A colourfully decorated Christmas tree lit with twinkling lights provokes awe & delight. We understand the lighted tree as a central symbol of the Christmas season but what are the roots of the tradition? Who first thought to bedeck a tree to bring it inside? How & where did the local activity grow into a widespread tradition & how has the Christmas tree traveled across time & continents? Bernd Brunners brief history
- enriched by a selection of delightful & unusual historical illustrations
- spans many centuries & cultures to illuminate the mysteries of the Christmas tree & its enduring hold on the human imagination. Tracing various European traditions from the Middle Ages forward Brunner finds that only in the nineteenth century did Christmas trees become common in European family homes. In North America the imported custom soon fascinated though some found the tree not quite compatible with a Puritan mindset. Brunner explores how the Christmas tree entered mainstream American culture & how in recent times it has become globally popular. He introduces Jacqueline Kennedys Nutcracker Tree in the White House trees used to celebrate the New Year in Turkey & the worlds most expensive Christmas tree erected in Abu Dhabi. The author also considers the place of the artificial tree & the ecological
Dimensions of the Christmas tree trade. A book rich with anecdote & insight Inventing the Christmas Tree" will enchant a wide audience."