Whenever you would have noticed an upside down Christmas tree you must have thought, "What a blasphemy?" But let us tell you that this tree was in vogue during the middle ages. While there are a number of legends which are associated with the conventional Christmas tree, there is a number of lore about this tree too. The conical shape of the tree is well known and is kept in that particular way as people are used to it. The traditional conical tree gleaming with lights and decorations and presents piled below it is the picture perfect image set in the mind of people. History has it that the first Evergreen Christmas tree was decorated and lighted in Germany in 1521. Still few of the modern historians believe that if tradition is to be followed, it will be correct to hang the tree upside down from the ceiling. The symbol becomes more meaningful when turned upside down. This is because where the conventional tree points to the heaven while the upside down Christmas tree has its roots in heaven. Though there is not much in scriptures about the upside down Christmas tree, still whatever few legends speak about the tree are mentioned below.
Upside Down Christmas Tree History
The legend goes like this that during the earliest stages of Christianity the evergreen tree was used as a symbol of religious dedication by the missionaries. They strategically used the tree to explain the basic religious fundamental of the Holy Trinity - God- The Father, Christ-The Son and The Holy Spirit. The tree was hung upside down for the same reason. Another reason was that, if erected straight inside the house, it might have been taken as considered as a floral decoration.
According to a few other legends, the image of the upside down tree has Pagan origins. The upside down tree is supposedly related to the Pagan remembrance of the time of cosmic tree which served as a home to the gods. It was connected to the Northland Vigrid Plain with the help of a Rainbow Bridge. Another story from the history which supports the claim of the tree being of Christian origins is of a Christian monk, St Boniface from Devonshire. It is said that he spent his time preaching the words of God. It is said that he used props to show the proofs of the divinity. He was the first one to popularize the fir tree as a prop to describe the relation between god, the son and the Holy Spirit. It was a custom in Central Europe till the 12th century to hang upside down fir tree in house as a symbol of Christianity at Christmas time.
The upside down Christmas tree, though an outdated ritual, has lost its appeal among the traditionalists but still is getting popular among the modern urban households. This fashion has one main reason of becoming popular - it saves space and one does not have to rearrange the furniture to make space.
There is a long history behind the upside down Christmas tree. To know about it, keep reading the article.