A Christmas tree crowned with a star tree-topper in Little Stanney, Cheshire, in England, UK
Tree-toppers may be made of from a wide range of materials. Modern plastic tree-toppers are often electric and once connected with the tree's lights offer a gentle glow. Following World War II, various symbols of Christmastide, such as Santa Claus, were introduced as electrified tree-toppers.
Use of a Christmas angel as a tree-topper represents to some the angel Gabriel from the Nativity of Jesus:
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary."
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.'"
During the 1870s, in conjunction with the growing power of the British Empire, the Union Jack became another popular tree-topper.[1]
Alternatives
Some Neo-pagan homes celebrate the winter solstice, which falls close to Christmas, by decorating an evergreen tree as a symbol of continuing life, but make an effort to decorate it with non-Christian symbols[2] and often choose tree-toppers representing the sun.
"On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves. Dolls that looked for all the world like men—the Tree had never beheld such before—were seen among the foliage, and at the very top a large star of gold tinsel was fixed."[3]
Media related to Christmas tree at Wikimedia Commons
January 20, 2023
tree, topper, tree, topper, treetopper, decorative, ornament, placed, crown, christmas, tree, take, form, though, most, common, include, star, representing, star, bethlehem, finial, angel, christmas, angel, fairy, additional, forms, range, from, paper, rosette. A tree topper or treetopper is a decorative ornament placed on the top or crown of a Christmas tree Tree toppers can take any form though the most common include a star representing the Star of Bethlehem finial angel Christmas angel or fairy Additional forms range from a paper rosette ribbon bow Father Christmas or Santa Claus to a Christian cross owl white dove spike or sunburst A Christmas tree crowned with a star tree topper in Little Stanney Cheshire in England UK Tree toppers may be made of from a wide range of materials Modern plastic tree toppers are often electric and once connected with the tree s lights offer a gentle glow Following World War II various symbols of Christmastide such as Santa Claus were introduced as electrified tree toppers Contents 1 Origin and use 2 Alternatives 3 Popular culture 4 Image gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksOrigin and use Edit That pretty German toy a Christmas tree 1848 The Illustrated London News Use of a Christmas angel as a tree topper represents to some the angel Gabriel from the Nativity of Jesus And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the virgin s name was Mary Luke 1 26 27 KJV Use of a star represents the Star of Bethlehem Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying Where is he that is born King of the Jews for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him Matthew 2 1 2 KJV During the 1870s in conjunction with the growing power of the British Empire the Union Jack became another popular tree topper 1 Alternatives EditSome Neo pagan homes celebrate the winter solstice which falls close to Christmas by decorating an evergreen tree as a symbol of continuing life but make an effort to decorate it with non Christian symbols 2 and often choose tree toppers representing the sun Popular culture EditHans Christian Andersen s 1844 short story The Fir Tree describes the decoration of a Danish Christmas tree including its topper On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper and each net was filled with sugarplums and among the other boughs gilded apples and walnuts were suspended looking as though they had grown there and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves Dolls that looked for all the world like men the Tree had never beheld such before were seen among the foliage and at the very top a large star of gold tinsel was fixed 3 The use of a tree topper is also depicted in Christmas songs with lines such as Forst en stjarna utav gull and So hang a shining star upon the highest bough Image gallery Edit Post War NOMA plastic electrified angel tree topper Croatian Christmas star Homemade Christmas angelSee also EditChristmas tree Christmas ornamentReferences Edit Connelly Mark 1999 Christmas A Social History I B Taurus pp 38 40 ISBN 1 86064 446 5 Albertsson Alaric 2013 11 08 To Walk a Pagan Path Practical Spirituality for Every Day Llewellyn Worldwide ISBN 978 0 7387 3922 9 Andersen s Fairy Tales Project Gutenberg textExternal links Edit Media related to Christmas tree at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tree topper amp oldid 1128094142, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
