topic Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles in Community Chat

Real Christmas Trees & Candles

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 17:41:21 GMT

My beloved MIL was an old world European woman. Her husband made her a dozen candle holders back in the 40's for their Christmas tree. Up until about 15 years before she passed away she continued to put them on her tree and light them. I was terrified she was going to burn her house down and begged her to stop lighting them - to absolutely no avail. I finally put my foot down and took her candles away - much to her annoyance. She did, of course, forgive me, but still wasn't happy about it. After she passed away I was left the contents of her home. I now decorate my tree with a lot of her beautful old ornaments, and yes, her candle holders with the candles. I do not however light them. Anyone else remember the days of lit candles on trees?

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

cherry — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 17:41:52 GMT

I've heard of it, but never seen it in person

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

Maltichonmom17 — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 18:03:04 GMT

My daughter lives in Denmark and has sent pictures from Christmas there. Her Danish husband's family still puts candles on their real tree every Christmas Eve and lights them. Makes me nervous just thinking about it. 😳

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 18:05:32 GMT

@Maltichonmom17 wrote:
My daughter lives in Denmark and has sent pictures from Christmas there. Her Danish husband's family still puts candles on their real tree every Christmas Eve and lights them. Makes me nervous just thinking about it. 😳

@Maltichonmom17, glad to know the tradition is alive and well - lol! It is very pretty, but I'm with you - it used to scare the bejeebers out of me when my MIL did it!

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

newagain888888 — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 18:33:30 GMT

I can see why your MIL was so attached to her Christmas tree candles. Years ago, I remember Amy Grant had a Christmas Special taped at her rural farm in Tennessee. Featured during the program was her enormous freshly cut fir tree covered with candle holders that held thick, brightly burning candles. I had never seen anything like it before and it was truly mesmerizing. The Christmas carols, the crackling fire, homemade cookies and hot chocolate, reading the Christmas story of Jesus's birth, celebrating the true meaning of Christmas, her family together, children and special guests, and all of it enjoyed by candlelight. All these years later, I can still picture that lit tree.

Since then, I've seen smaller candleholders and candles in Old World style Christmas shops. I bought several dozen myself one year, attached them to the tree, and lit the candles. It was a unique experience, but the overall anxiety of a possible fire tempered the joy. No way could you turn your back or relax in that situation. Better to watch it on TV. Amy Grant surely had hired a bucket brigade to standby her tree just in case! This year I've seen the battery operated candles with holders that clamp to the tree. The effect may not be quite the same, but they're actually very festive and a whole lot safer.

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

Sooner — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 18:38:40 GMT

No. I don't want to see it or be near it. BAD bad idea!

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

Allegheny — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 18:43:54 GMT

I've only seen pictures. They are pretty. But it would make me too nervous.

From doing some reading those who still carry on the tradition follow very strict procedures on location of the tree (out of drafts), proper type of candles and candle holders and knowing which branches to place the candles. And of course a bucket of water or fire extinquisher near by. And never let the tree out of your sight.

With all of todays innovations in lighting I bet replacating the look could be possible.

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

GCR18 — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 18:47:47 GMT

Never heard of it, but I guess it makes sense many years ago.

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

maestra — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 19:20:36 GMT

candles on trees + family pet = visit from the fire dept.

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

NickNack — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 19:48:34 GMT

I had a friend who married a German. His tradition was to use lit candles on the tree, so that's what they did. I never saw it and told her I thought it was a fire hazard. She didn't listen to me.

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 19:54:48 GMT

@Nicknack wrote:
I had a friend who married a German. His tradition was to use lit candles on the tree, so that's what they did. I never saw it and told her I thought it was a fire hazard. She didn't listen to me.

@NickNack, it sure is a fire hazard. My fear was she would forget to snuff ALL of them out. She would place them on the tree as if they were regular ornaments - meaning she had them in the back of the tree which was against the wall, etc. Every year we hear on the news about people burning their homes down with lights on the tree. I can't imagine how many houses went ablaze when candles on Christmas trees were the norm.

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

raven-blackbird — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 21:12:00 GMT

old German tradition.............but back then, the xmas tree was put up on xmas eve.....decorated by the mother and no one allowed to see it till the doors to the room were open for the family.......so the risk of a fire wasn't as great since the tree had been cut down that morning or the night before and only lit up on xmas eve night.............then it was promptly removed after xmas.

now most of us leave a tree up for a good month before we take it down.........so the old candles would be a major no no.

My grandmother had the holders, they were her mothers and I think one of my aunts have them now...........but we never used them..........................................raven

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

bri20 — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 21:14:58 GMT

I've never seen them. That would make me very nervous

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

cherry — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 21:17:00 GMT

When I was a kid, the tree was put up Christmas Eve and taken down after Epiphany. A freshly cut tree wouldn't burn that quickly

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

raven-blackbird — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 21:19:10 GMT

@NickNack yep.................it's a German custom............I have never seen one lit with candles even though my grandmother, who was German, had them, but I always wanted to............she did xmas the "German" way but not the candles, my aunts wouldn't let her LOL...................................raven

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

ECBG — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 21:42:26 GMT

In pictures I've seen, the candles were few in number and on extreme edges. I still wouldn't feel safe.

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

Katcat1 — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 21:51:13 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2, That was a beautiful story. The candles were before my time on the tree; however, we had the larger colored bulbs and we used tinsel on the tree which most people do not use today. We also had a small manger beneath the three and went to church on Christmas and every Sunday.

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

chrystaltree — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 22:21:17 GMT

Please. I think the days of real lit candles on Christmas trees passed about 200 years ago.

Re: Real Christmas Trees & Candles

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 22:46:59 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
Please. I think the days of real lit candles on Christmas trees passed about 200 years ago.

. . . . Then you never met my mother in law . . .