Christmas around the world angel tree topper

A tree-topper or treetopper is a decorative ornament placed on the top (or "crown") of a Christmas tree. Tree-toppers can take any form, though the most common include a star (representing the Star of Bethlehem), finial, angel ("Christmas angel"), or fairy. Additional forms range from a paper rosette, ribbon bow, Father Christmas or Santa Claus, to a Christian cross, owl, white dove, spike, or sunburst.

Tree-toppers may be made of from a wide range of materials. Modern plastic tree-toppers are often electric and once connected with the tree's lights offer a gentle glow. Following World War II, various symbols of Christmastide, such as Santa Claus, were introduced as electrified tree-toppers.

Origin and use[edit]

Use of a Christmas angel as a tree-topper represents to some the angel Gabriel from the Nativity of Jesus:

"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary."

Use of a star represents the Star of Bethlehem:

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.'"

The use of the angel tree-topper goes back to the Victorian era, corresponding to the rise in popularity of Christmas trees in England. The Illustrated London News published a picture of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their family around a Christmas tree topped with an angel, and by its influence the Christmas angel became the most common tree-topper.[1] Note that this fact may not be true today; YouGov put out a survey in the United States with approximately 39% of the 2,772 adults surveyed putting a star as their tree-topper, topping the 23% that put an angel instead.[2]

During the 1870s, in conjunction with the growing power of the British Empire, the Union Jack had become the most popular tree-topper.[3]

Alternatives[edit]

Some Neo-pagan homes celebrate the winter solstice, which falls close to Christmas, by decorating an evergreen tree as a symbol of continuing life,[4] but make an effort to decorate it with non-Christian symbols and often choose tree-toppers representing the sun.[5]

Popular culture[edit]

Hans Christian Andersen's 1844 short story, "The Fir-Tree", describes the decoration of a Danish Christmas tree, including its topper:

"On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves. Dolls that looked for all the world like men—the Tree had never beheld such before—were seen among the foliage, and at the very top a large star of gold tinsel was fixed."[6]

The use of a tree-topper is also depicted in Christmas songs, with lines such as "Först en stjärna utav gull" and "So hang a shining star upon the highest bough".

If you celebrate Christmas, you've likely seen people top their Christmas trees with decorative angels. But have you ever wondered why we do this or how it became a Christmas tradition? And why an angel, and not just another ornament?

The History of Putting Angels at the Top of Christmas Trees

It turns out, this practice comes from the original Christmas story. Angels play a significant part in the first Christmas: Angels visited Joseph and the Virgin Mary about the upcoming birth of Jesus, and on the night of his birth, angels appeared in the sky over Bethlehem to announce his arrival to the world.

Because angels appeared high in the sky on the first Christmas, people began placing angels high on the top of their trees as a way to celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you've ever seen a star on top of a Christmas tree, there's a similar significance: According to the Christmas story, in addition to angels, the star of Bethlehem (also called the Christmas star) appeared in the sky to guide people to baby Jesus.

Why You Should Leave Your Tree Up Until January 6

Because there is so much religious significance in this tradition, it's been thought that placing an angel on top of the tree (and therefore declaring the family's faith) would also scare away evil spirits from the home around the holidays.

While it's not certain exactly when this tradition started, we do know it dates back several hundred years. It's said that the very first angels were homemade ornaments (usually made from natural, inexpensive materials like straw). By the 17th century, Europeans were making glass angel ornaments, which eventually became the full-size angels that sit on the top of the tree.

Tree Toppers Today

Today, it's still common to put an angel at the top of your Christmas tree—but people also use other symbols as tree toppers, including stars. Other popular tree topper ideas that aren't explicitly associated with the Christian Christmas story include ribbons, Christmas gnomes, snowmen, reindeer, snowflakes, Santas, and other wintery or Christmas symbols.

Whether you top it with an angel or a star, take a moment to reflect on the history of this tradition as you decorate your own Christmas tree this season.