Christmas Tree Activities

Decorating the Christmas tree is an event that most people look forward to. Not only is it a time to remember where the various ornaments came from or who made them, it is also a very festive time that really brings Christmas right into the home.

There are a variety of activities you can incorporate into bringing the Christmas tree into your home. Some families enjoy singing "Oh Christmas Tree" as the tree is brought into the home. Make a fun activity of this where everyone has to come up with an original verse to the song (since few know the actual words). This can keep everyone entertained while you work to get the tree standing up straight.

Once the tree is in a stand and ready to be decorated, make a game out of the ornaments. Put all the homemade ornaments aside and work with those first. Start with the first family member and ask them who made the ornament. Where did it come from? Once the details are out of the way, ask the crafter (likely a child) if they remember making the ornament. If you're the parent, tell the child what you thought when you first saw the ornament. This is fun, since it reminds children that the things they make and bring home are meaningful to the parents.

There is always one ornament that is odd or just plain silly. Play "hot potato" with that ornament. Whoever gets stuck with the odd ornament has to say one nice thing about it, such as "Well, there's a lot of glitter on it and that's pretty.” It's a silly way to remind children to find good in everything. It might even remind them that things are just things. This is a good lesson for this time of year.

Some people use an advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas, and this is how it's traditionally done, but there is one fun activity sure to be a hit with children. Similar to the concept in Germany (where the advent calendar originated) this involves providing one small gift for children every day until Christmas. In Germany, it's only done for several days before Christmas, but you can do it for the 24 days of the month until Christmas arrives.

Buy tiny handled gift bags at the craft store. Buy one for each of your children. Have the children decorate the bags, and on each of the bags, have them place a number as well, one through twenty-four. As you decorate the tree, find space for each of these little bags. Because they have handles, they can hang right on the tree like an ornament, or you can tie ribbon on the handles and hang them that way. Each night, fill the right bag with a tiny prize or gift. So if it's the night of December 14, you'll take bag #15 (all the bags with earlier numbers will be gone) and put some little trinket in it. It might be a piece of candy, a tiny ornament for your child's own tree, a tiny car, or small eraser. The idea here is that it's a small gift, but come morning, that's the first activity your children will engage in - discovering what little treat you left for them the night before.

Christmas Tree Decoration

The decoration of Christmas Trees has undergone many changes, much like many of the early traditions of the Christmas season. Christmas Tree lighting, which started with real candles, probably underwent the biggest change when electric light became commercially available and special Christmas Tree lights were manufactured. It is not surprising that today you can set up Christmas Trees that are expertly decorated with little or no effort.

While many people choose a fresh Christmas Tree for its scent, many others simply want a beautifully decorated tree and will choose an artificial or man-made tree. Artificial trees have been available in America since the start of the 20th century. Many artificial trees are made to have a similar appearance to real Christmas Trees, but changes have been made to make them decorative and different from regular Christmas trees.

As an example, in the 1950s, some artificial Christmas Trees had branches made of aluminum-coated paper to give them a shiny, metallic look. For those who like a Christmas Tree with a unique look, trees with a similar shiny, metallic appearances are available today, however, they are now made with a different material because the older trees were a fire hazard.

For those who are very busy and don't have the time to spend carefully placing Christmas lights on trees, there are many pre-lit Christmas Trees on the market today. These Christmas Trees look like their real counterparts except multi-colored fiber-optic lights can be found scattered throughout their limbs and branches. This arrangement saves the time and effort of having to untangle strings of Christmas Tree lights.

Another type of pre-lit artificial Christmas Tree is one that made completely of fiber optics so that the tree appears to be shaped out of wispy strands of light. Some of these brightly-lit fiber-optic trees also come equipped with pre-recorded Christmas songs and speakers to give the added pleasure of music.

Many pre-lit Christmas Trees have electric lights which need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. The advantage of these trees is that the lights are already strung on them from the factory and you need only to follow the instructions about how to assemble the tree for it to appear lighted. Once this is done correctly, the tree will look as if it was manually decorated with lights.

Another ready-made decorative feature of artificial Christmas Trees is the appearance of snow-covered branches. This trend is an evolution of faux snow which is often sprinkled in garlands and wreaths to add a Christmas quality to those decorations. Icicle ornaments are also used to decorate real and artificial trees and icicle lights are commonly used along rooflines and outdoor areas. These decorations, along with the ready-made snow-covered branches of artificial trees, convey the frosty, cold feel of the winter season.

Christmas trees that arrive from the factory with lights also have decorations such as apples and small red berries to provide additional color, or real pinecones that may or may not be frosted or sprinkled with faux snow. They may also be pre-decorated with red or gold bows, round ornaments, flower-like patterns, dried bow and twigs, and gold frosted branch tips to give an appealing, sparkling appearance. The trees also have varying hues of green similar to real Christmas Trees.

