Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how did your decorations come to be?
You can find out exactly where all your favourite festive trinkets and ornaments came from by following the Christmas tree timeline.
In this Christmas cracker of a chronology, you’ll see why the tree and tinsel became so popular. You’ll also find out about the history of baubles and the origins of fairy lights.
So take a look at our guide and find out something new about Christmas.
And then get in the festive spirit by sharing the Christmas tree timeline with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
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The tinsel trail
1610: Originates in Germany, where it’s first made using shredded silver
1848: Tinsel adorns Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree and makes headline news
1900: Aluminium replaces silver
1914 – 1918: Production is halted because metal is needed for the Great War
1950s: Peaks in popularity, topping lights as the number-one decoration
1970s: PVC tinsel becomes the norm
The branches of your Christmas tree’s past
1500s: Martin Luther puts candles on a fir in his home, creating the first Christmas tree
1832: A young Queen Victoria writes about Christmas trees in her journal
1848: Christmas trees surge in popularity after a picture of Queen Victoria and family is published in the press. Baubles, tinsel and candles feature as decorations
1933: The Rockefeller tree becomes an annual tradition in New York, USA
1950s: Silver-coloured aluminium trees are imported from the USA
2012: A 27.5m-high Christmas tree goes up in Cheshire, setting a UK record
An illuminating history of fairy lights
1500s: Candles light up the first ever Christmas tree
1848: Candles hit the headlines after lighting up Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree
1882: The first electric ‘fairy’ lights are put on a tree by Edward Johnson, USA
1900: Electric lights are available, but so expensive renting is a popular option
1970: The mini-light is invented, revolutionising the industry
2013: 502,165 Christmas lights adorn a home in Australia, setting a world record
From beads to baubles …
1600: Glass beads are produced as Christmas decorations in Germany
1710: The first baubles become available
1848: Baubles make the news after a picture is published of Queen Victoria’s Christmas decorations
1850: Silver nitrate is swirled around a glass bauble, giving an added decorative touch
1971: Plastic baubles rise in popularity
2000: In the Netherlands, an eight metre-wide bauble becomes the biggest ever made