Upside-Down Christmas Trees

Status: Real
image Target.com is was selling an upside-down Christmas tree for $499.99. (Thanks to Travis for the link--which has now gone dead, therefore I removed it) I'm not religious, but my first thought when seeing it was that it would be a perfect holiday decoration for a family of Satanists, to accompany their upside-down crosses and crucified Santa. I know it's not a joke, or some mistake on Target's part, because Hammacher Schlemmer is selling the same thing for $100 more. I understand these things are supposed to be space-savers, but why not save space by buying a smaller tree? I guess I just don't see the point, or appeal, of an upside-down tree. And why are they so ridiculously expensive?

Religion

Posted on Wed Nov 09, 2005



Comments

The ad says: "Celebrate the age-old European tradition of upside-down Christmas trees".

Huh? Exactly what European tradition would that be? Maybe this IS traditional for Satanists, Alex.
Posted by Big Gary in Antarctica  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  04:30 PM
I was always under the impression that the Christmas Tree was a Pagan tradition, and really had nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity. I have no idea how it ended up as a Christmas symbol - they didn't have too many Douglas Firs in Palestine two thousand years ago.
Posted by Alastair Bird  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  05:27 PM
This has got to be a joke. Disgruntled employee perhaps?
Posted by Craig  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  07:36 PM
Upside down trees were popular with cat owners and people with small children. They are usually hung from the ceiling. That way neither little rug rats could upset the tree.
Posted by Mo  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  08:06 PM
Maybe they're so expensive because they're actually being imported from Australia. . .
Posted by Accipiter  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  08:38 PM
Yeah they were talking about these on the Colbert Report last night on Comedy Central.
Posted by Dan  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  09:29 PM
NPR had a story on this today - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5006258
Posted by The Hermit  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  11:04 PM
An upside-down tree would be perfect in this room:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/zestyping/97476.html
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  11:37 PM
OK, how long before a right-wing Christian group says that upside-down Christmas trees are a Satanic thing? Or, conversely, before someone pretends to be a right-wing Christian group that says upside-down Christmas trees are a Satanic thing?

Come on, you KNOW that making that claim would get you on the TV news shows!
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Thu Nov 10, 2005  at  01:58 AM
We seen those on the news the otherday.....what a waste of money...
Posted by X  on  Thu Nov 10, 2005  at  07:15 AM
Like I said, the satanic implication was the first thing that occurred to me when I saw it. Not that it bothers me. I just thought it was curious, and I was surprised it hadn't occurred to other people. Because isn't that supposed to be like a secret satanic code: turning religious artifacts upside down so that they face down towards hell? In all the horror movies everything gets turned upside down whenever the devil is around.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Thu Nov 10, 2005  at  08:22 AM
And Cranky, I think that you'd be the perfect person to pretend to be a right-wing Christian who thinks upside-down Christmas trees are a satanic thing.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Thu Nov 10, 2005  at  08:27 AM
Christmas trees have nothing at all to do with Christianity (and therefore Satanism). It's a purely pagan (which ironically IS a Christian word meaning 'country dweller' and refers to *anyone* who isn't a Christian - Buddhists are pagans for example) thing.

It represents new life and fertility (it's evergreen) in at a time of the year when most life is resting.

As for an upside-down Santa Clause? That would something a Pepsi drinker might worship. The 'traditional' red suited, white bearded santa was originally invented by the Coca Cola company as part of an advertising campaign.
Posted by Richard@Home  on  Thu Nov 10, 2005  at  08:38 AM
Are you sugesting that an upsidedown Christmas tree is representing death?????
Posted by X  on  Thu Nov 10, 2005  at  12:03 PM
Alex said:

"And Cranky, I think that you'd be the perfect person to pretend to be a right-wing Christian who thinks upside-down Christmas trees are a satanic thing."