Pre-lit and pre-decorated Christmas Trees are an excellent way to brighten the holiday in your home and enable you to gain more time to enjoy the festivities of the season.

Care and Disposal of Christmas Trees

Since so much time and effort is put into selecting the perfect Christmas Tree, it follows that similar consideration should also be given to caring for the tree. Otherwise, there will be disappointment if needles start to brown or turn yellow, or branches begin to break with days or weeks to go before the season is over. Safety is also an important reason to take proper care of your Christmas Tree because a drying Christmas Tree also presents a fire hazard. The average Christmas Tree should last for about five to six weeks if the proper care is given to it.

After selecting a Christmas Tree and getting it home, the first thing that should be done is to make a fresh cut and place it into a stand with water. A Christmas Tree shouldn't be mounted dry and the water in its stand should be replenished regularly. A fresh cut is made by cutting about an inch off the bottom in a slightly diagonal shape to help with the absorption of water. If a fresh cut isn't going to be made immediately after getting the tree home, it should be placed in a container with water and left to stand in a shaded area away from the wind.

If a fresh cut isn't made and the Christmas Tree is left exposed to air, the vessels for transporting water can become blocked. If this happens, another fresh cut can correct the problem and the tree then needs to be immediately put in a container with water.

Your Christmas Tree should be secure in its stand and it should be placed away from open flames or sources of heat such as furnaces, fireplaces, and air vents, all of which may dry it out. Decoration of the tree should also begin after it has been mounted in its stand. Several decoration precautions should be taken to lessen or avoid a fire hazard.

Ornaments that have an open flame or candles should never be used for decoration. Christmas Tree lights should be checked to make sure the bulbs are working properly, the connections are intact, and that no part of the cord is damaged. If there appears to be any exposed wiring or bulbs that are not working, that string of lights shouldn't be used.

A good Christmas Tree stand should be used because water is the most important aspect of getting the longest possible life out of your Christmas Tree. In selecting a stand, determine the amount of water it can hold when a tree is placed in it. Some water will be displaced from the space taken up by the base of the tree, so it is important not to base your selection on the total volume of water each stand can hold.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the average Christmas Tree may absorb up to one gallon of water each day, so it is important to check the water every day and to replenish it frequently. To make sure your Christmas Tree gets enough water, the National Christmas Tree Association recommends that one quart of water is required for each inch of the diameter of the tree's trunk.

After Christmas is over and your wonderfully decorated Christmas Tree has provided much joy, it is important to remove it before it dries out. Options to discard your Christmas will likely depend on the services offered in your area. Some town or cities will pick up Christmas Trees on particular days. Some may require that residents take their trees to specific locations, while in other areas, Christmas Trees will be picked up with the garbage.

Christmas Trees should never be burned in the fireplace as it can cause the build up of creosote, a colorless, oily substance.

There's also the option of putting your Christmas Tree to a different use by cutting it into pieces yourself and using it for mulch.

Selecting a Christmas Tree

Given the many types of Christmas Trees available, and the various ways in which they can be bought, it's important to know certain qualities that a Christmas Tree should have so that it will be suitable for decorating, and so it will last through the season.

One of the most important qualities a Christmas Tree should have is freshness. This makes buying a tree from a Christmas Tree farm the best option because you will observe the tree being cut at the time it is purchased. If a tree is bought elsewhere, such as from a retail lot, it is important to find out where the tree came from and when it was cut.

To determine the freshness of a tree, observe whether it looks green and healthy, has a fragrant scent, and has needles that are moist and flexible. If the needles appear dry or show browning, then that is a sign the tree isn't very fresh. If a large amount of green needles fall when a few branches of the tree are shaken, that's also a sign that the tree isn't the best one to buy and that it may not last for the entire season.

The needles of fir trees should break crisply when they are bent. If a fir tree needle is bent and doesn't break readily with pressure, it might mean that the tree isn't absorbing water and that will affect its longevity.

Another reason a Christmas Tree farm can be a better option for purchasing a tree is that the farm will be more likely to offer more species of trees in a wider variety of shapes and sizes. For those Christmas Trees that are located on retail or commercial lots, freshness can be determined by looking at the conditions in which the trees are kept. Observe whether the trees are kept in stands that hold water, if baled trees are protected from the wind and sun, if a fresh cut is put on trees, and if the trees are tied down correctly.

