the holes and secure tightly to the wreath. You can also use your ornaments as embellishments for garlands in the same manner as adorning wreaths.

Garlands look splendid when draped across curtain rods, displayed on mantles, or over window and doorframes. (more…)

It’s that time of year again. Sleigh bells are ringing, cheer is in the air, and preparations are being made for Christmas festivities. One of these preparations includes decorating.

Yes, it wouldn’t be Christmas without stockings adorning fireplace mantles, trees displayed in various Christmas tree ornaments, or the beauty of lights illuminating a number of red and green stylish holiday trims.

Decorating is a very important aspect of the Christmas season and one that can contribute to the level of enjoyment that your family derives during the celebration. But before you race off to the nearest year round Christmas supply store, you may be amazed to discover that you already have many of the items needed to create a holiday that is memorable as well as merry.

Christmas tree ornaments are perfect for home decorating. In fact, you may become so enthusiastic after decorating your home that you may choose to purchase a number of ornaments after the holiday season has passed for future seasons. Many people enjoy collecting and saving ornaments. (more…)

The Christmas tree has seen an amount of controversy, mainly involving the secular and non-secular usage of the tree as well as groups who oppose usage of the tree on the grounds of interpretation of scripture and claimed pagan origins and/or pagan character of the custom.

There are also those who view it as a Christian symbol.

Christianity

Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. (more…)

Tinsel and several types of garland or ribbon are commonly used to decorate a Christmas tree. Delicate mould-blown and painted coloured glass Christmas ornaments were a specialty of Czech and Polish glass factories from the late 19th century, and have since become a large industry, complete with famous-name designers.

Lighting with candles or electric lights (fairy lights) is commonly done, and a tree topper completes the ensemble. Strands of tinsel may be hung in groups from longer branches to simulate icicles, though this trend has gradually fallen off since the late 1970s, due primarily to a cessation of the manufacture of metal tinsel because of environmental concerns.

This was replaced with silvered saran based tinsel, which many have found to be unsatisfactory, leading to the demise of tinsel in tree decorating in the United States (it remains popular in many European countries). (more…)

Natural trees

The best species for use are species of fir (Abies), which have the major benefit of not shedding the needles when they dry out, as well as good foliage colour and scent; but species in other genera are also used. Commonly used species in northern Europe are:

* Silver Fir Abies alba (the original species)
* Nordmann Fir Abies nordmanniana (as in the photo)
* Noble Fir Abies procera
* Norway Spruce Picea abies (generally the cheapest)
* Serbian Spruce Picea omorika
* Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris

and in North America and Central America:

* Balsam Fir Abies balsamea
* Fraser Fir Abies fraseri
* Grand Fir Abies grandis
* Guatemalan Fir Abies guatemalensis
* Noble Fir Abies procera
* Red Fir Abies magnifica
* Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
* Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris
* Stone Pine Pinus pinea (as small table-top trees)

Several other species are used to a lesser extent. Less-traditional conifers are sometimes used, such as Giant Sequoia, Leyland Cypress and Eastern Juniper. (more…)

It is generally thought that Christmas trees were established in Britain after Queen Victoria’s consort, Prince Albert, brought the custom over from Germany. However, there are records of small fir trees being used to decorate houses before this and sailors used to affix one to the top of the mainmast of their ships.

In Germany and northern Europe, the practice of decorating coniferous trees originated in pagan times, when the trees were seen as phallic symbols representing the fertility of the nature gods.

The practice was associated with the Winter Solstice (around December 21) which was seen as the date of the rebirth of the Sun God. Tree decoration was later adopted into Christian practice after the Church set December 25th as the birth of Christ, thereby supplanting the pagan celebration of the solstice. (more…)

According to Church records, Saint Boniface (who, also according to Church records, had felled the Thor’s Oak) attempted to Christianise the indigenous Germanic tribes by introducing the notion of trinity by using the cone-shaped evergreen trees because of their triangular appearance.

Roman mosaics from what is today Tunisia, showing the mythic triumphant return from India of the Greek god of wine and male fertility, Dionysus. The god carries a tapering coniferous tree.

Mediaeval legends tended to concentrate more on the miraculous “flowering” of trees at Christmas time. A branch of flowering Glastonbury thorn is still sent annually for the Queen’s Christmas table in the United Kingdom. (more…)

The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianization of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship.

The English language phrase “Christmas tree” is first recorded in 1835 and represents an importation from the German language. The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century though many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century.

From Germany the custom was introduced to England, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Around the same time, German immigrants introduced the custom into the United States.[34] Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and ornaments. (more…)