Why do we have X-mas trees never really understood this trad : Othor Games

» Sat May 12, 2012 4:38 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon_Cedar

Great point, maybe he did get around to seeing one of those. That would be a cool tree, except they are so beautiful it is a shame to cut them down for decorations.

» Sat May 12, 2012 11:30 am

That would be a cool tree, except they are so beautiful it is a shame to cut them down for decorations.

And mummification, and boats, and temples, and Potpourri. Hmm, that explains their rarity.

» Sat May 12, 2012 8:07 am

It's another exemple of syncretism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree#Origin. The evergreen represents life during winter, or so I think. Just like Christmas crowns represent (to my understanding) the crown of a winter goddess of some sort (sorry, can't find any source for that). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_pulcherrima#Christmas_tradition also come to mind.

NB: Yeah, the first christmas tree in North America was in Sorel (near Montréal), guess what? It was introduced by Germans!

» Sat May 12, 2012 10:29 am

Stoats.

» Sat May 12, 2012 10:56 am

It's a show of superiority in your neighborhood, who ever has the best Christmas tree wins!

I've always been under the impression that that's an American thing...

» Sat May 12, 2012 10:08 am

As I recall it is the same as the easter egg tradition.

Instead of causing conflict with traditional pagan beleifs they just assimilated the more socially acceptable ones into christianity.

» Sat May 12, 2012 10:35 am

It became popular when Prince Albert the husband of queen Victoria started the trend by putting one in Buckingham Palace. An illustration of the royal family standing around the tree was published in the London news in 1848. In 1850 the picture was copied by an American guy and by the 1870s Christmas trees were common in America.

» Sat May 12, 2012 4:04 am

We didn't set ours up this year.

neither did we, yet. but probably won't at all this year.

» Sat May 12, 2012 7:27 am

It's all part of the reptile's plan.

» Sat May 12, 2012 3:53 pm

Don't have a real tree this year, and know a lot of people who don't either. Not sure why we have the tradition, but it seems like it's for the kids. Same with the Easter Bunny, ect., aren't all these traditions just something for the kids to do.

It's popular to deep fry them in the south. Every year a couple of dozen people set their house on fire doing it, and every year the Department of Homeland Security releases a statement telling people to not be stupid and burn down their house deep frying a turkey.

Hell you can deep fry anything and it's better.

» Sat May 12, 2012 5:33 am

They represent Yggdrasil. The Norse tree of life. During this time of winter Woden would right around on his eight legged horse Sleipnir. Children would put their boots near their fireplaces and leave straw or hay as a gift for Sleipnir. When Woden flew by he would reward them by leaving gifts in their boots.