This year, I have been asked about my ability to provide an "upside down" Christmas Tree. A WHAT???!!!
After a little investigation, there are a few companies that make upside down Christmas trees for the living space challenged. Space Challenged! I get more phone call asking for the 10' to 12' tree for the 2 story family room. From a mathematics standpoint, the taller the tree, the wider the tree!! Back to the Upside Down Christmas Tree...I think its a novel concept because all the additional loot you can put under the tree (on top of what St Nick leaves you). What a great deal!
For you traditionalists, the early Christmas trees started out upside down as highlighted in this text from the "Christmas Archive".
In the 7th century, a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, went to Germany to teach the Word of God. He did many good works there, and spent much time in Thuringia, an area which was to become the cradle of the Christmas Decoration Industry. Legend has it that he [St Boniface] used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The converted people began to revere the Fir tree as God's Tree, as they had previously revered the Oak. By the 12th century it was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings at Christmastime in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity.
There you go...so the next time you are in a pub and want a free ale or cider, you can wager on the history of the Christmas Tree. Who is going to argue against a Saint??
One more parting thought...if you are going to get an upside down tree, make sure it is artificial or you will be cleaning up needles well past Easter.
