Decorating Trees: The Old Fashioned Way

So decorating trees comes by us naturally; our ancestors started the tradition long ago. But with 'green' being popular now, why not extend the idea to our Christmas trees?

  • Topics: Trees & Shrubs, Winter Care
  • Author: Cindy Bellinger
  • Keywords: christmas, holidays, decorating christmas trees
  • Date: November 2006

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Everyday I walk in the mountains behind my house. When I find a rock with a hole all the way through, I take it to a special tree. After many years this tree is now decorated with rocks—stuck on branches or swinging from grass twine. No doubt this compulsion goes back to when people worshipped in groves of trees.

The Druids tied apples to the branches as a way to thank their god Odin. In China sacred red banners were strung through branches. The early Greeks draped special trees with garlands of flowers. They also placed little masks called “oscilla” on branches so they could twirl freely in the wind.

So decorating trees comes by us naturally; our ancestors started the tradition long ago. But with ‘green’ being popular now, why not extend the idea to our Christmas trees?

Instead of tinsel—* string popcorn, cranberries and colorful beads

  • make a paper chains
  • tie colorful ribbons and bows

For decorations—* use pinecones

  • paint eggshells
  • glitter peanut shells
    —Then compost them after the holidays.
  • hang recycled Christmas cards
  • cut paper stars or snow flakes
  • hang candy canes, lollipops and gingerbread ‘folk’

Still it’s hard to resist some of the ornaments these days. And our Garden Center has some great ones:

  • Crystal Snowflakes—defying nature, each of these snowflakes is exactly alike. Crafted from crystal to reflect the glow of tree lights and candles. Hanging ribbons included.
  • Glass Hummingbird—Hand painted in brilliant colors with jewel-like detail, this mouth-blown glass ornament brings a familiar friend of the garden to your holiday boughs.
  • A Bird Seed Egg of solid millet and canola seeds is a great outdoor ornament for the birds.

For more history: a diary from 1605 has the first record of a decorated Christmas tree in Strasburg, France. The boughs were covered with paper roses, apples and candy. The ancient Mayans attached teeth and locks of hair to boughs. Laplanders put samples of all their solstice food into a boat made of bark then set the boat in a tree. They also slaughtered reindeer and put the organs into trees.

However you choose to decorate your tree this year just know it’s a very old way of honoring trees, which are so important to our health and the planet’s well being.