Tree Christmas

The USA

The UK, London

Russia, Moscow

France, Paris

Australia, Sydney

The first English example of a Christmas Tree was arranget by a German member of Queen Caroline’s household for a children’s party in 1821.

In 1841 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had a lighted tree, at Windsor Castle.

The royal trees at Windsor made the Christmas Tree fashionable.

Still ordinary people tended to think of it as “the new German toy”, as Dickens called it in 1850

Kissing – Bough was a garland of greenery which hung from the middle of the ceiling in the main living-room. It was like a crown Adorned with candles, red apples, rosettes of coloured paper, and ornaments of various kinds.

Under the Kissing – Bough carols were sung, games were played, and kisses were exchanged in the mistletoe’s shadow. These Lovely garlands are still to be seen in some English homes.

In recent times the Christmas Tree has spread outwards from the home into the churches, the streets, in some square or park.

Since 1947, the citizens of Oslo regularly give the Christmas Tree to the citizens of London. Toll and brilliantly illuminated, it stands every year in Trafalgar Square, close to Nelson’s monument.

Nowadays the Christmas Tree. A charming allied custom.