Guide to Christmas Decoration Traditions
Written by: Alex Levett
Christmas is bursting with traditions, each wrapped in a festive, velvety ribbon. From Christmas decorations to festive feasts, there are endless holiday traditions that make the season feel even warmer and merrier. While every family has their own customs and Christmas conventions, we’re shining a spotlight on the classics.
Our guide answers questions like when to put up your Christmas decorations and highlights the origins of Christmas tree lights. Take a look at Lights4fun’s guide to Christmas traditions today.
When Should You Put Up Christmas Decorations?
One of the biggest debates surrounding Christmas is when it’s appropriate to put up your Christmas decorations. Whether you’re putting up light up reindeer or Christmas wreaths, every household has its own preferences, so let’s discuss timelines.
- For the Traditionalist: Those who like to follow the rules typically put up their tree on the first Sunday of Advent.
- For the Early Bird: We all get excited for Christmas. So much so that some of us simply can’t wait. The early bird puts up their tree in early to mid-November.
- For those with Real Trees: Christmas Day is the main event, so it’s important that your real tree is vibrant and healthy for the big day. If you’re putting up a real tree, we recommend waiting until early December.
Remember, there is no wrong answer. Celebrate Christmas your way - whether festivities begin right after Halloween or the week before the special day.
Where Did the Tradition of a Christmas Tree Come From?
The Christmas tree’s roots are deep. Ancient cultures, including Egyptians, Romans, and European pagans, relied on their variations of evergreen plants during winter to symbolise life, renewal, and the return of spring.
The more modern tradition of Christmas trees began in 16th-century Germany. Here, people decorated evergreen trees with apples and used them as props in plays performed on December 24th to represent the Garden of Eden. Eventually, families would bring the trees into their homes for decorating.
It was Protestant reformer Martin Luther, however, who was credited with introducing Christmas lights to the Christmas tree. He reportedly added candle lights to his household’s tree after walking through a dark forest beneath the stars, aiming to recreate the beauty of the scene for his family.
This tradition eventually spread through Europe and North America, but became hugely popular when an illustration of Queen Victoria and her German-born husband’s Christmas tree was published.
Is it the Star or Angel that You Top the Christmas Tree With?
Whether you complete your Christmas tree with an angel or a star is entirely up to you. Both symbolise the story of Jesus’ birth in their own way, celebrating the origin of the Christmas period.
- The Star: Placing a star atop your tree symbolises the guiding light that led the Three Wise Men to the manger where Jesus was born.
- The Angel: The angel represents the Angel Gabriel who visited Mary to inform her of the birth of Jesus.
When Were Christmas Lights Invented?
As we mentioned, Martin Luther was credited with introducing lights to the Christmas tree. But in the 1880s, Thomas Edison adorned his laboratory with strings of electric lights, creating one of the first festive light displays.
Just two years later, Edison’s business partner, Edward H. Johnson, designed the first wired electric Christmas tree lights, wrapping a tree with 80 red, white, and blue bulbs.
It wasn't until 1903 that Christmas lights as we know them today became available to the general public, when General Electric began selling light kits for home Christmas trees.
When to Take Down Christmas Lights?
Every household also has their own preferences when it comes to taking down Christmas lights. While some like to elongate the festivities, others prefer to look forward to the year ahead.
- The Twelfth Night: One of the most common days to take down your Christmas decorations is the 5th of January - the 12th night after Christmas.
- The Modern Take: Many people prefer to take down Christmas decorations before New Year, going into January with a completely fresh start and a tidy home.
Discover Lights4fun’s Collection of Christmas Decorations
Now that you’re familiar with the customs of Christmas, it’s time to start planning how to decorate your home for the festive season. From outdoor Christmas figures to greet guests from outside to Christmas window lights to welcome them inside, Lights4fun has endless Christmas decorations to make your home glow. Browse our collection online today.