Another quality to consider in selecting the right Christmas Tree is its size. Before buying a tree, it is important to decide where it will be placed so that the space can be measured. You will need to do a floor to ceiling measurement and then subtract at least 10-12 inches to get the maximum height for the Christmas Tree. It is recommended that at least 10-12 inches of space should be left between the top of the Christmas Tree and the ceiling.

The bottom of the Christmas Tree also needs to be checked to make sure there is adequate space between it and the lowest branches. A small diagonal fresh cut, of approximately one inch, is made in that area to enhance absorption of water, which will make the tree last longer. This cut should be made just before the tree is placed in water. If a fresh cut is done and the tree is exposed to the air too long, the vessels can become blocked.

Along with freshness and size, a tree should be selected based on the shape that you like, the smell of the needles and bark, and how dense and sturdy the branches are. For the density and sturdiness of the tree, you need to have an idea how the tree will be decorated – how many heavy ornaments, Christmas lights, or bows will be used. As an example, a fir tree that has sturdy branches will be better for holding heavy ornaments and a pine tree is good for Christmas Trees that have light decorations such as bows and strings of Christmas lights.

The texture of the branches and how durable or long-lasting the tree will be are also worth considering in choosing a perfect Christmas tree.

Christmas Lights

It's only fitting that, along with the magic of Santa Claus at Christmas, holiday and Christmas lights also came about through the work of a wizard - the Wizard of Menlo Park in New Jersey, as Thomas Edison was called. It was Edison who first developed and demonstrated an incandescent electric light bulb in 1879, an event that led the way for the mass use of electricity and lights on Christmas Trees as used today.

Before the discovery and use of electricity, candles were used to light Christmas Trees. That practice evolved into having glass covers with candles inside them, or metal lanterns that had small wicks. These were hung like ornaments on Christmas Trees. However, even after Edison invented the incandescent electric light bulb, it took many years before the large-scale manufacture of Christmas Tree lights were available commercially.

It is said that the idea of Christmas lights came from one of Edison's assistants, Edward Johnson. In 1882, Johnson had Christmas Tree bulbs made especially for him. He displayed these electric bulbs on his Christmas Tree at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City and it drew widespread attention. Christmas Tree lights underwent many changes and improvements before General Electric Company introduced Christmas lights on a commercial scale. Among the earlier lights used on Christmas Trees were night-lights that were strung together to make light strings. After the commercial introduction of Christmas lights, sales and wide-scale use of them soared.

Decorative mini-lights to be used for Christmas Tree lighting were introduced in the 1970s. Since then, they have continued to be popular and are the dominant type of Christmas Tree lights in the marketplace. Before that, icicle lights were introduced as decoration for rooflines. Those decorative lights are the most popular ones used for outdoor landscape lighting during the holidays. Outdoor decorative lighting has evolved from Christmas Tree lighting to now being a popular way to use colorful lighting to create spectacular scenes.

Another development in decorative lighting at Christmas time is the use of candles. Real candles can be used, but electric candles have become more popular because they are safer and they are less of a fire hazard. Today that threat has also decreased with the development of flameless battery candles. The battery operation makes their use more flexible because they can be placed in areas where there aren't electrical outlets. Candles can be displayed at several windows of a house during the holidays. Battery-operated candles can also be used for other activities such as caroling, church services, school activities, and for other holiday arrangements around the home.

As Christmas lights have become a mandatory feature of the holidays, they are continually being used in new ways that differ considerably from their early beginnings. Outdoor lighting is now just as common as indoor lighting and that is an area in which a change in the use of holiday lighting is very obvious. Along with icicle lights that illuminate rooflines and the frames of houses, there are also lights that are placed in shrubs. Holiday lighting also comes in the shape of trees and other ornaments that can be placed on lawns to enhance these holiday scenes during the holidays.

Many lawns are landscaped by lighting during Christmas and the holiday season with lighted figurines and other items associated with the season. In some communities, entire blocks of streets will have such elaborate holiday lawn lighting that they attract passersby and even tourists - residents from elsewhere - who are captivated by the spectacular visual displays.

Decorating Hints for Christmas

With so many decorative choices at Christmas, a strategy is needed to ensure that whatever is done looks organized, well-arranged, and beautiful, rather than haphazard and disorganized. By doing some basic or traditional decoration, along with trying creative and different ideas, a beautiful and pleasing decorative environment can be created in every home.

Traditional decorating ideas include using wreaths for doors or entranceways and on walls with unobstructed views. Garlands can be placed along surfaces where they can be hung vertically or horizontally. Christmas lights can be used by themselves or with garlands, in shrubs and, of course, on Christmas Trees.

Using Christmas lights outdoors has become very popular. Icicle lights are just as easy as regular lights to put in place and they create a very pleasing display for the holiday season. Adding color to these outdoor light displays can also make houses and lighting displays look more spectacular.

