Since 1971 the official Boston Christmas tree has been donated to the city by Nova Scotia in appreciation of humanitarian assistance rendered to the city of Halifax by the people of Boston in 1917. Early on December 6, 1917 an ammunition ship bound for Europe exploded in the inner harbor of Halifax destroying much of the city. Boston authorities learned of the disaster by telegraph, and quickly organized and dispatched a relief train around 10 pm that day to assist survivors. A blizzard delayed the train, which finally arrived in the early morning of December 8, and immediately began distributing food, water, and medical supplies. Medical personnel on the train relieved local medical staff, most of whom had worked without rest since the explosion occurred.
My grandfather was a young Harvard Medical School student at the time, and I seem to recall a story that he went up to help with that. The following year, shortly after he graduated, he would be working through the 1918 Influenza pandemic, and the year after that, the Great Molasses Flood in Boston, all by the age of 26.
I have to insert a comment regarding another tree that deserves to be remembered. For many decades now a Christmas tree has been delivered annually from Nova Scotia to Boston in thanks for help delivered in the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion that killed thousands. On a separate note, I have to say I prefer your old glasses, you fashionista dilettante, you.😉 Merry Christmas from Nova Scotia.
Since 1947 the people of Norway have given a Christmas tree every year in gratitude for the assistance Britain gave during ww2. It stands in Trafalgar square. I think a tree is a beautiful symbol of remembrance.
@@dariuszrutkowski420 Why is there a pagan obelisk in the middle of St. Peter's square? No one, including Catholics, have been able to explain why that obelisk is there.
@@ExcalibursEdge because Caligula brought it from Alexandria, Egypt and put it on the Vatican Hill in 40 AD, long before the Vatican was the centre of the Church.
I was at Saint Peter's Basilica for Christmas midnight mass in 1982. I got to see the first Christmas tree at the Vatican. I also had a job as Capt Morgan for the rum company. I am a former pirate who is a part of history that deserves to be remembered.
Almost my entire family on my Dad's side, are in the business of growing and selling Christmas trees, both commercial and wholesale. Our name use to be Seitz in Germany....so it's funny we would now be selling so many Christmas trees...lol. I know my family has had at least one of their trees placed in the White House - that was while Nixon was in office. Our old grandpa at the time, Paul Sides made the trip to D.C. to have his picture taken with all his sons, who were basically partners in the venture. Old Grandpa was born in 1895 and had never once traveled outside of his home state of N.C. but for this honor....he did. I've heard tell...that they sell upwards of a million trees a year. I got to help my Dad sell trees on his Christmas tree lot in Orlando Florida. I really loved working on that lot, with all of it's smells of fresh cut pine and holly etc. People from all walks of life came to our lot looking for a tree. Doctors, lawyers, truck drivers and yes....even prostitutes. I remember one begged her pimp, "Please sugar....buy us a tree!" He was picky about the price, as he held out a wad of cash and remarked, "Just remember how good I'am to you ladies!" Yeah... my dad had that lot for over 30 years, and saw the children who came.....turn into the parents who came after that...bringing with them a whole new generation of customers. The last year I worked on that lot back in Dec of 1993 we had an older man come with his daughter....who also brought her little boy. They asked if my dad and I would pose with them beside our make-shift Christmas house/office. To me....that was a fitting end to a long labor of love. My dad was gone that next spring due to cancer, and so was his business. I don't think anything ever hurt me emotionally, as much as that.....but that's a whole other story!!!
The original German Name eould be Sitz. They changed the Name because the People could not pronounce it right so they wrote it like that when coming to the US. I am German.i just thought uou like to know if you try to to some history on your Family. Most People cant find things because of the Spelling or miss spelling when they came over on the Ship.
One Christmas our son brought a new kitten home with him from college. As soon as his carrier door was opened, Gizmo bolted straight to our decorated tree and climbed up inside. To avoid breaking ornaments by trying to extract him, we instead set a bowl of food on the floor and waited. After posing for several cute photos similar to yours, Gizmo eventually gave in to hunger and rejoined the party. God bless us everyone!
We have a small 6-foot live tree this year (normally an 8-10 footer) with all plastic ornaments because we got a kitten in the Spring. He's in his "hell" stage which we hope he will outgrow by next Christmas. My large family collection of antique ornaments remains under the eaves and it just doesn't seem like Christmas without them. Merry Christmas All - anybody want a cat?
