A Christmas Tree Topper is a decoration that goes on the top of a Christmas tree during the holidays. Traditionally a star or an angel, Christmas tree toppers range from simple to ornate and are thought to put the finishing touch on Christmas tree decorating. They can be homemade or store-bought and often are passed down through generations as a holiday keepsake.
Christmas Tree Topper History
Many traditional Christmas trees use a star or an angel as a topper, but why? The angel represents the host of angels in the Nativity story, while the star represents the Star of Bethlehem. However, Christmas tree decorations did not always follow this tradition, with early trees featuring a lit candle at the top and even earlier trees being hung upside down to represent the Holy Trinity. These traditions are all based on Norse pagan nature worship, in which Norse pagans would bring entire evergreen trees (known as Yule Trees) into their homes.DeLong Farms: History of the Christmas Tree Modern Pagan tree toppers celebrate winter solstice rather than Christmas and tend to feature images of the sun rather than angels or stars.
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Fast Facts
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Price
$10 and up
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Fact:
Ornament goes on top of a Christmas tree
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Traditionally a star or an angel, but can be anything from abstract shapes to a Santa Claus figurine
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Can be crafted at home or bought in a store
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Some are pre-lit
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Abstract shapes and non-religious figurines may be more appropriate for the secular tree
