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ended when they found the Fir.

SUPERSTITIONS

In some places it is considered bad luck (take heed Wal-Mart, K Mart, Sears, Penney's, etc.) to have a tree up and decorated before Christmas Eve.

To keep Christmas greenery up beyond Candlemas (February 2nd) is sure to bring bad luck.

Some believe that the only way to avoid bad luck is to dispose of the Christmas tree by burning it.

Others say burning the tree will guarantee bad luck.

In the past trees were decorated with horns and bells to frighten away evil spirits.

A spider web on a Christmas tree is a sign of good luck.

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE

While many countries claim to be the home of the first Christmas tree that honor seems to go to Riga, Latvia where a plaque in the town square proclaims "The First New Year's Tree in Riga in 1510". There is some confusion and debate as to whether this event pre-dated Martin Luther decorating an in-house tree with candles.

In 1816 Princess Henrietta introduced the tree to Vienna, Austria.

The duchess of Orleans brought the tree to France in 1840.

On Christmas Eve 1832, the teen-age Princess Victoria wrote in her journal of gifts under decorated trees. Queen Charlotte, a German, had brought the custom to Britain.

In 1777 an imprisoned Hessian soldier erected a tree at Noden-Reed House in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. It appears to be the home of the first Christmas tree in the United States of America.

BACK TO THE QUESTION

In 1989 the Supreme Court handed down their decision concerning the Christmas tree in which they stated: "The Christmas tree, unlike the menorah, is not itself a religious symbol. Although Christmas trees once carried religious connotations, today they typify the secular celebration of Christmas."

I guess that makes it official.

As Tiny Tim would say, "GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE'.

Learn more about this author, Jonnie Chastain.
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