From real candles in the 1900s, a tinsel takeover in the '50s and drifts of fake snow drifts in...

dailymail.co.uk ^ | Dec. 22, 2014 | Charlie Lankston

[PROCON]

Full Title: From real candles in the 1900s, a tinsel takeover in the '50s and drifts of fake snow drifts in the '60s - how trees have changed down the decades

For many, a Christmas tree is the most memorable aspect of their annual festive decorations.

The tree itself has been a part of holiday traditions for centuries, dating back to the late 16th century when the custom was first developed in Germany; but the way in which it has been trimmed has changed dramatically from year to year.

Here, we take a look back at some of the different Christmas tree styles over the past 110 years, showcasing varying decorative styles from the endless tinsel favored during the 1950s and fake snow-covered branches in the 1960s, to color-themed decorations in the 1990s and today's modern, wireless lights.

[PROCON]

I remember my dad telling me when he was 8 years old (circa 1920's), their candle-lit Christmas tree caught fire and his father had to throw it outside in the snow.

The worse Christmas he could remember...

I remember in the 50's and even the 60's, tinsel was big and we used to put a whole bunch on our Christmas trees.

When I had kids, it was a big thing to go out to a tree farm a cut down our Christmas tree; the kids loved it and it was a great Christmas tradition.

Nowadays, many people just get an artificial, pre-lit tree and store it in-between Christmases. :-(

[Sacajaweau]

Tinsel.....strand by strand

As time went on....we were tossing it...we were after that natural look.

Now my $20 fake tree makes me happy with its' one string of lights, 20 identical bulbs...and an old sheet.

Up and down time....20 minutes!!

At 71....I'm lucky to see a Christmas.

It's all about family and a lot of great food.

Just took date nut bread out of the oven.

[PROCON]

It's all about family and a lot of great food.

Exactly!

Just took date nut bread out of the oven.

Will you FAX me a piece? :-)

[mountn man]

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I’m sure you’ll see another 20 Christmases at least. My uncle is 94 and going strong —not eve a cane yet. Merry Christmas.

[The Great RJ]

I remember those aluminum foil trees in the 1960s. Because they were conductive you could not use conventional electric lights. They were illuminated by a spotlight with a rotating disk with three different color filters that caused the tree to change colors. My mother detested them and when our neighbors installed one in their picture windows she always said how tacky that looked. Ironically, we had a real long needled tree “flocked” with artificial snow and illuminated by the same color wheel spotlight.

[PROCON]

Thanks for the walk down memory lane :-)

[PROCON]

Thanks, see post #4

[ProtectOurFreedom]

There was nothing like lead tinsel,in the 50s. It draped properly and shimmered beautifully. When Christmas was over, it made great wadded up balls. It was terribly hard on our poor cats, though.

[cherry]

we always get a real tree and up until 3 yrs ago we always put tinsel up....

we have a little farm scene and town scene under the tree, complete with those cardboard houses,not the fancy ones they use today, and of course, the crèche....

[CARDINALRULES]

I love all that vintage stuff and I always try to find at least some old bulbs at yard sales.

[chae]

We still have one. I lI’ve ut. Reminds me of going to my great grandfather’s house with tons of relatives for Christmas celebrations.

[RegulatorCountry]

A vintage aluminum tree complete with color wheel in great condition fetches a fair amount these days, the whole “mid-century modern” thing.

[Kirkwood]

My Dad used to talk about lighting candles on the Christmas tree back in the 1920s and 30s. They would bring in several buckets of water, then quickly light them up and stand in awe for 5 minutes. I was watching the movie Holiday Inn yesterday and there was a tree with lighted candles.

I still have several strands of the old bubbler lights.

[Mears]

I remember the hellish lights in the 40s.

When one died they all went out and the process for figuring out which one died was tiresome.

.

[PROCON]

Christmas is always about family and memories of days past...and Jesus :-)

[Jeff Chandler]

Nowadays, many people just get an artificial, pre-lit tree

Some of the artificial trees look amazingly real, absolutely beautiful.

[CatherineofAragon]

I don't know if it's a regional thing, but to us, tinsel is the foil garland, and the silvery, shimmery strips we used to put on the branches were called icicles.

One year,when I was a kid, we found the cat scooting across the floor, trying to get an icicle out of his behind. He had ingested it and it wouldn't pass. That was the end of icicles on our Christmas tree.

[CatherineofAragon]

My grandmother had those bubble lights. They used to fascinate me.

[Slings and Arrows]

Poor baby! (Yeah, I’m giggling too, but after the fact.)