Christmas Trees Around the World

Understanding how cultures are really different,creations, with the origami swan being the most
have a look at how different countries decoratepopular.
their Christmas Trees. A seemingly small thing,Greenlandic Christmas Trees
everyone more or less assumes that allBecause of the arctic climate, Christmas trees
Christmas Trees are decorated just like theirs.don't grow in Greenland so theirs are shipped in
Once you understand that something so commonfrom Denmark. Greenlanders decorate theirs with
as the Christmas tree is decorated differently,candles and bright ornaments.
you can begin to understand how different it isItalian Christmas Trees (Albero di Natale )
selling to different markets.The presepio (nativity scene) is very common in
German Christmas Trees (Weihnachtsbaum)Italy. The scene is often set out in the shape of a
Many of today's Christmas traditions started intriangle which is the base of a pyramid-like
Germany. There are at least 2 stories about howstructure called the ceppo. This is a wooden
the Weihnachtsbaum began.frame arranged to make a pyramid several feet
The first, Martin Luther is supposed to have gonehigh. It is decorated with colored paper, gilt pine
for a walk in the woods near his home. He sawcones, and miniature colored pennants. Small
how beautifully the stars shone through thecandles are fastened to the tapering sides. A star
forest. He wanted to share the beauty with hisor small doll is hung at top. The shelves above the
wife so he cut down a fir and took it home. Hemanger scene have small gifts of fruit, candy, and
used small candles on the branches and said thatpresents. The ceppo is in the old Tree of Light
it would be a symbol of the beautiful Christmastradition which became the
sky.Albero di Natale in other countries. Some houses
Another legend says that in the early 16theven have a small ceppo for each child in the
century, people in Germany combined twohouse.
customs that had been practiced in differentBrazilian Christmas Trees (Árvore de Natal
countries around the world. The Paradise tree, a)
fir decorated with apples, representing the TreeChristmas falls during the summer in Brazil. Some
of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The second,people decorate pines with pieces of cotton that
a small, pyramid-like frame called The Christmasrepresent falling snow.
Light decorated with glass balls, tinsel, and a candlePhilippine Christmas Trees
on top. The Christmas Light was a symbol of theSince fresh pine trees are too expensive for
birth of Christ as the Light of the World. Changingmany Filipinos, handmade trees are often used.
the tree's apples to tinsel balls and cookies andFilipinos often make Star lanterns from bamboo
combining this new tree with the Light placed onsticks, covered with brightly colored rice paper or
top, the German's created the tree that many ofcellophane, and usually feature a tassel on each
us know now.point. One will be placed in each window,
Today, the Weihnachtsbaum is traditionallyrepresenting the Star of Bethlehem.
decorated by the parents in secret with lights,Chinese Christmas Trees
tinsel, and ornaments by the mother and is lit andOnly 3 to 4% of Chinese are Christian and few
revealed on Christmas Eve with cookies, nuts, andpeople celebrate Christmas. Of the small
gifts under its branches.percentage of Chinese who do celebrate
Canadian Christmas TreesChristmas, most erect artificial trees decorated
German settlers migrated to Canada from bothwith paper chains, paper flowers and lanterns.
Germany and the United States before 1800.Christmas trees are called "trees of light."
These immigrants brought many of the thingsSaudi Arabian Christmas Trees
that we associated with Christmas today. AdventChristians living in conservative Muslim Saudi Arabia
calendars, gingerbread houses, Christmas cookieshave to celebrate Christmas privately in their
and the Christmas trees.homes. Christmas lights are generally not
English Christmas Treestolerated. Most families place their Christmas trees
Queen Victoria's German husband, Prince Albert,somewhere out of site and decorate as they do
put up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle inin their home country
1848. Almost immediately, the Christmas treeDecorating the Christmas Tree with Feng Shui
became a tradition in England, the United States,When decorating the Christmas tree, think about
and Canada. Today, the Norway spruce is thecolors. Green is a calming color and red a fiery
traditional tree used in British homes. The Norwayand energetic color. These colors balance each
spruce used to be a native species in the UK (untilother out, and they happen to be traditional
the last Ice Age) and it has been reintroducedChristmas colors. The Christmas tree should be in
before the 1500s.the center of the main room, or slightly to the
Swedish Christmas Trees (Julgran)left of the main room.
Most Swedes buy their Julgran well beforeA Feng Shui tree should have something that
Christmas Eve. It is common to take the Julgranfamily and friends put on of their own, something
inside and decorate it just a few days beforespecial as part of the decorations. Decorating the
Christmas. Julgran are decorated with stars,Christmas Tree should be a shared experience
sunbursts, and snowflakes made from straw.that will help create a special moment and
Other decorations include colorful wooden animalsincrease the good energies of this festive ritual.
and straw centerpieces.Decorating the Christmas Tree For Geeks
Norwegian Christmas Trees (Juletre)No, not Greeks, Geeks. A Geek Christmas tree is
Norwegians will often make a trip to the woodssomething to behold. It is usually a 'regular'
to select a Juletre themselves. The Juletre wasChristmas tree, but a Geek will occasionally use an
only introduced into Norway in the latter half ofold PC as the base and make branches with old
the 19th century. On Christmas Eve the Juletre isIT material. Decorations include CD's, a broken
usually done by the parents while the children waitmouse or two, old USB keys, the CPU from old
out of site. Juletre are decorated with white lights,mother boards and other similar shiny material.
tinsel, Norwegian flags and other ornaments.The star on top is built out of any appropriate
Children often use shiny, colored paper to makematerial that is sitting around. Often the star sill be
paper baskets that are filled with candy or nuts.based on the 'flavor' of the Geek. A Star Wars
Chains made of colored paper are also veryGeek may use a Death Star model as the star of
popular. Colored lighting is becoming popular, buttheir tree.
the white lights are more like the candles they areSince there are many breeds of Geek, ornaments
supposed to represent.may be figurines from Star Wars, Harry Potter,
Japanese Christmas TreesWorld of Wars, and Star Trek. Fake snow at the
Only about 1% of the Japanese are Christian, sobase of the tree is usually the Styrofoam left
Christmas is not a national holiday there and theover from packing material.
year end celebration is more important thanNow that you have seen the differences in
Christmas. Trees are decorated with small toys,Christmas Tree decoration, you can begin to
gold paper fans and lanterns, wind chimes andwork on how you will sell to different markets.
small candles. A popular ornament is origami