Fun & Famous

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT CHRISTMAS TREE?

Yesterday we had a high-profile visit from the Christmas team of Bol.com, who decorated a Christmas tree in travel style with four people in an hour. Christmas ornaments, passport holders, notebooks, and sleep masks; you name it, it's hanging there. The traditional tree we already had was full of lights, ornaments, and candy canes, which we subtly moved to the kitchen. And yes, what's wrong with two trees? You won't hear me complaining. Jingle all the way.

Every year we storm en masse to the garden center, IKEA, or the local Christmas tree seller, in search of the perfect tree. A Christmas tree.

But why, why do we all have such a monstrosity in the living room? I find that already a thing. And I've been racking my brain about it for days. And as if that wasn't enough, we also spend a fortune on a bunch of glitter and baubles that we know we won't find beautiful the following year. Have you ever visited the Christmas section of a well-known garden center, I won't name names? The average price of a Christmas ornament is €4.50. FOUR EURO FIFTY. And with five ornaments, you're still far from done... And next year, the whole routine starts all over again, because then you really don't want silver again. Let's not even talk about those lights, I think serious relationships break down over those every year.

“Well, now we know that too.”

Anyway, back to the question. Why? Do you know yet? Because it's cozy, says the colleague on the left. I get it. And I'm totally into Christmas, you know that. But aren't candles cozy too? Or a fireplace? A Christmas rose or a huge bouquet of flowers? I'll spare you a lot of pondering and thinking, here's my answer to the question. I can calmly sit at the Christmas table. The Christmas tree (which by the way is a fir tree and not a pine tree as we beautifully call it in the well-known song) is a symbol of fertility. It was Luther who transformed the Christmas tree in the 16th century into the symbol of the birth of Jesus. Where it first only stood in churches, the tree was brought into the living room in the early 19th century. The Christmas ornaments represent the fruits that Adam and Eve ate. And that star? It helped the wise men find the birthplace of Jesus.

So, we know that now.

If someone feels called, I wouldn't mind having such a fertility tree in my living room. And I'll handle those lights myself...