In 2023, the British Royal Family is often at the centre of controversies and rumours. Whether it’s about their work and if they're doing enough, or their family dynamics, there is always something to comment about.
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Moreover, the British Royal Family is one of the most, if not the most, scrutinised family in the world. As such, they have a huge amount of influence. We know for certain that whatever the Princess of Wales wears will be sold out the following day. But it's not just with fashion. Customs and traditions are also created from copying royals. That has been the case for centuries.
The Christmas tradition that comes from the Royal Family
We won’t keep you in the dark for much longer… actually it would be ironic to do so considering the fact that this tradition is usually something you light up: yes, you guessed it. It’s your Christmas tree!
However, that tradition didn’t come from the Windsors but from the Hanovers. Actually, it was Queen Charlotte who introduced the tradition to England when she moved from Germany. If you watched the Netflix show, they nod to that tradition in one of the episodes.
At the time, that tradition was not as safe as it is today with our LED fairy lights as trees were decorated with actual candles. According to History, the tradition of the Christmas tree started in Germany by the 16th century. They explain that ‘it is a widely held belief’ that Martin Luther is to thank for this tradition.
How the Christmas Tree became popular
As we mentioned earlier, royals are capable of changing trends and customs… well especially if they are popular. That was the case for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who were fond of the Christmas Tree tradition.
Their fondness helped the custom become popular across the country and the tradition has carried on ever since. With it a whole industry was created as ornaments stopped being solely made from ‘apples, nuts and marzipan cookies’. Moreover, History explains that the expansion of electricity facilitated the arrival of Christmas Trees within the public space.
Who said the Royal Family was useless?
Read more:
⋙ Christmas: The right time to buy your tree revealed by experts
⋙ As King Charles expands his guest list for Christmas, here’s who he could be inviting
⋙ Will King Charles stop this extreme royal tradition that has a worrying impact on UK's history?
Sources:
OK!: How the Royals gave us Christmas trees - and the surprising story behind it
National Geographic: Why do we have Christmas trees? The surprising history behind this festive tradition.
History: History of Christmas Trees
