Did you know that it was once illegal to decorate Christmas trees in America?
Way, way back in 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25, other than a church service, a penal offense. People could even be fined for displaying decorations.
In fact, according to the expert experts at www.history.com, that law was in effect until the 19th century, when the influx of German and Irish immigrants made the law pretty much impossible to enforce.
Fast forward to right about now.
With tons of time on our hands, Christmas trees will soon be arriving at nursery stores, church parking lots and even supermarkets very soon.
Appropriately, Armstrong Garden Centers recently announced that their full assortment of fresh cut Christmas trees will be at all Armstrong locations starting on Saturday morning, November 21, 2020.
The history of Christmas trees goes back to the symbolic use of evergreens in ancient Egypt and Rome. It continued with a German tradition of candle-lit Christmas trees, which was first brought to America in the 1800s.
Surprisingly, 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. It was the German settlers of Pennsylvania who were first credited with displaying decorated Christmas trees, although such trees had been a tradition in many German homes for many years.
As late as the 1840s, however, Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.
To the Puritans of New England, Christmas was sacred. No “Ho Ho Ho,” or “Fa La La” for them. Their second governor, William Bradford, called out “pagan mockery” of the observance, and the influential Oliver Cromwell preached against “the heathen traditions” of Christmas carols, decorated trees, or anything else that might desecrate “that sacred event.”
But that was then. This is now.
Especially as Americans spend more time at home, Christmas decorating has begun early this year, and of course, the centerpiece of Christmas decor is the Christmas tree.
“Armstrong has a full assortment of options from the fragrant Fraser fir, the lush Noble fir, and new this year, the Alpine Fir with wider spacing between branches for a more rustic look,” said Gary Jones, Armstrong Garden Centers’ chief horticulturist. “Customers can feel confident in decorating early knowing that the experts at Armstrong Garden Centers give every tree a fresh cut upon arrival and then then the trees are stood in water to ensure the freshest tree that will last through Christmas.”
Armstrong’s “Christmas tree forest” also allows customers to see a variety of trees from all angles to ensure customers can choose their perfect tree. Once the customer selects a tree, Armstrong will load the tree onto their car or can deliver to their front door.
According to Jones, Armstrong Garden Centers will continue social distancing in the open air store environment and is offering a contactless shopping options. Customers can simply select a Christmas tree, poinsettias, fresh wreaths, garland and everything they need for decorating online for local delivery or curbside pickup.
Armstrong Garden Center is at 352 E Glenarm Street, Pasadena, CA . (626) 799-7139. www.armstronggarden.com.