Yes, that has crossed my mind, Alex. Especially since my last name is Pagani (Italian for the plural of "pagan").
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  02:05 AM
"The 'traditional' red suited, white bearded santa was originally invented by the Coca Cola company as part of an advertising campaign."
Posted by Richard@Home

*buzzer sounds* incorrect!
Posted by Chuck  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  09:47 AM
The tree was traditionally recognized as a pagan ritual. I believe the Germans initiated the upside down tree as a sign of Christianity. That was back in the 12th century I think and as crazy as that may sound today I'm sure the more recent fad will be seen as equally by future celebrators.
Posted by B Lewis  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  10:19 AM
I happen to have one of the upside down trees and it is always the conversation piece at the holidays. I am able to display my collection of blown glass ornaments (~600), each hangs freely and is easily seen.
A number of friends have since purchased one of these trees because it's not only unique but the ornaments don't get lost in the branches like on a "regular" tree.
Don't knock it til you've tried it.
Posted by Susan  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  10:31 AM
*unplugs the buzzer*

from: http://users.rcn.com/tlclcms/santa.htm

"Believe it or not, the Coca-Cola company also contributed to the modern Santa Claus. Beginning in 1931 and for 35 years, Coke ran advertisements that featured a human-size Santa (not elf-size) drinking Coke. These ads contributed much to the modern image of Santa Claus (and the drinking of coke!)."
Posted by Richard@Home  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  10:31 AM
Richard@Home's original comment

"The 'traditional' red suited, white bearded santa was originally invented by the Coca Cola company as part of an advertising campaign."


Richard@Home's revised comment

"Believe it or not, the Coca-Cola company also contributed to the modern Santa Claus. Beginning in 1931 and for 35 years, Coke ran advertisements that featured a human-size Santa (not elf-size) drinking Coke. These ads contributed much to the modern image of Santa Claus (and the drinking of coke!)."


uhhh, Richard, your first comment says Coca Cola inventedThe 'traditional' red suited, white bearded santa.

Your second comment more accurately states "These ads contributed much to the modern image of Santa Claus"

I dont dispute the contribution Cocal Cola made, I do dispute your original comment that they inventedthe traditional Claus

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/santa.asp

*plugs buzzer back in*
Posted by Chuck  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  10:48 AM
AS a cherubic, jolly, fat old man. Prior to Coke's campaign, Santa had been seen in the famous red and white suit, just not looking like he'd spent all summer at the Golden Corral buffet
Posted by Dave  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  12:35 PM
This whole thing reminds me of the rumor/urban legend that was current around the time Super Glue hit the market the pranksters had rearranged some famous person's house (or their school principal's office, etc.) by gluing all the furniture to the ceiling, so the whole room was completely upside-down. My own teen-aged experiments with Super Glue, however, convinced me that it's not really quite that strong or quite that fast-bonding.
Posted by Big Gary in Ouagadougou  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  04:58 PM
Coca-Cola certainly did use pictures of Santa Claus in its ads (and probably still does), but the drink company did not invent either the Santa Claus legend or the image of him as a fat man with a white beard and a red suit. Both had been around for about 100 years before the cola ads appeared.
Thomas Nast, the 19th century New York cartoonist who established the elephant and the donkey (guess which party he belonged to?) as symbols of the Republican and Democratic parties, is usually also credited with greatly popularizing the image of Santa as a jolly, round, bearded man with a white beard and a fur suit.

Christmas trees are usually described as having begun in Germany in the early-modern period. Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant Reformation, is frequently credited with starting this custom. Venerating certain trees was part of the practice of ancient Celts and other pre-Chrisitan societies in Europe, but I'm not aware of any evidence that those "pagans" used to decorate those trees in the manner of Christmas trees, or even that they cut trees to set them up inside their homes as anything at all similar to Christmas trees.
Posted by Big Gary in Excelsis Deo  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  05:11 PM
I think the Up-Side Down Christmas tree is the coolest thing I've seen. I guess from looking at the prices we will have to hope it flops so we can afford one
Posted by kim miller  on  Sun Nov 13, 2005  at  07:47 AM
During the 7th century, a monk from Devonshire spent time there preaching the word of God. Like any good instructor, he used props. The story goes that he used the triangular shape of the Fir tree to describe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that makes up the Holy Trinity. By the 12th century, the Fir tree was being hung upside down from ceilings in Central Europe as a symbol of christianity at Christmas time.
Christmas Trees are neither significant pagan nor biblical symbols. But various Christian traditions have evolved that use the evergreen and its decorations to symbolize and teach the wonderful truths of Advent - God sending His Son to bring eternal life to a fallen world. Though abused by popular culture, Christmas Trees may still point to that true Light of the World.
Posted by Angi  on  Sun Nov 13, 2005  at  03:21 PM
The link goes to Target's error page and a search from that page led only to an out-of-stock children's book.
Posted by OGRastamon  on  Sun Nov 13, 2005  at  07:26 PM
Some actual information for all of you

The Legend of the Origin of the Christmas Tree

Legend says that England's St. Boniface, who travelled to Germany to teach in the 7th Century A.D., was furious when he saw pagans revering an oak tree. He hacked it down, but when a fir tree sprang up on the spot, he decided to use the tree's triangular shape to describe the Trinity.

