Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Xmas trees and decorations - the countries they came from


 Santa in Thailand, entrance hall at Sunwing Hotel, Kamala beach, December 2023. TUI is the low cost airline. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

It may surprise you to see real or more usually artificial Xmas trees in India, thailand and other parts of the world. Where did this custom start and when?

1 Trees in Germany/Europe in winter with candles supported on branches provided light and warmth.

2 King George's III's wife, Charlotte, brought one to the UK in.

3 An engraving, not a photo, of Queen Victoria and Albert (who was German) with their tree in 1848, makes trees popular in the UK

Later additions were glass baubles. Recent imports from Germany at Xmas time include gingerbread biscuits and stollen cake.

Christmas cards

Christmas crackers

Dickens writes about Scrooge in the Christmas Carol.

Grinch, an anti-Xmas character is created by Dr Seuss. The character is voiced by Danny Kaye and Wlter Matthau and others.

Ladybird Books

I have an ol Ladybird book (for children - but conveniently succinct for adults) which tells the story of the Xmas tree and Xmas customs.

New (to me) in 2023, the book Christmas tree.

If you have only one book, and don't mind folding the pages, you can create a tree decoration for the dining table. This makes a cone shape tree.


Useful Websites

Daily Mail

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12881075/The-secret-history-Christmas-tree-fairy-lights-began-West-End-stage-tinsel-emerged-Germany-17th-century-Queen-Victoria-popularised-baubles.html#reader-comments

Wikipedia

How to make a book Xmas tree

Pages taken from books (or old printed paper from your printer wastebin). Tthis makes the cone shape tree.

https://www.rokolee.com/diy-book-page-paper-trees-xmas#:~:text=Fold%20the%20first%20page%20over,to%20all%20of%20the%20pages.

https://www.instructables.com/Bibliophiles-Christmas-Tree/

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Origami-Christmas-Tree

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