Last year just about this time, I talked about Christmas trees and mentioned that over the years, we’ve had a lot of Christmas trees in quite a few places. I mentioned that most Christmas memories are not of the tree itself, but something, someone, or maybe some event associated with a particular Christmas. But we do have more than one Christmas tree in our house every year and even though for the past several years they’ve been the same “trees,” every year they’re a little different and that’s what makes them special. I’ve include a picture of one of this years trees….
The history of Christmas trees goes back to the symbolic use of evergreens in ancient Egypt and Rome. It seems like many of our Christmas traditions practiced today started in Germany — the German tradition of candlelit Christmas trees was brought to America in the 1800s.
Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.
The National Christmas Tree was not lighted in 1979 to honor the American hostages in Iran. Only the top ornament was lighted that year.
Franklin Pierce, the 14th President, brought the Christmas tree tradition to the White House.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition began in 1933.
President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1923. The ceremony is now held every year on the White House Lawn.
Beginning in 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and the first family every year.
A typical Christmas tree generally takes six to eight years to mature.
The idea of replacing candles with electric lights on Christmas trees was an idea was devised by Thomas Edison’s assistants.
In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lit until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.
If you put a live Christmas tree in your house, it will consume as much as a quart of water per day for the first week.
The outside of our house is decorated with wreaths and greenery… long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter — evergreen boughs were hung over their doors and windows, in the belief that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness. So far, that seems to be working around here — maybe it’s also a sign of welcome for the Christmas spirit…..
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