Got a special family tradition that makes the season extra merry? ✨

Drew sat down with storyteller Ace Collins to spill the tea on how some of our most beloved Christmas traditions got started. It’s a sleigh ride through history that’ll make you appreciate that tree in your living room a little more. 🎄

Christmas Trees: From Eden to Your Living Room

Did you know? Christmas trees weren’t always the cozy, twinkly centerpiece of our homes.

Origins: Back in the day, they were “Creation Trees” set up outdoors by the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe to represent the Garden of Eden.

Winter Warriors: In Scandinavia, evergreens were a symbol of life when everything else was frosty. Christian missionaries like Boniface flipped the script and made them symbols of faith that never dies.

Indoor Evolution: By the 1500s, Latvians said, “Let’s bring the party inside!” They even hung their trees upside down for a while: practical or just weird? You decide. 😅

🍭 Deck the Halls: What’s the Deal with All the Decorations?

Tree Bling: Back then, people used handmade goodies like straw wreaths. Pinterest moms would’ve thrived. 😍

Colorful Ornaments: Germans jazzed things up with glass ornaments in faith-filled colors:

🔴 Red = Christ’s blood

⚪ White = Purity

🟡 Gold = Divine Light

Wreath Goals: Those circles of evergreen? They’re all about eternal life. Add some red ribbons for Christ’s sacrifice, and voila: a mini sermon on your door.

✨ Let There Be Light!

Candles to Twinkles: They started with candles (yikes for fire hazards), but electric lights took over after WWII. Now we’ve got lights that sync to music!

Fake It ‘Til You Make It: The first artificial trees popped up in New York in the 1880s, made from feathers: because apparently, the demand for real trees was nuts.

🎶 What’s Christmas Without Music and Mirth?

Traditions may evolve, but the heart of Christmas is timeless. From singing carols to baking Jesus a birthday cake (yes, this is a thing and it’s awesome), there’s something beautiful about keeping it simple. 🎂✨

No matter what your traditions look like, remember this: Christmas decorations, trees, and all those little touches are more than just pretty: they’re reminders of hope and faith in a chaotic world.

So, what’s your favorite Christmas tradition? Share it!

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