I want to tell you a story my mother told me many years ago. My mother wanted to be an engineer like her older brother but in the early 20th century, women who went to college, were 'supposed' to be nurses or teachers. Mom had good grades and applied to a number of colleges. The only school that accepted her was the engineering school of the University of Alabama. That was going to be expensive because mom lived in New York. My grandfather was not a big fan of Mom's plan but agreed to give her some money towards school so Mom was going to have to earn the rest. Mom worked for a brush company that was a division of Empire Brush company to earn and save money for college. One day at work, she told me about a machine malfunctioning. The machine made bottle cleaning brushes and the mechanism that cut them to length failed. The machine had turned out dozens of bottle brushes that were several feet long before it was shut down. Mom picked a couple up and was cutting up saying 'Look at Me, I'm a Tree'. Mom made it clear that she didn't have any big idea or invention, she was just 'cutting up'. That year Empire Brush did design a 'tree' with a large hardwood dowel with holes in it and long bottle brushes inserted. The company never said it was Mom's idea or that they got the idea from that day but they did give her a 500 dollar cashier's check made out to the University of Alabama. Mom drove to Alabama and became the first woman to attend their school of engineering. I wish I knew more specific details but Mom died many years ago. I thought that you folks would enjoy that story. I always enjoy your channel. Merry Christmas and yall Take Care, John
Life on an Iowa farm! Mom had found an aluminum tree that was about two feet high and had a bulb at the tip of each branch and one on top. Very simple yet pretty. We would have a real tree also, but this little tree sat on a small table, and it could be seen shining through the living room window as we would come home on the gravel road. It also served somewhat as a night light in those long winter nights. It came out as soon as Thanksgiving was over and often didn't go back in hiding till later January. The folks evidently disposed of it after I had left home because the wiring had gone bad. Wish I knew about it because I would have rewired it and it would be in the window of my place yet to see another Christmas come.
TVTropes uses the term "aluminum Christmas tree" to refer to any true-to-life element of a fictional work that's assumed by the audience to be fiction because it seems implausible.
Due the current pandemic, this is the first year in over 50 years that I didn't go to a Christmas tree farm and cut down my own tree. My sister and I went to a local lot and bought one there. For a great number of those 50 years, we went to a farm owned by dear family friends. For a time it was the whole family, eventually my sisters and I would go and get the tree and patronize the Christmas shop on the first floor of the owner's home, while my parents and mom's sister would go a day or two later to visit with the owners. Sadly, the husband and wife who owned the farm both passed away around the turn of the century and the farm was sold off. But I look around my room and see many of the decorations I purchased at their shop, and the memories of Christmases past come to me. Feliz Navidad. Joyeux Noël. Frohe Weihnachten. Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus. Häid Jõule. Καλά Χριστούγεννα. Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia. С Рождеством. Merry Christmas.
As a family, we cut our Christmas tree down from my parents’ woodlot (I am blessed they are in great health). This became such an important tradition for my children (my daughter 24 and twin boys now 23,), they, to this day, insist we cut our tree down as a family. This was the only normalcy we were able to experience for this Holiday Season... I’m extremely grateful for this tradition.... Merry Christmas...
@@vgalea hey that's interesting. That sounds exactly like the Arabic for 'Merry Christmas': عيد ميلاد مجيد Which is transliterated to English as: 'eid milad mijid!' :)
Real tree (we clean up needles for months afterward). Old ornaments, kitschy ornaments, lights, lit village and electric train. Nativity in the dining room. It smells of pine, which is perfect. Years ago I had a Jewish co-worker and I was tasked with wrapping several Hannukah gifts for his young son. I commented one day about how cool it must be to get gifts for days instead of unwrapping everything on one day. His response was classic: "Are you kidding? We have a child. We have a Christmas tree."
As a resident of Oregon I cannot imagine not having a Christmas tree, but from comments here it appears many people have manufactured trees. There is truly little loss of trees in the wild, Christmas trees are grown on farms. They also grow like weeds in my garden and everywhere else around here. I pull 15 or 20 5" starts out of the ground every spring.
A Charley Brown Christmas. That simple forlorn tree spoke volumes the spirit of Christmas. Merry Christmas to all and wishing a much much better New Year.
One of the most ridiculous Christmas trees in my memory was erected in main square of Canton, Ohio in December, 1959. It consisted of a very tall pole from which were hung a series of hoops wrapped with strips of aluminum foil. The hoops were small at the top and huge at the bottom. What the planners did not take into account was that the city square was at the top of the hill on which the city was built, with wide streets running East, West, North, and South. As a result, it was the windiest location in the county. The hoops began swaying violently, endangering cars and buses (At the time the square was the transfer point for all city buses.), as well as the buildings around the square, including the County Court House. The tree was quietly taken down and city officials became very quiet whenever it was mentioned. The next year a blue spruce was used and there has been no suggestion of any kind of artificial tree since that year.
@@nline2blast722 Not too many people remember that tree because it was only up for a week or so. I always called it the "Hula Hoop" tree because It looked to me like a bunch of tinsel wrapped Hula Hoops hanging from a flagpole, especially when they were swinging around in the wind. I remember it because I rode the city bus to school that year.
..there is the story here in Chicago of the Rouse Simmons, the "Christmas Tree Ship" which delivered for years many of the trees to Chicago..until it sank with a full cargo of trees in 1912 and the loss of 17 people....