For indoor lighting, candles have become an attractive Christmas decorative item as they can light up the night in a subdued, but beautiful, manner. Candles create a pleasing look when displayed at windows if there are at least two sets of two or three windows directly above each other, in a vertical pattern. New technologies with candles have also made them safer to use. There are electrical candles, but there are also battery-operated types that can be used safely instead of the electrical ones, or in places where there aren't any electrical outlets.

There are creative ways to use and incorporate various items around the home to make Christmas decorations. Christmas or holiday ribbons can be used to make bows that are pinned onto curtains to provide a festive look. Like curtains, houseplants can also be dressed up for the holidays. Small Christmas ornaments can be gently placed on houseplants to give porches, patios, and front lawns a wonderful Christmas look.

Although many people don't use Christmas stockings anymore for Christmas gifts, they can still be used to create perfect Christmas decorations. A collection of Christmas stockings can be hung on the mantle, shelf, or on walls, with or without anything inside them. They will look just as beautiful as those that are often seen in stores.

Christmas lights can also be wrapped along with garlands on a banister or stair railing to add a twinkling Christmas look. Mistletoe can be hung just about anywhere, with or without Christmas lights. If the tale about mistletoe is believed, however, then it should be hung somewhere with room underneath for two people to have a friendly holiday kiss or even a hug. Fake snow can be sprinkled on garlands, mistletoess and wreaths to further enhance their appearance with something from the Christmas season.

Borrowing a decoration often seen in department stores, several boxes of various sizes can be wrapped, piled in a haphazard manner, and placed in a corner from floor to ceiling to make a gift pillar decoration. Old Christmas cards can be used for decorations by cutting pictures from them to make a collage. The pictures are glued onto a poster board that can be hung on a wall. Even Christmas cookie cutters can be put to an easy and creative use by stringing two or three of them together with Christmas ribbon.

With all of these wonderful ideas, any home can be festively decorated for Christmas and the holidays.

Christmas Decorations

The various types of decorations used at Christmas give a sparkling look to everything and puts splendor into the season. The Christmas Tree, with its myriad decorations, is a standard and central decorative element of Christmas; but the presence of the Christmas Tree is enhanced by decorations such as wreaths, garlands, lights, and figurines.

Wreaths have a circular shape and are often used as a decorative piece on a door. Variations of wreaths include berry, grapevine, poinsettia, and snow. The berry wreath may include small clusters of red berries, holly leaves, possibly with features such as gold tint, pine cones, or pine needles. A grapevine wreath has a vine-like look and may have pine sprigs and clusters of red berries. Poinsettia wreaths showcase leaves that are various shades of red, and may have glittered fruits such as pears, apples, and grape clusters throughout its structure. Depending on the size of the poinsettia wreath, it may also have large or small pine cones, pine sprigs, and holly leaves. Then there are snow wreaths that have an icy look from pine cones that are sprinkled with snow and scattered throughout the wreath.

Garlands are primarily used to decorate stairways, banisters, and mantles. Garlands also have variations such as those with twinkling lights, tiny ornaments, or tinsel for sparkle. Others, such as a mixed needle lighted garland, would have branches of wide and thin pine needles and Christmas lights.

Christmas lights come in various forms and are used in numerous ways to make homes and business places shine and sparkle during the holidays. Christmas lights may be colored or plain and they may or may not twinkle. They may be single-stringed or they may have multiple strings which are hung to create a look like icicles.

To beautify houses during the Christmas season, Christmas lights may be strung around the roof line, in shrubs, placed at windows to form different patterns, and placed on patios or porches to hang as icicles. Lighted candles are also used in windows to make them visually appealing.

Another type of lighted decoration seen during Christmas is in the form of figures that are placed on lawns. It's a matter of personal taste how many figures to place on lawns. Some prefer a lot of pieces, while others find just a single one to be attractive.

Christmas Trees are the standard decorative elements during the season. They may be real or artificial and can be placed inside or outside. If placed outside, they should be lighted and they should be placed in a sufficiently lit area to maximize their visual beauty. Christmas Trees are wonderful to decorate because the entire family can participate in the decorating process by placing the ornaments, baubles, lights, and tinsel on the tree. Some ornaments may even be personal, such as hand-made items or treasured keepsake mementos. When these are placed on the tree every year, it can become a tradition that is kept in the family which creates a special memory as each Christmas comes around.

Poinsettia flowers, with their flaming red leaves, are also a staple decoration at Christmas time. They can be placed wherever it's suitable to place plants. Poinsettias are commonly used around offices and personal work spaces during the Christmas season.

