The Humble Christmas Tree
Foremost in our Christmas celebrations will be the humble Christmas Tree. Standing proud in our homes, the twinkling lights and decorations evoking a sense of wonder and magic. Crowned with a star or angel and protecting the bounty of presents amassing at its foot. How did this beloved tradition become so intertwined and ever present with our festive celebrations?
The origins of bringing evergreens into the home can be traced back to ancient times. The Winter Solstice was celebrated by bringing boughs of holly or mistletoe inside signifying the victory of life and light over death and darkness. As Christianity spread, these ancient traditions interwove into the Christian holiday of Christmas. The modern tradition of cutting an evergreen tree and bringing it inside the home to adorn with candles and decorations comes to us from Germany. It was Queen Victoria who made this German tradition fashionable across Britain. Although familiar to her growing up with German relatives, it became the very fashionable thing to do in 1848. The Illustrated London News published a picture of Victoria alongside husband Prince Albert with their children surrounding a giant fur tree adorned with candles and decorations with presents placed underneath. This is how the tradition as we know it began.
Christmas Tree Facts:
The Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square London is a gift from the city of Oslo, Norway to the people of London. It was first given in 1947 as a token of gratitude and allyship following the Second World War and has been given every year since. At around 21 metres/ 69 feet tall each year, the Norwegian Spruce is carefully selected by foresters and carefully transported to the UK.
The Christmas Tree in Covent Garden, London is slightly smaller in height, but decorated with some 30,000 lights.
Talking of lights, the tree at The Rockefeller Center in New York stands a similar height to Trafalgar Squares’ but boasts an incredible 50,000 lights!
Be it real cut trees or Christmas Lights, The Barn is your one stop Christmas shop (although our sets of lights do not come in tens of thousands and we sadly do not sell 20 metre tall trees!) We offer the traditional Norway Spruce or the needle retaining Nordmann Furs. We also have a smaller pot grown trees. Our trees are sustainably grown in UK and we only sell premium grade trees meaning you get only the very best shaped trees. Our cut trees usually arrive towards the end of November or the beginning of December. Our staff will happily cut the end of the trunk off to encourage your tree to draw water up. Do remember to water your tree! Be sure to buy a stand that holds water in the bottom. No Christmas tree would be complete without its decorations and ornaments. We have a beautiful display of decorations this year to inspire you centred around old ‘Fred’s Shed’. We can also help with the gifts under the tree and wrapping paper and ribbon to wrap them.
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