By the 12th Century, Central Europeans were hanging fir trees - upside down - from ceilings at Christmas.

Credit for the tradition of the decorated tree - right side up - generally goes to 16th century German theologian Martin Luther (1483-1546), who was inspired one Christmas Eve when he saw snow-dusted evergreen branches shimmering in the moonlight. Luther went home and set up a small fir tree for his children and adorned it with candles.
Posted by Robert R Arvai  on  Sun Nov 13, 2005  at  10:38 PM
Wow, I have never seen a group of people make themselves look less intelligent in such a short time. If you would bother to even Google it, you would know that the upside-down Christmas tree originated in Germany and lasted for over two centuries. It was started as a symbol of Christianity as it more closely resembled a cross. You people are why I oppose organized religion.
Posted by Intelegence  on  Mon Nov 14, 2005  at  06:52 AM
congrats Intelegence (sic) I have never seen one person expose their own ignorance in such a short time :lol:
Posted by Chuck  on  Mon Nov 14, 2005  at  08:36 AM
:roll:

...Yep, just another device of someone tryin' to get more money from consumers, and detract even more from the true spirit of Christmas; revival of an "old" pagan tradition. .....Ecclesiastes 1: 9,10.....there is nothing new under the sun.....
...from that picture above, it looks more like a tornado than a tree. Don't we already have enough of those? Are people just so bored that they sit around and think of ways to turn things upside-down? If they'd read the Bible, they wouldn't get bored! (and wherever "Christmas trees" originally came from, it's clear that God has used them for His own purposes!) He can take anything and do with it whatever He wants to! The ones who try to turn everything "upside-down" surely must know they're only feebly attempting to defy the One who makes everything RIGHT, in the end!
Posted by brenda durham  on  Tue Nov 15, 2005  at  07:25 AM
ah, ok... so my choice of words wasn't strictly accurate, but before coke got in on the deal there was no red suited, overweight whiskery gentleman. There were permutations, but coke put it all together.
Posted by Richard@Home  on  Tue Nov 15, 2005  at  08:32 AM
Brenda Durham said:

"The ones who try to turn everything "upside-down" surely must know they're only feebly attempting to defy the One who makes everything RIGHT, in the end!"

Are you wearing any mixed-fiber clothing or do you own any such clothing? If so, get rid of it immediately. The Bible says you shouldn't wear mixed-fiber clothing.

You don't want to do anything that contradicts the Bible, right? Please report back when you have complied with this Scripture.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Tue Nov 15, 2005  at  02:17 PM
Cranky Media Guy, why stop with mixed-fiber clothing?
The same "purity codes" in the Bible that ban blended fibers (and homosexuality, by the way) also prohibit:
Cutting your hair or shaving.
Wearing any red garment.
Sowing two kinds of seeds in the same field.
Eating the hind quarters of an animal (e.g. ham, round, etc.)
Taking your hat off.
Eating any food that's been touched by a menstruating woman.
Touching a menstruating woman.
Etc.
However, selling your daughter into slavery is specifically permitted, and so is having several wives and a bunch of concubines.
The stuff those sections tell us we MUST do is even more interesting. As Brenda Durham says, if you read the Bible, you won't get bored.

Well, I've got to go sacrifice a red heifer now.
Posted by Big Gary, on a cloud  on  Tue Nov 15, 2005  at  04:49 PM
You're right, Big Gary, there are a LOT of ridiculous things in the Bible. I like to bring up the "mixed fabric" thing because while some of the other silliness doesn't apply to the average person, just about everyone has at least one mixed fabric garment in their closet.

If the Bible is the inerrant word of God, then you HAVE to throw out your mixed fiber clothing right away if you want to call yourself a fundamentalist. All those cool 50/50 T-shirts you like to wear in the Summer? Buh-bye! You don't want to sin via your wardrobe, after all.

I think we can all agree on the "hating homos" part, though. Just kidding.

