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Upside-Down Christmas Trees: Where They Came From and How to Decorate With One

Upside-down Christmas tree
Iryna Olivko / Getty Images

Meet the holiday feature that has been turning the traditional Christmas tree on its head—literally. In recent years, upside-down Christmas trees have been showing up in department stores, hotel lobbies, and cozy apartment buildings, but it's also something you can do at home.

Hanging your Christmas tree upside down might seem like just another modern space-saving hack, but the trend is actually rooted in historical traditions that date back centuries.

The History of the Upside-Down Christmas Tree

While it might seem shocking to display your Christmas tree upside down, people have been doing it for thousands of years. The tradition can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when European Christians would hang their fir trees upside down at Christmastime to represent the Holy Trinity, the central doctrine in Christianity that represents the unity of Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The upside-down Christmas tree is believed to have originated in the 7th century in Germany, started by a Benedictine Monk named Saint Boniface. According to legend, Boniface saw a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. He then chopped down a triangular-shaped fir tree and inverted it, using it as a teaching tool for pagans.

Upside-down Christmas trees eventually spread beyond Germany, becoming popular throughout European households. In the 12th century, a tradition called podłaźniczka began in Poland, which involves decorating a conifer tree with apples, nuts, cookies, shiny paper, ribbons and other items and hanging it upside down from the ceiling.

The tradition of upside-down Christmas trees continued well into the 19th century, when it was common for lower-class and poorer families to hang their trees from the rafters as a way of saving space. As Bernd Brunner explains in his book Inventing the Christmas Tree, "there was simply no space."

Modern Upside-Down Christmas Trees

These days, Christmas trees are generally positioned in homes just as they appear in nature: with the tip pointing up towards the sky—or to heaven, as many believe. But upside-down Christmas trees are gradually growing in popularity. Part of the appeal of an inverted Christmas tree is how much room it frees up. Anybody living in a tiny home or apartment can appreciate their value.

Upside-down Christmas trees also serve as a fun alternative to your classic holiday decorations display. At one point, they might have been considered a novelty, but in recent years, major retailers have begun to carry these inverted trees.

How to Hang an Upside-Down Christmas Tree

To hang an upside-down Christmas tree from the ceiling, you'll want to follow these steps:

  • Select a lightweight yet full tree. An artificial Christmas tree is the best choice, but you can use a real tree if it isn't too heavy.
  • Wrap wire or strip around the tree trunk. When it is secure, tie the wire or strip into a loop.
  • Drill or screw a hook into your ceiling to hang the tree from.
  • Add lights, ribbons, tinsel, and garlands to the tree.
  • With assistance from another person, flip the Christmas tree upside down and loop the string or wire onto the secured hook.
  • Add your tree ornaments and decorations.

How to Decorate an Upside-Down Christmas Tree

Decorating an upside-down Christmas tree should be done in stages. Lightweight decorations such as Christmas tree lights, ribbon, tinsel, and garland should be added before you hang the tree from the ceiling.

You'll want to add delicate items such as glass ornaments after you've turned the Christmas tree upside down, reducing the risk of breaking them. Less is more when it comes to decorating an upside-down Christmas tree. After all, the most eye-catching part of the display is the tree itself.

Upside-Down Christmas Tree Safety

There are a few key safety rules to keep in mind when you have an upside-down Christmas tree hanging from your ceiling. For starters, make sure you use a heavy-duty hook that can hold more than 20 pounds of weight. (Steer clear of adhesive wall hooks for this project.)

When choosing a location in your home for your upside-down Christmas tree, opt for a less-trafficked corner when possible. The more exposed the tree is to being brushed up against or tugged on—by guests, pets, or children—the more likely the tree or its decorations are to fall.

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  1. The Upside-Down Christmas Tree: And Other Bizarre Yuletide Tales. Scott, Delilah, et al.

  2. Real meaning behind upside down Christmas trees and why you're seeing them everywhere. The Houston Chronicle.

  3. Upside-Down Christmas Trees Are Apparently All the Rage This Year. Condé Nast Traveler.

  4. Brunner, Bernd. Inventing the Christmas Tree, 2012.