If there's snow and a lucky “White Christmas,” especially on Christmas Day, then it's worth it to bundle up with the children and jump into the snow to make a “Frosty Snowman.” While a smiling snowman on the lawn is a temporary decorative feature during Christmas, it's always a great delight because it means that children were out playing in the snow and having fun.
Given the many ways in which Christmas decorations can be used, everyone can have some pleasure and be creative in arranging some form of Christmas decoration to add their own sparkle and twinkle to the holidays.

Christmas Activities for Children

While adults indulge in the festivities and revel in enjoying the spirit of Christmas, it is undoubtedly more fun for children because they are able to lose themselves in the wide-eyed wonders and glorious splendor of the season.

Activities at Christmas that children can enjoy include all of the sights, sounds, and scents that put the magic and festive spirit into Christmas. At major shopping centers and malls, children can enjoy various window displays and arrangements inside stores that show Christmas scenes. The displays, which can be moving, stationary, or interactive, can be so numerous and mesmerizing that parents often arrange a trip to such malls just for children to view the many displays.

Shopping malls are also a popular place where Santa Claus is sure to be found. For a small fee, children can sit or stand with Santa Claus, talk with him, and most importantly, get a picture taken with Santa. Those children, like pre-teens and teenagers who may be too old for Santa Claus, can also be entertained by the various grand Christmas displays as well as one of their favorite activities - shopping.

Various colorful and twinkling lights are certain to be a part of the displays at malls and shopping centers, but other arrangements of Christmas lights can also be a delightful activity for children to enjoy. Because Christmas displays have become so common, just about everyone has some form of lighting arrangement at their houses. This has led to neighborhoods where it is common to see an increase in traffic during the Christmas season because of the fanciful, landscaped displays of outdoor Christmas light decorations. These usually include figures of reindeers, Santa, sleighs, angels, shepherds, and animals that are a part of the story of Jesus' birth. It can be a fun activity to take a tour of these neighborhoods with children for them to feast their eyes.

In a similar manner to the grand Christmas lighting that can be found in some neighborhoods, there are also themed-lighting displays at quaint villages and special large Christmas light displays at venues such as some public parks. The displays can be similar to those seen in neighborhoods except that they are usually on a larger and grander scale. As an example, a typical home lawn display will have a Christmas display that includes Santa, a sleigh, and a reindeer or two, all as separate pieces. A Christmas display at a themed village or park would have a large, and possibly moving, display of Santa Claus with elf-like figures in a sleigh that is being pulled by reindeers, all as one large structure.

These Christmas sights are what often bring out the wide-eyed wonder in children as their faces express awe and amazement. While children will have a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree at home to enjoy, it will also be fun for them to go to other Christmas Tree lightings because, again, those trees are usually bigger and decorated on a grander scale than the ones in their living rooms at home.

Just about every town, city, or municipality will have a Christmas tree lighting in a central location. Sometimes local firehouses will also have a special Christmas tree lighting. At these events, children can see a local official or personality flip a switch to symbolically turn on the Christmas tree, similar to watching the President do on television. Those local events are likely to include Christmas treats and goodies, a Santa Claus to present Christmas gifts to children, and the singing of Christmas carols.

Taking time out to engage in activities just for the enjoyment of children will make them feel special, experience the magic of Christmas, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Making Memories During Christmas and the Holidays

A favorite Christmas song has a line that describes Christmas as “'the most wonderful time of the year.” While giving and receiving gifts is something that is highly anticipated and remembered at Christmas time, there are many more activities that make Christmas memorable and wonderful.

One of these activities is decorating the Christmas Tree. The Christmas Tree occupies a central spot and is the most visible display of Christmas in most homes. Unlike in other countries, most American homes do not have a representation of the Nativity scene, which is more likely to be located at churches.

As soon as the Christmas season begins on the day after Thanksgiving, families will begin their search for the perfect Christmas Tree. This in itself can become a memorable activity as children may accompany family members to places like a Christmas tree farm to select a tree.

Once a real or artificial tree is selected, it's an exciting activity for the entire family to play a part in decorating the tree. Manufactured decorations come in many shapes and forms. A special memory is created when family members make a special ornament for the Christmas Tree, or contribute one or more keepsake items to decorate the Christmas Tree. It then becomes a ritual each year for those particular items to be placed on the Christmas Tree although other decorations may change in coming years.

Another activity that can help to create special memories at Christmas is baking cookies. Along with popular gingerbread cookies, using cookie cutters to make special holiday-shaped cookies is also practiced a lot in households. Based on the ages of children, they can help in the actual baking activity by measuring and mixing some ingredients, or, younger children can sprinkle sugar on the cookies or decorate them with icing when they are finished. Helping in this activity can also be educational as parents can use the activity of measuring and figuring out equivalent measures to teach fractions and other mathematical elements.