Have fun slaughtering the red heifer, Gary.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Wed Nov 16, 2005  at  01:27 AM
Just a couple things I'm curious about. Didn't Santa Claus originate from the Christian St. Nicholas... who I'm quite certain was not drinking a happy little cocaine bubbly, and about those ornaments showing better....well, I would really like to know who's spending so much money on ornaments because of "Christ's birthday" that you have to turn the damned tree upside down to see them and fit presents under the tree. I hope your God sends you the voices of all the children you could have fed (or maybe fed to Sally Struthers, I've never figured that out) in a Christmas miracle like Scrooges. I'll tell you what, if i were god, and y'all spent that much money decorating for my 2 hour birthday bash, I'd be some pissed.
Posted by Ruthie  on  Wed Nov 16, 2005  at  04:43 AM
hmmm....all the comments I've read are extremely interesting! Yes, as someone else agreed, the Bible is not boring at all.
Of course I have Biblical answers to every post;(any fervent Christian does). Cranky, yours was quite interesting, but it's way too tempting to respond in like manner, so I'm leavin' it be. Might start a whole chain reaction that I don't have time for right now. (my dial-up is too slow; I'd be on this site all day if I kept talking!....I might visit the new forum that's being set up sometime if it's easier/faster...
Have fun and be blessed, all of y'all!!
Posted by brenda durham  on  Wed Nov 16, 2005  at  07:01 AM
http://www.iarelative.com/xmas/upside.htm

At the Milwaukee Public Museum they have an outstanding exhibit called the "European Village" which features a variety of European homes from the 1700-1800s'. During the holiday season several times in the Polish home the Christmas tree is hung upside down from the ceiling. My grandmother who is of Polish decent has told me that this was a tradition in many Polish homes that was brought to America by many immigrants as late as the beginning of the 20th century. As the immigrants adapted to their new country, different traditions were adopted in the Christmas celebration, and this tradition, as best I can tell, has been long abandon, but indeed, it was a tradition that appears to have originated in the 12th century, according to the link above.
Posted by Tim  on  Wed Nov 16, 2005  at  12:36 PM
Back in the 7th century a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, traveled to Germany to spread the Word of God. Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to the German people. The German people started to revere the Fir Tree as "God's Tree". In the next 5 centuries, the tree became a symbol of Christianity, and was being hung upside-down from the ceiling as a sign of Christianity.
Posted by merry christmas  on  Thu Nov 17, 2005  at  03:37 PM
The Bible does mention the Christmas tree and it being decorated. It doesn't mention it as something to do, but not to do.

"The customs of the people are worthless, they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel, they adore it with silver and gold, they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter" (Jeremiah 10-3,4).

Christmas, as with other pagan holidays and rituals, were integrated into Christianity by early Romans/Catholics to spread the religion and make it easier for the people. It was a way to spread their power/influence by making the pagan's ways the "new" Christian ways.

There isn't very much about Christianity today that hasn't been touched by these methods and most believe it is how it has always been. Very few people actually do the research about their beliefs.
Posted by Bill Fellner  on  Fri Nov 18, 2005  at  08:01 PM
Amen, Bill Fellner! (at least, Amen, I agree with part of your post)! Good to see someone else who finally referred to the Good Book on this subject (yes, I'm still on the upside-down Christmas trees).
You're right about the Jeremiah scripture, in part. But it's best to remember that those trees couldn't have been actual "Christmas" trees since Christ had not yet been born! (Jeremiah is Old-testament). Setting up the trees was just a pagan way of setting up a "god" to worship; those people perhaps knew of God Himself, but did not personally know Him. He was perhaps still, to them, the UNKNOWN GOD mentioned in another Bible scripture. Jesus Christ's birth, death, and resurrection made God/Jesus Himself reachable, knowable, to all of us who want to know Him. Jeremiah 10:5 tells how their worship was vain because the tree could not move; it had to be carried, it could not speak; it was just a "thing" with no power of its own for either good nor evil. A true follower of Jesus Christ can take and use anything in creation for a Christian purpose, or can simply use it as a thing of simple pleasure, like a pretty Christmas tree. It is when non-believers try to use those things that their use/purposes are twisted and un-Godly!
Jeremiah 10:12 is telling everyone not to WORSHIP any tree; for trees, etc., are creations of God, they are not the Creator! All things aside, we are to seek the face of the God in Jeremiah 10: 10, 12, and 13.
Posted by brenda durham  on  Mon Nov 21, 2005  at  08:41 AM
I totaly agree with you! By the way where the fuck do you put the star.. in your hand... and how do you water the damn tree?? And why are they so riculousy expensive $ 499.00 a pop? Shit i'd burn that tree up and make fire camp wood out of it!!!!! So I guess next year the next tradition is to put the star upside down then that would totally represent satan lovers! Oh forgot the damn christmas presents they need to be put upside down as well! Hahahaha....!
Posted by Christine.E  on  Tue Nov 22, 2005  at  11:25 PM
who in the hell thought of this shit this is the stupidest thing i've heard or seen since the ice age please tell me who in their right damn mind will purchase this bullshit excuse my profanity but you'll are making me react this way because you'll are just trying to make money any kind of way possible and then you want to charge an arm and a leg for it when you can take your own tree and turn it upside down and look stupid at no cost.
Posted by concerned citizen of the us  on  Wed Nov 23, 2005  at  07:57 AM
When CNN first ran the story on the Upside Down Christmas Tree, I asked for verifications from several of our email groups.

