PRINCE ALBERT AND CHRISTMAS TREE DRESSING
Queen Victoria of Great Britain married the German Prince Albert in 1840 When he came to live in London he brought with him a German tradition that was unknown Britain. He brought the Christmas tree and the tradition of dressing or decorating the tree.
The Christmas tree became a popular British tradition in 1841 when the couple were shown in this newspaper illustration standing around the decorated Christmas tree with their family.
Now almost every home in Britain has a Christmas tree and putting up and decorating the tree before Christmas is part of our tradition.
The tree was traditionally decorated with edibles such as apples, nuts or dates. In the 18th century, it began to be illuminated by candles which were later replaced by electric Christmas lights. Today, there is a wide variety of Christmas tree ornaments, such as tinsel, chocolate and balls. An angel or star may be placed at the top of the tree, to represent the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.
The History
The dressing or decorating of Christmas trees may have begun with the European Pre-Christian Pagan religions of the Druids.
It is frequently traced to the symbolism of evergreen trees in supposed "pre-Christian winter rites", especially with the story of the Donar Oak and Saint Boniface.
The custom of the Christmas tree and Christmas tree dressing developed in Germany with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly the 15th century. It acquired popularity beyond Germany during the second half of the 19th century after it was taken to London and adopted by the British Royal family, and spread throughout Britain then spread around the world.
The tree was traditionally decorated with edibles such as apples, nuts or dates. In the 18th century, it began to be illuminated by candles which were later replaced by electric Christmas lights. Today, there is a wide variety of Christmas tree ornaments, such as tinsel, chocolate and balls. An angel or star may be placed at the top of the tree, to represent the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.
How Xmas tree dressing spread around the world
The Christmas tree as we now know it seems to have started in Germany and spread to Britain and then spread to everywhere in the world.
In Russia Christmas trees were banned shortly after the October Revolution 1n 1916 but then reinstated as a New-year fir-tree.
The London Christmas Tree
Norway annually gifts a Christmas tree to London as a symbol of friendship between Norway and Britain and as an expression of gratitude from Norway for the help received from the British during World War II.
Every year in the days before Christmas, many of the people of London and also people from many other countries gather around the tree in the evenings to sing the traditional Christmas songs, which are called Christmas Carols.
The picture shows a huge Christmas tree in the centre of London. It is beautifully decorated and it has been there every year since 1947.
The new tree dressing tradition
Tree Dressing Day was initiated in 1990. We decorated a group of London Plane trees on the junction of Shaftesbury Avenue and High Holborn in Covent Garden, showing that EVERY TREE COUNTS! Since then, groups and individuals have dressed their trees all over the country.
Tree Dressing Day aims to encourage the celebration of trees in city and country, in the street, village green - anywhere in the public domain. It highlights our responsibility for looking after trees and reminds us of their enormous cultural and environmental importance.
Help to create your own social celebration of the trees in your place. This cross-cultural community expression for everyday nature could include storytelling, dance, music, hanging ribbons, shapes, shining lights, anything which draws attention to the trees we take for granted, an enjoyable first step towards taking care of them.
Carol singing at Christmas
The special songs that we sing at Christmas are called Christmas Carols.
For many Londoners the Christmas tree and carol singing in Trafalgar Square signal the countdown to Christmas.
Many organisations from schools for little children to the world famous Battersea Cats and Dogs home organise choirs to sing and to raise money for charity.