An activity that is related to food which also helps to create memories during the Christmas season is making fruit and goody baskets, which are filled with candies, baked items, and other treats for loved ones, special friends, neighbors, teachers, or for charity. Items such as goody baskets make especially wonderful Christmas gifts because they are homemade. That quality often makes them more treasured than a Christmas present that is bought at the store.

Because Christmas is the season of goodwill and good cheer, it is very important to reach out to family, loved ones, and friends during the season. The busy lives that many people lead today often leave them little or no time during the year to be in frequent contact with family and friends who are located far away, or even with others who live within a reasonable distance.

It is, therefore, very common during Christmas to send a Christmas or holiday greeting card to those individuals. Along with the pleasant memory of receiving the card, there may be a short letter included that gives a brief account of any significant event in the individual's life or with members of the family. This makes sending and receiving Christmas greeting cards even more memorable.

Then there's probably the most anticipated activity of Christmas - finding out what Christmas gifts Santa brought on Christmas Eve. While adults also look forward with much anticipation to see what Christmas gifts they will get, it's really the children who get the most delight from receiving presents at Christmas. The carefully planned actions to hide Christmas presents from children, and then to magically place them under the Christmas tree to be found on Christmas morning, is one of the most wonderful ways to create unforgettable memories for children at Christmas.

What Makes Christmas Magical?

Christmas is a special time of the year for the joy and intangible magic that fills the season. It comes through in the delightful decorations, glorious get-togethers with family and friends, and the sheer feeling of joy one gets from giving and receiving gifts.

Although the commercialization of Christmas is often decried, shopping is an important and central activity to some of the intangible magic of Christmas. It is at the malls or downtown stores that some of the favorite sights, sounds, and scents of Christmas can be experienced.

The decorations at malls and retail establishments are usually very fanciful and eye-catching, especially to children, with the many colorful and twinkling lights. It's also a wonder, for both adults and children alike, to look at the numerous tinsels, baubles, and figurines such as fairies and angels that adorn the main Christmas Tree in the center of shopping malls and department stores. These trees are usually extremely well embellished with decorations that are arranged in a very professional way that most shoppers can't replicate in their own homes. It is, therefore, a delight for them to stare at such trees in wonder and amazement.

Along with the wide variety of decorations in retail establishments, there is also the sound of music playing, bells ringing, and the laughter and wishes of Merry Christmas from shoppers, which also create a special atmosphere and add to the magic of Christmas. Even the sound of cash registers in the background adds something to the special feeling shoppers have at Christmas time.

Of course, there's always a Santa Claus that children can meet, tell what they want for Christmas, and also have their picture taken with. Sometimes Santa Claus may distribute Christmas gifts to children, telling them that because they have been very, very good they are getting an extra special early Christmas present.

The ability to delight children by telling them stories about Santa Claus, as well as making them see and talk to the jolly old fellow, puts a lot of magic and excitement into Christmas. Once the tradition is started, or from the first time that children have been told the story, it becomes something that they look forward to every year during the Christmas season.

There is also the sound of music from choirs or school groups, who often give open performances singing Christmas carols and songs in malls and downtown areas. Families, and others who are out and about, will pause to listen, or to sing along with these groups.

Shopping is undoubtedly an enjoyable activity for most people during Christmas, but merrier and more memorable times are enjoyed when time is spent with family, friends, and colleagues during the season. Before Christmas Day arrives, there are usually parties at home and at work, evenings out with friends, and other occasions to get together and share the spirit of Christmas. The presence of special Christmas music and people dressed in holiday attire provide a different atmosphere and contribute to the magical feeling of the season.

Another thing that is different at Christmas is the scent from a fresh Christmas Tree, of gingerbread and other cookies baking, and other food preparations that are specially done at Christmas time. Most people who select a real Christmas Tree, instead of an artificial one, for their homes do so because of the wonderful scent it provides. For many people, that scent from a Christmas Tree is what puts Christmas into everything else.

Another popular scent at Christmas comes from the popular Christmas song “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.” The actual roasting of chestnuts during the Christmas season may be a rare occurrence these days, but it is occasionally done in some downtown areas, and in bakeries and confectioneries that make fresh products everyday.

All of these events, activities, happenings, sights, sounds, and scents of Christmas create special and unforgettable memories. Who can deny that a pleasant memory is always something that is truly magical?

Different Types of Christmas Trees

The tradition of Christmas Trees in America came from German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. It is believed that the tradition of Christmas Trees started in Germany as early as 700 A.D., and was practiced by many Germans in the 1800s. It's also since that period that Christmas Trees have been available for sale in the United States.

