Why are there upside down christmas trees

To stop them, he cut the tree down, and a fir grew in its place. Boniface used the shape of the tree—a triangle—to represent the Trinity. According to some sources, Boniface hung the tree upside down. Some people use the story to argue that the Christmas tree is much older than the 16th century. At the sight of this extraordinary spectacle the heathens who had been cursing ceased to revile and began, on the contrary, to believe and bless the Lord.

There's no mention of a fir tree, either upside down or right-side up. Boniface isn't the only theory for the origin of upside down Christmas trees: Another says that an inverted tree is a Central and Eastern European tradition dating back to the 12th century. But according to the Polish Art Center, before Christmas trees became popular in Poland in the s, it wasn't an entire tree but the tip of a fir tree or a branch that was hung from the rafters pointing down, usually toward the dinner table.

There is some historical precedent for hanging entire trees from the ceiling, however. In his book Inventing the Christmas Tree , Bernd Brunner includes an illustration of a hanging tree from the 19th century. Hanging trees may have emerged because it was a convenient way to have a small Christmas tree without it being in the way, with the added bonus that it kept any treats that were on the tree away from children. Brunner also mentions that trees were occasionally hung upside down to protect the household , but that practice doesn't seem to have been widespread.

This trend first caught on when holiday window displays at major stores would put out upside-down Christmas trees so that more ornaments could be seen at eye-level by the public, according to TheSpruce. And, while it seems like these flipped pine trees have only recently become one of the hottest Christmas crazes, this inverted tree fad actually dates back further than you might think.

Turning a Christmas tree upside down first became a tradition in the Middle Ages when Eastern European Christians would flip them to represent the Trinity and Christ being crucified, according to TheSpruce. Some people choose to buy these upside-down trees on a stand that can be set on the floor like any other, while others find creative ways to mount their trees from the ceiling for a chandelier-like look.

The latter style also saves precious floor space. You can even get the whole family involved by making one together. All you will need is some floral wire and some strong hooks to turn any ordinary store-bought tree into an upside-down tree.

Just discard the legs from your tree stand, wrap the trunk in ribbon and floral wire, and hang the tree from disposable hooks placed on the ceiling. If opting for ornaments as well, choose a style that is both shatterproof there's a greater chance they might fall off the inverted branches and has more of a design touch to them.

Because the tree is upside-down, the inverted branches mean that ornaments are more visible rather than tucked into the branches like with a traditional tree. Therefore, your ornaments will be getting more showtime, and they should be pretty enough to take center stage. You can stick with your usual theme and ornaments or lean a little more dramatic and take advantage of the higher visibility for your decoration. With a suspended style such as this, it's important to keep a few safety rules in mind as you hang and enjoy your upside-down Christmas tree.

For starters, consider carefully where you plan to locate your tree—you never want to compromise the structure of your home or old antique features like wood beams at the expense of a seasonal decoration. Take into account the weight of your tree, too. You may want to opt for a smaller one for your eye-catching display think: a Charlie Brown tree or go for a faux version that doesn't include the heavy wood the real deal would have. Last, be sure to caution any children or guests about your hanging display.

It shouldn't be pulled or tugged on while suspended, and it's probably a wise idea to make sure nothing super fragile is placed beneath it in case it falls. Taller adults should keep an extra-careful eye out, too—you don't want anyone walking head-first into your hanging tree when they least expect it. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.

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