Christmas Tree Traditions You May Not Know About

There are hundreds of Christmas traditions handedwith candles and bright ornaments.
down from generation to generation, from culture toThe first outdoor Christmas tree decorated with
culture. Traditions like the Christmas tree in the livingelectric lights was in the market square in the town of
room the Christmas wreath on the door, the mistletoePietarsaari, Finland in 1905.
hanging from the chandelier, gifts underneath the tree,Norwegians decorate their trees on Christmas Eve
stockings hanging above the fireplace and cookies leftand then join hands and sing carols while walking
out for good ole St. Nick. The Christmas tree is thearound it. The tree is usually decorated by the parents
most popular tradition across all cultures.while the children wait anxiously outside the room.
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries inAfter the tree is decorated a Norwegian ritual known
Austria and Germany the tops of evergreens wereas "circling the Christmas tree" is performed. The
cut off and hung upside down in a corner of the livingfamily joins hands around the tree and then walks
room. They would then decorate these evergreensaround it singing Christmas carols. After this they
with apples, nuts and strips of red paper. The fir treeexchange gifts.
decorated with apples represented the tree ofEven in warm climates at Christmas the tradition of
knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Today, thedecorating trees exists. In Australia, Christmas is in the
Christmas tree or Tannenbaum in Germany ismiddle of the summer. Many Australians decorate
traditionally decorated secretly by the mother withChristmas bushes which are native plants with little red
lights, tinsel and ornaments. The rest of the family seeflowered leaves. In Brazil, pine trees are decorated
it on Christmas Eve with cookies, nuts and gifts underwith little pieces of cotton to represent falling snow.
its branches.Christmas trees in Sweden are decorated with stars,
Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert brought thesunbursts and snowflakes made from straw. Spain
first Christmas tree to Windsor Castle in 1834 whichhas a fun tradition of playing a game called Catalonia in
started its popularity in England. This popularity crossedwhich a tree trunk is filled with goodies and the children
over to the United States and by 1850 it had becomehit the trunk, like the piñata is hit in Mexico, trying
very fashionable in the eastern states.to knock out goodies like hazelnuts, almonds, toffee
Christmas trees are imported into Greenland becauseand other treats.
there aren't any trees there; They decorate their trees