While artificial Christmas Trees are popular, many people like to have a fresh Christmas Tree in their homes or outside on their lawns. And similar to all other trees, Christmas Trees have different shapes and qualities that make some types more popular than others.

Along with other decorative Christmas items, such as wreaths and garlands, having a Christmas Tree in your home is essential in creating a special atmosphere for the season. It is believed that Christmas Trees have been available for sale in America since the 1800s, which is about the same time that the former Woolworth's department store started selling ready-made ornaments for Christmas Trees.

Choosing the right type of Christmas Tree is important because Christmas Trees are often a focal point for many family activities and traditions. Given the many types of Christmas Trees that are available, it is important to think about how the tree will be used. While a tall tree may look very elegant, it may not be suitable if there aren't many adults around who can reach the tree's heights. A very short tree may be dwarfed by other furniture in the room. It's therefore very important to carefully consider these issues and to get a tree that has a suitable height, and also one that has sturdy branches to hold heavy ornaments.

Artificial and real Christmas Trees can often be bought from the same retail stores these days, as local businesses and retail chain stores often sell both types of trees. The best place to get a real and fresh Christmas Tree, and also to see a wide variety, is likely a Christmas Tree farm, however. Using modern technology, both types of trees can also be obtained through online transactions, via telephone, as well as by mail-order through catalogs.

Among Christmas Trees there are certain types that are always favorites and which are best sellers. These include: Douglas, Fraser, Noble and Balsam firs, and Scotch, Virginia and White Pine trees. These evergreen trees all have all have one or more excellent features related to shape, color, or sheen, and fragrance, which makes them favorites for Christmas Trees.

The most favorite Christmas Trees basically have a pyramid or cone shape. A pyramid-shaped tree is likely taller and has somewhat of an elegant look. The Douglas Fir, which ranks first among Christmas tree favorites, is an example of a pyramid-shaped tree. Other examples include Fraser, Balsam, and Noble firs.

A cone shape tree tends to be short with dense branches, which makes them excellent for holding many ornaments and other decorations. Families that have a strong tradition of making their own ornaments, or putting mementos on Christmas Trees, may consider a cone-shaped tree. Virginia and Scotch Pines, Norway Spruce, and the Eastern White Pine all have cone shapes.

Another feature that makes Christmas Trees appealing is their color. While all trees have a green appearance, a closer look at their needles will reveal differences, such as a bright or dark green, blue-green or yellowish-green hue. The needles may also emit a silvery sheen with the right lighting. Fraser and Noble firs both have needles with a silvery sheen, and the branches of both trees are also used for garlands and wreaths.

Most people choose a fresh Christmas tree for its fragrance, which can be fairly strong, or just subtle, giving off just enough of a scent. The Douglas Fir, which is the most popular Christmas Tree in homes and public places, is a very fragrant tree. The Balsam Fir is also fairly fragrant. The Eastern White Pine, however, doesn't have much fragrance.

Whether you have a favorite type of Christmas Tree, or will choose one from its appearance, there are many choices to satisfy the desire to have a fragrant and well-decorated tree for Christmas.

Interesting Facts and Notes about Christmas

It is an accepted fact that the Christmas Tree tradition is one that was brought to the shores of America by German immigrants, who continued a practice that was popular in their former homeland. Today, a Christmas Tree, even a miniature one, is present in just about every home at Christmas. It is therefore interesting to note some little-known facts about the Christmas Tree and other traditions related to Christmas.

The first interesting fact is the source of real Christmas Trees for some Americans. These can be bought at a Christmas Tree Farm, or at many local stores and other places of business, in just about every town and city across the country around Christmas time. But, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, Americans buy about 330,000 Christmas trees (that are real) through e-commerce, or from a catalogue, and have them shipped by mail-order.

The scent of real Christmas Trees is the reason they are so popular; but as they stand silently in their decorative wonder, they are also providing another benefit. The Christmas Tree Association says the amount of oxygen produced on a daily basis by one acre of Christmas Trees is enough to provide oxygen for 18 people. During the first week, a Christmas Tree at home will use up to one quart of water each day to help retain its longevity for the many days of Christmas.

Since Christmas celebrations have gained popularity in America, the Christmas Tree has always been a big tradition. During the 1950s, however, artificial Christmas trees were not always green. It was very popular during those times to have artificial trees with other colors such as silver, pink, and aqua. The appeal in having these colored Christmas trees may have been due to the fact that they looked shiny and bright and appeared like tinsel instead of green foliage.

