Wednesday, December 17, 2008

O Christmas Tree!




Tip Junkie's Christmas Tree Contest


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The custom of erecting a Christmas tree can be traced to 16th century Germany, though neither an inventor nor a single town can be identified as the sole origin for the tradition; in the Cathedral of Strasbourg in 1539, the church record mentions the erection of a Christmas tree. In that period, the guilds started erecting Christmas trees in front of their guildhalls: Ingeborg Weber-Kellermann (Marburg professor of European ethnology) found a Bremen guild chronicle of 1570 which reports how a small fir was decorated with apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and paper flowers, and erected in the guild-house, for the benefit of the guild members' children, who collected the dainties on Christmas day.


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Our Christmas Tree theme is snowflakes and snowmen, and my color scheme is white and silver and gold. :)


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In 1846, the popular Royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were illustrated in the Illustrated London News. They were standing with their children around a Christmas Tree. Unlike the previous Royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at Court immediately became fashionable - not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The English Christmas Tree had arrived!

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Sparkling white and gold snowflake ornaments (thank you Bryce & Thelma).


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White and silver "Let it Snow" ribbon garland.

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Glittery gold ribbon garland.

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Several paper snowflakes that I made last year complete the tree.

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Our tree skirt is actually a lap blanket that we received from my grandparents as a wedding gift - I love the gold feathers! :) It's a perfect fit with the color scheme!


Be sure to check out all the beautiful trees at Tip Junkie's Christmas Tree Contest!

7 comments:

  1. That's beautiful! I love your snowflakes...mine have never turned out as well as those!

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  2. It's BEAUTIFUL! I love it! And thanks for the history lesson. I never knew all of that!

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  3. Beautiful tree! I guess if I had to give our tree a theme it would be "Christmas Memories". I have received an ornament every year since I was born, and often times more than one. Plus, when I got married, each lady was asked to bring an ornament to my shower. I love it, though, because I've written the years and who the ornaments are from. We've now continued the tradition with my daughter.

    But, I think your tree is stunning! Very classic. And, I must agree, my paper snowflakes NEVER look that great, and I taught elementary school!

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  4. Everything looks so pretty! I like how you used that throw as your tree skirt. And feathers?? How clever!

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  5. Absolutely beautiful Christmas tree and the ornaments are quite breathtaking too.

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  6. Beautiful! Love the ornaments.

    Lisa Q

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