Christmas tree on houses tradition?

Mon 23 Dec 2024, 15:26 (last edited on Tue 24 Dec 2024, 10:17)

Ah brilliant, thank you very much, Dean. Nothing quirky English but very much a creative Charlbury invention from only shortly before I arrived here. Long may it continue.

Sun 22 Dec 2024, 18:48

We bought the Pharmacy in January 1989 and when it came to December we thought it would be a jolly idea to tie a Christmas tree to each of the two flagpoles on the front of the pharmacy. This we did, and decorated both with a few coloured lights, helping to light up Market Street along with the traditional lit up Christmas tree outside the museum.

Subsequently, the following Christmas the Charlbury Chamber of trade had a batch of purpose made brackets made up for businesses to attach trees to the front of their premises in and around the centre of town. Trees were supplied by Geoff and Janet Burroughs' Woodstock Road plantation. Since then the brackets and trees have spread to give us the wonderful display we enjoy today.

Sun 22 Dec 2024, 14:49 (last edited on Sun 22 Dec 2024, 15:10)

Hi all, does anyone know the story behind Charlbury's 'Christmas trees on houses' tradition? I'm sure it has been discussed on the forum ad infinitum but can't find it so quickly. As a non UK native, I'd always assumed it was a quirky English thing but no one outside our town (phew!) seems to do this. And now someone on Facebook who lives in London asks me about it, and I don't have an answer. Does anyone remember when it started? Where does it come from?