It’s a trend that’s gaining momentum, but has left many of us scratching our heads. If you’ve been wondering what the deal is with upside down Christmas trees – allow us to explain!

Yes, it’s not even December yet, but there are plenty of jolly folk already getting their jingle on and dusting off the Christmas decorations – and that includes the Christmas tree. Usually, like real trees, Christmas trees are designed with the trunk at the bottom, tapering in to a point at the top – which is where the angel or star is placed.

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But there’s a growing number of people ditching the traditional Christmas tree for an upside down Christmas tree – but the question is … why?!

What is the meaning of upside down Christmas trees?

This topsy turvy Christmas tree trend has been around for a few years now, but we are seeing more and more of of them crop up on social media. We’ve even seen celebrities jump on the trend! And every time someone shares their upside down Christmas tree – the questions flood in – what’s the point of it?

Well, sorry to disappoint, but there isn’t one, clear answer. There is one tale that seems to be popular to explain the origins. It dates back to the 8th century, and St Boniface cutting down an oak tree after seeing pagans worshipping it.

In it’s place grew a fir tree, and St Boniface used the triangle shape of tree to represent the trinity. And it’s said he hung the tree upside down.

 

 

 

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Others say the trend came from Eastern Europe. According to the Polish Art Centre before the Christmas tree tradition became popular in Poland in the 20th century, peasants decorated their cottages with a ‘podniczka’ (upcreeper) or ‘sad (orchard). This was, apparently, the point of an evergreen tree hung point-side down from the rafters of the cottage.

So why are people jumping on this trend?

Like any trend, people are doing it because they like it! Ariana Grande famously shared an image of her upside down Christmas tree in 2018, saying it represented her life being ‘upside down’ at the time.

If you’re keen to get your hands on one, you can snap up an upside down Christmas tree for around $150.

(Featured images: Wayfair & Amazon)

So what do you think of the upside down Christmas tree trend? Let us know in the comments below.