Advent Photos 2021. December 2nd and The Christmas Tree
Something is definitely needed to cheer up the dark evenings as the wheel of the year turns to the Winter Solstice. So thank goodness for the lights on the Christmas tree.
From my book 'The Medieval Christmas' by Sophie Jackson
Below are a couple of pages from another of my books 'A Christmas Scrapbook' compiled by Elizabeth Walter.
Detail from an Edwardian Christmas card
(I had to look up Hessians and this is what I found on Wiki.... Hessians were German soldiers who served as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. The term is an American word for all Germans who fought on the British side, since 65% came from the German states of Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Hanue.
Known for their discipline and martial prowess, around 30,000 Germans
fought for the British during war, comprising a quarter of British land
forces ....well who knew that!?)
In 2013 we had lots of Christmas trees around the smallholding but none were suitable to bring indoors so we bought a cheap artificial in the hope it would last us out. But when I took it down last year it had as much 'needle' drop as a real tree. It had to go.
The Christmas tree is more or less the only decorating I do nowadays so a new artificial was purchased a few weeks ago. I'd love a real one but with the proper central heating here it wouldn't survive very long and it's nice to be able to cheer up the whole of December with lights and baubles. The new one looked a bit cheap and plastic-y until two sets of lights and dozens of hanging bits were added. I'm not a minimalist when it comes to trimming the tree!
And finally a bit of music
This bit of music with words that have changed in various countries at different times has a long and complicated history but is usually called "O Tannenbaum" which just means 'Fir Tree'. There's a whole chapter about it in another of my books 'Christmas Carols From Village Green to Church Choir' by Andrew Gant - much too long to copy here!
The tree looks lovely and extremely cheerful. I got rid of my last tree because it decided it wanted to be a real tree and drop its needles too. It was such a nice tree but . . . A charity took it for shop decoration - I hope they didn't curse me but I did warn them! Thank you for the lovely music. xx
As a Scandi, my Jultomte lives in Lappland and comes on 24 December. As an immigrant in the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas comes on 5 December to put presents in shoes. (Complicated storyline involving Turkey and Spain). Red Santa comes 25 December, Lucia on the 13th and the twelve Santas of Iceland are not all welcome. It is difficult to keep up when roaming, easier when staying within ones region, and more fun.
I was looking at the history of Santa in various countries for another Advent post - and found 70 different names! I haven't heard about the twelve Santas of Iceland - will investigate
I love your tree. My husband always leaves decorating our tree to me, I know I've almost achieved my idea of perfection when he comes in and tells me it looks like a dog's dinner! :)
I'm still not feeling that Christmassy but fancy starting to put some decorations up. The tree ( a fresh one) will wait until nearer the day or it will be bald by the 25th!
I'd heard of the Hessians but didn't know such a large contingency fought on our side in the War of Independence.
Good grief to the 12 Santas of Iceland - wouldn't like to meet any of them on a dark night!
Your tree is lovely. My D made me a lovely Advent Calendar with little chocolate so I will have to try and get a bit into the mood, I will put the tree up but don't think much else Still very feeling sorry for myself after being to the dentist yesterday was in 1/30hr in the chair had to 2 teeth out. Although we had snow again in the night it's a beautiful sunny day here. Hazel 🌈🌈
Your tree is lovely - I never put ours up this early as we always have real, but this year we are still pondering the size! DH should be outside decorating the outdoor tree but has chosen to make the soup instead. It is freezing, can't say I blame him!
That is a beautiful tree! We use an artificial tree as well .. I don't actually decorate it. Our grandkids come over and do the decorating. It wouldn't be featured in a magazine but it gives us joy as we watch their excitement decorating.
Your tree looks so pretty! I went with a smaller artificial tree a couple of years ago and gifted the extra ornaments to my children that year. I gave them each the ornaments that they had made or were their favorites. It felt nice to pass on these "treasures" to them and they enjoyed the memories of them.
We did the same when we sold out house early this year. Our daughter wanted many of the ornaments she remembered from her childhood. Nice to see them being used 30 years on!