An important ceremony related to the Christmas Tree, which gains national attention during the Christmas season, is the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the White House. This tradition can be credited to President Calvin Coolidge, who lit the first decorated Christmas Tree outside the White House in 1923.

The lighting of the National Christmas Tree has also been used to convey some symbolic meaning not related to Christmas. In 1963, it was not lighted until December 22 because of a national mourning period of 30 days after the assassination of President Kennedy. While Teddy Roosevelt was President, he gave an order that banned the Christmas Tree from the White House, not for the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, which caused him to become President, but for reasons related to the environment. Also of note, is that when the National Christmas Tree was lighted on December 13 in 1984, temperatures were in the 70s during an unusually warm December.

Christmas has been celebrated in the United States since the 1600s, although it wasn't always very popular. It took more than two centuries, into the mid to late 1860s for Christmas to become a popular holiday season all across America. So, maybe the rest of the country owes the holiday of Christmas Day to the state of Alabama, which in 1836, became the first state to declare December 25 a legal holiday.

It is interesting to note that, on Christmas Day of 1789, Congress was in session. To show how far ahead of the game Alabama was, it wasn't until June 26, 1870, that the federal government declared Christmas a federal holiday.

Although Christmas is based on the Christian religion, not all Christian groups celebrate the season. Among the Christian groups who do not celebrate Christmas, and related traditions such as sending greeting cards, are Jehovah Witnesses. Jehovah Witnesses, and other non-participating Christian groups, say Christmas isn't specifically mentioned in the Bible as a time or reason to celebrate, and since they strictly adhere to the word of the Bible, they refuse to celebrate Christmas.

Fancy Tales Related to Christmas

A lot of what is widely regarded as true about Christmas, or held as a tradition, cannot be, or has not been, verified, or has changed throughout the years. Even Christmas Day itself, December 25, has been questioned as to whether that is the exact day on which Jesus was born.

Skeptics have asked, “Why would shepherds be out in the cold watching their flocks by night during the winter?” Those skeptics have put forward the thought that Jesus may really have been born in the spring instead. It is, therefore, little wonder that there are many fancy stories and tales that are told about Christmas and the Christmas season.

The most common fancy tale that everyone tells, particularly to children, is about Santa Claus, also called St. Nicholas. But even if it were accepted that Santa Claus existed, where does he live, and how is he able to get to all of the houses of good boys and girls on Christmas Eve?

In the United States, Santa Claus is said to have two homes. There is a home in Torrington, Connecticut, which is used as a distribution point for Santa and his many helpers, who are elves, to hand out gifts. And then, a second home is said to be located in Wilmington, New York, and that is where Santa Claus and his delivery reindeer crew are located.

But Santa can be visited in Cyberspace at anytime, and what about the widely held belief that Santa Claus really lives in a village at the North Pole? The people of Finland also claim that their country is the official residence of Santa Claus. That's because in Finland, you can actually visit a village anytime during the year. There you can see Santa's workshop, and observe Santa and his elves hard at work, as they prepare for their very important Christmas gift delivery job on Christmas Eve. The only day when Santa's workshop is closed to visitors is, of course, on Christmas Eve.

Maybe a very smart visitor could visit Santa's workshop on the day before Christmas Eve to see if there are any clues as to how Santa and his reindeer plan to make their trip the next day. As the tale goes in Finland, Santa Claus and his reindeer do not reach their destinations around the globe by flying.

Finland welcomes visitors to Santa's workshop, but there is nothing said about whether visitors actually have any chance of having a word with the man himself. While the chances of doing so are believed to be non-existent, among the questions that inquiring minds could ask Santa is whether Rudolph is the son of Donner (and to confirm the spelling - Donner or Donder), or whether Santa spotted him in a different reindeer village, one foggy Christmas Eve, after he had already started on his Christmas toy delivery mission.

If mere mortals got a chance to question Santa, then he also would likely have some questions for us humans. He may want to know whose idea it was to have Christmas trees and for the gifts to be placed under them.

The tradition of Christmas trees, as it exists today, comes from Germany, by way of immigrants; but it isn't clear how the tradition really gained a foothold in Germany. One story is that Christians in Germany, during the 16th century, started to bring trees that were decorated into their homes. Some of those Christians would build pyramids for Christmas. The pyramids were made of wood and would be decorated with evergreens and candles, if wood was in short supply.

It is however Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, who is said to have been the first to add lighted candles as decoration to a tree, based on his inspiration from the brilliant light of twinkling stars that shone through the evergreen trees as he walked home one winter evening.

As the legend goes, Martin Luther placed a tree in a primary room of his house and placed wires with small, lighted candles around the branches of the tree. That is how, as the tale goes, the Christmas tree, as known today, was started.