| tmas lights are a great way to decorate during | | | | Learn where the Christmas tree came from as |
| the holiday season. Choose your options wisely to | | | | the origins of the Christmas tree are revealed. |
| get the right end result. | | | | The origin of the Christmas tree started in |
| Christmas lights of beautiful colors or simply white | | | | Germany. Well back to the 7th century, a |
| lights are popular during the holiday season. You | | | | Devonshire monk traveled to Germany to preach |
| can use many lighting styles for your home. Using | | | | about God. In doing so, he used the triangle shape |
| the right ones will mean not spending too much or | | | | of the fir tree to describe to those that he |
| creating a glaring mess of lights that people do | | | | preached to about the Holy Trinity. The Holy |
| not like. Choose lighting styles that you can enjoy | | | | Trinity is, "God the Father, The Son and The Holy |
| throughout the holiday season. | | | | Spirit." This helped to make the Christmas tree a |
| What Lights Will You Use? | | | | revered symbol in the region. In this region, the |
| Before selecting the light decorations for your | | | | trees would be hung upside down from the ceiling |
| home, take a look at your home and the various | | | | of the home as a symbol that the people were |
| places you can place decorations. Make a list and | | | | Christians. |
| then shop accordingly. What colors do you want | | | | Around The World |
| to use? How much space do you have? You can | | | | The Christmas tree has origins throughout the |
| consider using a theme or you can freestyle your | | | | world. In 1510, the first decorated tree was |
| lighting display. A theme can help give you a | | | | reported. Another piece of history says that |
| neater appearance to those that pass by. Choose | | | | Martin Luther was coming home late one night |
| options like stars, a manger scene, Santa and | | | | and noticed the stars twinkling through the |
| elves or others. | | | | branches of a fir tree. Enjoying the sight, he |
| Light Choices | | | | determined that adding candles to the tree would |
| While you have a theme in mind, consider the | | | | make them beautiful. This is perhaps the first |
| various options in lights. For example, you could go | | | | decoration considered, but there are many more. |
| with a single color, just white or multi colored | | | | Decorating The Tree |
| lights for the home. In addition, find dimming, | | | | Food is regularly used to decorate the Christmas |
| flashing or stay on lights to choose from for the | | | | tree. In using food, they symbolized "plenty" and |
| display. You may even want to consider a light | | | | paper flowers that were placed on these trees |
| display pattern that will run. Once you have your | | | | were symbols of the Garden of Eden. Tinsel is |
| theme, your lighting choices and your colors | | | | also used and has a history. It first was seen |
| selected, you can think about incorporating the | | | | used in 1610 but at this time, it was actually made |
| decorations around your home into the look. Lawn | | | | of pulled silver. This allowed for a durable, long |
| decorations as well as on the house decorations | | | | lasting decoration that did not tarnish. This tradition |
| should be considered. | | | | continued through the 20th century. |
| Details In The Lights | | | | Who Had Them? |
| On the market today are a huge number of | | | | In England, Georgian Kings brought in the first |
| styles of bulbs. Bulb lights are one option but you | | | | Christmas trees. Often, these were only seen in |
| may want to consider neon lights that run in a | | | | homes where there were German neighbors. It |
| rope style. These are some of the neatest | | | | would not be until Queen Victoria and Prince |
| options. Use them where they seem to fit. For | | | | Albert that the trees would become popular in |
| example, placing them on roof eves on the | | | | England, as this was family custom for the Prince. |
| structure of your home is a good place. You may | | | | Throughout England, this was copied, as many |
| want to look at icicle lights, too. These are one of | | | | saw this beautiful display through the London |
| the most popular choices. Hang these on the edge | | | | News and wanted to copy the Queen. It even |
| of your roof line or in the bushes. Lighted garland | | | | spread to the Americas at this time. |
| is great for putting over a fence or around the | | | | Glass ornaments first were used in 1870 and they |
| porch. | | | | were brought in from Thuringia and quickly |
| Lights also come in to play with the decorations | | | | became a status symptom there. Flags were |
| that you purchase for your lawn. Incorporate | | | | later used during the time of the British Empire. |
| them in color and style. Inflatable Christmas | | | | Throughout the next years, various changes |
| decorations are increasingly popular options. | | | | were made to the trees including the 1800's |
| When you take your time in planning your | | | | where electricity allowed for lights to be added to |
| Christmas lights, you can quickly find yourself with | | | | the trees. In 1882, metal hooks were first |
| a beautiful yard that is the envy of your | | | | fashioned. |
| neighborhood. Do not over do it because less is | | | | The origins of the Christmas tree are unique to |
| more when it comes to lighting. | | | | each region of the world, but they tell of history. |
| The Origins Of The Christmas Tree Revealed | | | | |