I learnt O Tannenbaum at school in German and can still sing the first verse now some 50-odd years later. Once I was waiting in a supermarket queue and they were playing Christmas songs over the speakers. One of the women in front of me turned to her companion and said how disgusting she thought it was that they had made a Christmas carol out of the Labour Party anthem. Goes off humming "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree - we'll keep the red flag flying here".
Your Christmas tree is beautiful. I love the red-gold ornaments and all the lights. My first task each morning is to turn on the Christmas tree lights. The brightness of the tree is wonderful, so why not enjoy it all day and through the night until bedtime. This is a fascinating and joyful post about the history of the tree. "O Christmas Tree" is also a favorite.
The tree looks lovely and cheerful. We used to have a live tree for a few years but ran out of space to plant it in the garden so now it's an artificial one for us too. They are a lot easier to put up these days. The one we used to have seemed so difficult and looked terrible or perhaps we've just grown older and are okay with what we now have.
Thanks for the history about the Christmas tree. It's all very interesting.
Your tree looks wonderful! I don´t like the "tasteful" ones with ornaments in only one colour, I think the more colours the better. Here in Germany we usually have real trees we put up on Christmas eve, but this has started to change in the last few years.
Your tree looks gorgeous, and when the light is low, quite magical, I'm sure. I'm seriously allergic to pine - sneeze loud enough to deafen you! - so we've always had artificial trees. After the last one became UV brittle we got a tiny one that sits on the sideboard (and therefore out of the way of small fingers). One problem we haven't solved satisfactorily is interesting decorations designed for miniature trees. Anyone in bogland got any leads, please? So far the best we've found are those wine-glass identifiers. Wooden figures are too heavy, and there's just little available.
The Hessians were mostly sons of poor farmers who were pressed into service and sold by their sovereign to go to war in in the British army. Many of them stayed in America after the war because they had a better chance to make a living there than at home. Hilde in Germany
My poor little tree is naked at the moment as I have no fairy lights and U can't hang the little decorations until lights are in place. Poor little thing ☹️
The tree looks lovely and extremely cheerful.
ReplyDeleteI got rid of my last tree because it decided it wanted to be a real tree and drop its needles too. It was such a nice tree but . . .
A charity took it for shop decoration - I hope they didn't curse me but I did warn them!
Thank you for the lovely music.
xx
Have you seen the Ads for the posh Balsam Hill trees? Some are over £400! - mine came from Argos
DeleteYes, I have. It's a shocking price, isn't it. I am sure they are nice but even so . . .
Deletexx
As a Scandi, my Jultomte lives in Lappland and comes on 24 December. As an immigrant in the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas comes on 5 December to put presents in shoes. (Complicated storyline involving Turkey and Spain). Red Santa comes 25 December, Lucia on the 13th and the twelve Santas of Iceland are not all welcome. It is difficult to keep up when roaming, easier when staying within ones region, and more fun.
ReplyDeleteI was looking at the history of Santa in various countries for another Advent post - and found 70 different names!
DeleteI haven't heard about the twelve Santas of Iceland - will investigate
Thirteen (not twelve)!
DeleteI love your tree. My husband always leaves decorating our tree to me, I know I've almost achieved my idea of perfection when he comes in and tells me it looks like a dog's dinner! :)
ReplyDeleteI like to put as many of my old bits and pieces on each year - they are mostly red and gold. Maybe I should have a change of colours next year
DeleteI'm still not feeling that Christmassy but fancy starting to put some decorations up. The tree ( a fresh one) will wait until nearer the day or it will be bald by the 25th!
ReplyDeleteI'd heard of the Hessians but didn't know such a large contingency fought on our side in the War of Independence.
Good grief to the 12 Santas of Iceland - wouldn't like to meet any of them on a dark night!
I hope wiki was correct with it's information - you never know.
DeleteYour tree is lovely! I can't be bothered with opening all the boxes of decorations these days.
