The Christmas Tree Around the World

There is another legend regarding the origination of the Christmas tree. This legend believes the Germans combined two customs which were practiced in different areas of the world. One referred to the “Paradise tree” which was decorated to resemble the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. This was a fir tree decorated with apples. The second tradition was a decorated triangular shaped frame. It was decorated with glass balls, tinsel and candle topped it.

The Tannenbaum (Christmas tree) is laden down with Christmas delights such as cookies, nuts and various gifts, along with ornaments, lights and tinsel, and generally secretly decorated by the mother.

By Markus Moning on Flickr

Saudi Arabia – According to the information obtained here, Christmas trees are generally hid and Christmas, if celebrated, is celebrated in private.

Philippines – The cost of pine trees here is somewhat cost prohibitive, but handmade trees in a large array of sizes and colors are used for celebrating Christmas. Tassels are placed on the points of the tree to represent the Star of the Bethlehem. Trees are also decorated with rice paper or cellophane.

China - the Christmas tree is referred to as a “tree of light” and decorated with spangles, paper chains, flowers, and lanterns.

Japan – Here Christmas trees are highly decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, lanterns, gold paper fans, miniature candles, origami swans (or a folded “bird of peace”), and wind chimes. The origami swan is exchanged as a pledge that war must never happen again.

By Himanshu (Mum…on Flickr

By Dayana Souza on Flickr

While there are many documented traditions involving Christmas trees and the celebration of Christmas around the world it is almost certain that there are just as many undocumented traditions. Whether your family makes a trip to a Christmas tree farm and carefully selects one and brings it home to decorate or chooses to decorate an artificial one which you have carefully stored from the previous year is not as important as what is on your hearts and minds as you celebrate the birth of the Christ child this year.

Making and taking the time to decorate the tree as a family creates special family memories and traditions that can be shared with your family for years to come. If you ask each family member this year to share cherished thoughts of years gone by, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that it is not the expensive gifts but the times shared. This time of year can bring families closer together, if we do not let the commercial side of it become overwhelming.

Christmas Newsletter

How about sending out newsletters this year in place of the traditional cards? This gives you time to reflect on the last year and the growth of your family. For tips on how to make your own family newsletter to share with friends and family this season read: this.

There are free templates to help you get your own newsletter set up, and think how nice it will be years from now to look back at yours.

Merry Christmas and God bless.