Christmas In South London, Friday, November 18, 2011 55


The inside story of tree tradition C


HRISTMAS just wouldn’tbe Christmas without atreebut do youknowwherethe tradition of


bringing in alivetreetothe house originated? Legend has it the firstChristmas tree,


also known as aYule tree,dates back to St Boniface and the German town of Geismar. He is said to have cut down the sacred tree of Thor and replaced it with afir tree. The tradition of decorating an evergreen


tree at Christmas time is said to have started in Livonia in Germanyinthe 16th Century. Although popular in the rest of Europe,


it wasn’tuntil the early 19th century that the firstChristmas tree wasintroduced in Britain. King George III’swife Queen


By Kate Gould


Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz is thought to have started the tradition. However, it waswhen Queen Victoria married Prince Albertthat the custom spread from the royalhousehold to the rest of the country. Every year,the people of Oslo in Norway donate atreetobebrightlydisplayedin Trafalgar Square. It is atoken of appreci- ation forthe British supportofNorwegian resistance during the SecondWorldWar. Nowpopular all over the world, it is estimated between 33 and 36 million trees areproduced in America every year and even more–between 50 and 60 million – in Europe.


The most common species arefir trees,


which tend not to shed their needles and also retain their colour,foliageand scent forlonger. Locally, forsome super real trees, whyot


try the Dulwich Garden Centre, in Grove Vale,Alleyn Park Garden Centre, Phoebes Garden CentreinCatford, St Winnifred’s Primary School in Lee –wherea percentagegoes to the school –East Street MarketinWalworth, Ladywell DIY in Ladywell Road, BrockleyMarketand Shannons Garden CentreinForest Hill. However, if youdon’tfancy hovering up


all those needles, thereare some great artificial ones available. Check out M&S, B&Q, Homebase,Debenhams,TK Maxx, BHS and Argos.


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