ReplyDeleteAll mine are in one big plastic box now. I got rid of some last year and will pass on a few more this year
DeleteYour tree is lovely.
ReplyDeleteMy D made me a lovely Advent Calendar with little chocolate so I will have to try and get a bit into the mood, I will put the tree up but don't think much else
Still very feeling sorry for myself after being to the dentist yesterday was in 1/30hr in the chair had to 2 teeth out.
Although we had snow again in the night it's a beautiful sunny day here.
Hazel 🌈🌈
Oh poor you. That sounds horrible.
DeleteHope you feel better soon
Your tree is lovely - I never put ours up this early as we always have real, but this year we are still pondering the size! DH should be outside decorating the outdoor tree but has chosen to make the soup instead. It is freezing, can't say I blame him!
ReplyDeleteIt was jolly cold here today too. I have searched out gloves and scarf
DeleteThat is a beautiful tree! We use an artificial tree as well .. I don't actually decorate it. Our grandkids come over and do the decorating. It wouldn't be featured in a magazine but it gives us joy as we watch their excitement decorating.
ReplyDeleteMine would only be featured in a Bad Taste magazine!
DeleteYour tree looks so pretty! I went with a smaller artificial tree a couple of years ago and gifted the extra ornaments to my children that year. I gave them each the ornaments that they had made or were their favorites. It felt nice to pass on these "treasures" to them and they enjoyed the memories of them.
ReplyDeleteMy spare bits that I've not used as I've moved will go to the lady that makes the wreaths ready for next year
DeleteWe did the same when we sold out house early this year. Our daughter wanted many of the ornaments she remembered from her childhood. Nice to see them being used 30 years on!
DeleteI learnt O Tannenbaum at school in German and can still sing the first verse now some 50-odd years later. Once I was waiting in a supermarket queue and they were playing Christmas songs over the speakers. One of the women in front of me turned to her companion and said how disgusting she thought it was that they had made a Christmas carol out of the Labour Party anthem. Goes off humming "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree - we'll keep the red flag flying here".
ReplyDeleteOoops - hope people don't think this is a political post!!!
DeleteSorry Sue - definitely wasn't meant to be political - just thought it was funny.
DeleteAnother brilliant post 😂 I learnt it in German at school too....never thought it was a political statement!!!
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas tree is beautiful. I love the red-gold ornaments and all the lights. My first task each morning is to turn on the Christmas tree lights. The brightness of the tree is wonderful, so why not enjoy it all day and through the night until bedtime. This is a fascinating and joyful post about the history of the tree. "O Christmas Tree" is also a favorite.
ReplyDeleteThe tree looks lovely and cheerful. We used to have a live tree for a few years but ran out of space to plant it in the garden so now it's an artificial one for us too. They are a lot easier to put up these days. The one we used to have seemed so difficult and looked terrible or perhaps we've just grown older and are okay with what we now have.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the history about the Christmas tree. It's all very interesting.
Your tree looks wonderful! I don´t like the "tasteful" ones with ornaments in only one colour, I think the more colours the better.
ReplyDeleteHere in Germany we usually have real trees we put up on Christmas eve, but this has started to change in the last few years.
Your tree looks gorgeous, and when the light is low, quite magical, I'm sure. I'm seriously allergic to pine - sneeze loud enough to deafen you! - so we've always had artificial trees. After the last one became UV brittle we got a tiny one that sits on the sideboard (and therefore out of the way of small fingers). One problem we haven't solved satisfactorily is interesting decorations designed for miniature trees. Anyone in bogland got any leads, please? So far the best we've found are those wine-glass identifiers. Wooden figures are too heavy, and there's just little available.
ReplyDeleteThe Hessians were mostly sons of poor farmers who were pressed into service and sold by their sovereign to go to war in in the British army. Many of them stayed in America after the war because they had a better chance to make a living there than at home.
ReplyDeleteHilde in Germany
My poor little tree is naked at the moment as I have no fairy lights and U can't hang the little decorations until lights are in place. Poor little thing ☹️
ReplyDelete