Have you seen the upside down Christmas trees? They are very popular. They can be expensive, though. These are just a few of the ones I snapped at the Botanical Garden in Richmond. Retailers will tell you the benefits of this kind of tree. Easier to get close to and decorate, takes up much less floor space, and more room underneath for presents! But there's something just not right about them to me, they always seemed a bit sacrilegious. With a regular tree, much is made of the tip pointing to heaven. If that is so, then the upside down ones point to somewhere very undesirable. Yet it turns out they may have religious roots dating back at least to the middle ages. Legend has it that trees were hung upside down to show the triangular shape and represent the Holy Trinity. Also if hung upside down, others would know that you were a Christian and your tree was not just for decoration. Some of the folklore is pretty hazy now. I still think it's kind of creepy looking, what do you think?
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." 1 Peter 2:24
33 comments:
I don't know where I've been all my life but I don't think I've ever actually seen an upside down Christmas tree. Pretty though!
I tried to comment via my blk.berry but couldn't..I planned to come back and get a better look on my lap top later but now I'm here. I can see why..it still looks odd as heck! I've never seen or heard of this..gee! How I wonder if it's upside down did they figure it represented the trinity..maybe I'm missing the obvious point? Well, I agree, pointing down just doesn't cut it (lol) Nice verse-
I still prefer it natural.. up and pointing, why would they want to put it upside down? Humans are pretty complicated, right? :)
hehehhe, this looks like the concept of my Chinese character Fu' when people hang tit up side down.
Now, I have not seen or heard of upside down christmas tre.
I emailed my daughter if she had any photo.
you are right, my pastor explained just last year that the shape is supposed to point to heaven.
Businessmen will try any thing to make money.
Ginny, I'm shaking my head. The look on my face is puzzlement. I don't get it. LOL
Wow...what a way for the Christmas tree! I have never seen that. I think it's another business tactic to be different to sell. I still prefer that tip pointing upward. I think lots of things around us are going in the opposite direction and life has gone haywire for too many.
I kind of like some of them. The one with the white peacock is practical, can you imagine trying to balance that huge bird on the tip of the tree?
The only thing I can't figure out is if it is a fresh tree how the heck do you water it?
I'm probably too much of a traditionalist - I like the trees pointing UP...
I agree with Sandra because I've never seen one either.
I just can't get used to seeing the tree upside down!
It does look odd but it's interesting to read the story behind the oddity. Pretty tree though.
We've seen these around here too as we have a Festival of Trees downtown every year. It's a fundraiser for one of the local hospitals. No matter how pretty these upside down trees are or how much they are decked out, I'm not partial to them at all. The most beautiful trees in my memory were the one's from my childhood. Real tree, real candles, straw and white paper stars, gilded walnuts and cones and draped icicles - a regular fire hazard that - but having a quiet elegance! Nowadays, in our family, we don't need a tree to have a fabulous, festive season!
Thanks for the quote from 1. Peter!
Creepy is probably a good word... I guess I'm just too old for any changes like that... I have read about them and seen pictures, but still don't care for them...
For me---I'll keep my tree upright --with the angel on top--toward heaven!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
I think God made trees just the way he wanted them. What I call right-side up! Interesting though. I thought it was just faddish rather than having some meaning from the past.
Best,
Bonnie
Now that is interesting....
i was getting worried that my sister was not the same as me. then i read the word creepy and YES, we are still sisters. they are very interesting, but i would not want one, and as i studied the tree in the header and the first shot, i realized it looks odd because the ornaments are hanging down and the top of the ornament should be at the bottom not the top. weird to me.
With the first two I didn't even understand that they were supposed to be upside-down trees, I thought they were just decorations made out of branches. I would not try to put my own tree upside-down... Can't see the point of it! (haha) But since I never really saw the Christmas tree as a religious symbol at all, I wouldn't really "interpret" an upside-down tree as sacrilegious either. Just odd.
they look a bit "tipsy" to me ...
I think I'll keep our tree right side up. These may be pretty, but they look weird.
I guess I'm a traditionalist too. I think God didn't create trees hanging from thin air so lets go with the original.
Good thought provoking post though.
Hi Ginny, I'm with you about those upside down trees. I even don't like the upside down veggie planters such as those for tomatoes. Oh well...
Have an excellent day!
I've never seen these before. Fascinating! As for me, I like the good old-fashioned heaven pointing tree :-) Have a great day, Ginny. Blessings...Mary
they may be popular but I prefer my tree right side up :)
No I have not, but if this the way they look, they are beautiful. Glad you shared them with us.
That's a new one for me...an up-side down tree. I remembered how upset it made me when a certain church I pastored wanted to sing an ode to the Christmas tree. They were upset that I was upset and they were not about to change their traditions! ☺ Oh, I prayed a lot. You know, that one titled, "Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree" and it goes on to sing praises of the tree. I'm not against Christmas trees, but felt that we as a church should be singing more about Jesus! Was I silly?
I like the decorations on the tree. But I don't know how we would keep an upside down tree... well, up. It is hard enough to keep on up with all the weight on the bottom... very different.
Oh wow - I have never seen one of these! So pretty.
now, that's a new concept!! where would the star go though??
I agree. Kind of creepy, and I'm with Reanaclaire, I like them the way they grow. Hmmm, I confess, we have used an artificial tree for several years now. Reanaclaire, I guess that doesn't quality as natural!
Interesting . . . but I'll stick with my traditional tree!
Yes, to me it is creepy looking ... I would not want an upside down tree. I like the old-fashioned tree, just the way nature grows them, but I do like the swags of evergreens that hang on the front door or over the eaves...but then, those are not trees, just bunches of branches.
I agree! I like the regular right side up version of a Christmas tree!
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