I did get many verifications that the upside down tree is a real tradition.

Visit http://www.iarelative.com/xmas/upside.htm for more on this strange Christmas Tradition.

Greg Kopchak
It's All Relative

A P.S. to Tim:

I did get 10 verifications on the upside down tree last week. 7 of the 10 were from trusted sources.

Also check out

http://www.stcharleschristmas.com/christmashistory.htm
Posted by Greg Kopchak  on  Sat Nov 26, 2005  at  11:21 AM
We started hanging our Christmas tree upside down about 25 years ago. We had a dog with a long tail and she would knock the ornaments off a regular tree getting to the window to look out. We either had to change to a table top tree or think of something different. Hanging it upside down took care of the problem and we could still use the many ornaments we had collected over the years. It became a tradition for us to hang our tree that way and we have done it ever since. You can see our tree at http://www.thesnellings.com
Posted by PalusMus  on  Sun Nov 27, 2005  at  11:53 PM
I think they are FABULOUS!!!! I do not celebrate christmas so i dont have a tree in my house anyway...but i sure like this...and i am not satanic in anyway...I like to think God and I are close...but what does that have to do with a tree turned upsidedown...one thing i cant understand though is "Why didnt I think of that First?"..I could just kick myself....haha
Posted by judi  on  Fri Dec 02, 2005  at  08:05 AM
well in response to the Satanists.. Appartently you have no imaginagtion. I am a 32 year old woman who has grown up with a UPSIDE DOWN Christmas tree. If done correctly and all it can be a BEAUTIFUL tree. My family tradition was to hang the tree and yes i said hang as we used a REAL LIVE christmas tree. Decortate as normal with all the ornamants we wanted tinsel and ices to be included. Some people are so narrow minded. The tree is what you make it and UPSIDE DOWN or RIGHT SIDE UP it can be as BEAUTIFUL as you make it.
Posted by Debbie  on  Fri Dec 02, 2005  at  09:16 AM
Debbie, dear, it isn't a live tree after you cut it from the earth.
Posted by Angelo  on  Tue Dec 06, 2005  at  11:35 AM
Ok, what would you call a tree that was cut from the earth that didn't have WIRES for LIMBS then.. Duh.. Everyone has to have something to argue about the point was that a REAL NOT ARTIFICIAL tree can be put however your family wants it and to make such a big deal over the fact that the tree is upside down is just so you people who have no imagination can argue with those people who do.. 😊
Posted by debbie  on  Tue Dec 06, 2005  at  11:43 AM
Different decorating that's all. Trying to make a fashion statement. Must be a left-wing, national socialist thing to try to anger God fearing Christians calling it a right wing thing. Of course only the most ignorant would think Christians or Republicans are "Right Wing" as they are not "Anarchists". Upside-down firs were hung to emphasize the three points are to remind us of the holy trinity. The firs were evergreens to remind us that God's love is everlasting.
The Satanic thing must be from other God hating, satan worshipping, hate mongering liberals that think they are gods, trying to stir up dissention among those who know that if God didn't send his son to redeem our sins, we would wind up like the liberals as worms in the lake of fire with the fallen angel for eternity.
😝
Posted by John Q. Public  on  Wed Dec 07, 2005  at  01:35 PM
Once again Christ is being misrepresented and Satan exalted. That is okay because Jesus Christ and the God the Father will have the final say during the Great White Throne Judgment! If not before--you ain't seen nothin' yet All those who come against my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They will both show the world who is in control.
Posted by Keisha Roberson  on  Sat Dec 10, 2005  at  09:26 PM
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