Growing up with a Jewish father and a Christian mother, we always had a Christmukkah tree, overflowing with lights, tinsel, and ornaments, and with a 6-pointed Star of David (handmade by my father) adorning the top.
@@edward9674 We didn't have any religiously-themed ornaments (other than the star), but I'm not sure if that was intentional or just worked out that way. Our "special" ornaments were just handcrafted ones that my parents had bought overseas, plus of course any that us kids had made in school.
There's a family legend in parts of my mom's family that Alsace traded hands so many times every structure has a hidden compartment where in homes cash and documents would be stored, while in public buildings, schools etc the flag, documents cash, even schoolbooks where they existed would be stored, hidden from the nation currently controlling Alsace from the other nation. They would remain hidden until the end of the next war, just to see if they would be needed or not. Her father's family came from the region around Alsace in modern Germany in 1720s.
Well this was interesting. I thought I knew Prince Albert started the whole thing during Victoria's reign. Instead there's a fascinating tale going back to .. well forever. Thank you for doing all this research, its appreciated. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. I look forward to watching some more of your videos in the New Year. Love from the UK
thank you!!! history family....i enjoy your program....i wish i could get my kids to watch....they would learn something...merry christmas...from the jones family
Thank you for sharing this with me ! Take care , stay safe and healthy with whatever you maybe doing next ! Please have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ! Doing well here in Kansas .
Thank you history guy. Merry Christmas to you too. I used to have a special ornament for my cat. It was a rather heavy ornament that had a bell inside. Whenever my cat swatted it, it would swing back and forth and jingle. I always put it at the bottom of the tree. If I forgot to do it she would climb the tree, but when it was there it distracted her! She always went right for that little jingle ornament. Good memories!🐱🎄
Your are making poor people poorer by unnecessary competing with rich, buying useless Christmas tree and decorations and gifts, instead of being just a religious celebration turn it into commercial one.
Back in the mid 1960's when I was a kid, we had an aluminum tree. It was silver colored but had a rotating color wheel in front of it that caused it to change colors - blue, red, yellow and green. I have very fond memories of that tree.
I have been enjoying your videos for a while now, with all the problems going on in the world right now, your channel is a great place to go and be entertained and educated at the same time. Thank you and have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year Mr. and Mrs. History Guy.
Yes, I am watching from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Here the big holiday is New Year's and people buy a tree for the holiday. I have really enjoyed watching this program, especially during the quarantine. Have a wonderful holiday, during these difficult times.
Thank you for al the information and memories. As I am part German the Christmas Tree is in my soul, but my Irish Grandma had the aluminum tree ( oh the memory of falling asleep while the color wheel turned!) Merry Christmas to all in the History Guy/Gal family (and History Cat).
Many years ago, we started buying small live Norfolk Island pines and decorating them. After Christmas, we would take the tree outside and leave it there until next year. We continued to bring it in until it got to big to bring in. At that point, we would plant it in the yard and buy another small tree. We lost a couple of them, but currently have three trees in the yard. This would only work in a location that is not subject to harsh freezes, as Norfolks cannot take the cold, but something similar. could be done with other conifers.
I live in Marin county, California. Close to San Francisco on the coast. I have 2 8 foot Norfolk pines in my front yard, and just had a freeze overnight. Luckily I have them covered in frost bags, let’s see if I can keep them alive, they are so beautiful! Interestingly enough, they got burned by the sun in the first few weeks I had them, I think they were probably grown in a greenhouse.
We purchased a pot grown blue spruce tree about 20 years ago, this would come in each year to be decorated until it became too big which took about 4 years. It was then planted in the back yard, it now stands about 50 feet tall and is covered in strings of lights to the delight of our neighbours. I hope all has a happy, safe and healthy Christmas and a wonderful new year.
We have done that before. We bought a three foot tall live tree in a pot, then in the summer we planted it in the ground at my brother's farm. I would do it again, but my brother died this past year and the farm has gone to another family.
@@minuteman4199 Maybe you should reach out to that family. That is a tradition that is worth carrying on, even if the family is different. Plus I think we need a little more togetherness in this crazy 2020 world. Merry Christmas!
I do miss the real trees. We lived 'in the woods' and accompanied our parents to find a tree on the property. When we were old enough, my brother and I brought in the tree. Always imperfect, but well loved. Merry Christmas!🎄❤
I think you're the best history channel here and I watch your contributions with great interest. Keep up the good work, a very good and healthy new year to you and those close to you - and these words by a usually silent viewer are my little Xmas present to you.
Love your program, each slice of knowledge & history shared is precious. This has a very special and personal touch at the end, recognizing your crew. Keep up the BRILLIANT work, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!! from da Bronx
Merry Christmas to you and your family! We go out and cut down a Christmas tree every year. We have 5 children. Four of them are out of the house. Most of them do the same thing. Such good memories.
I love your channel, I've always loved reading and watching things on history. What I love about your channel the most is the topics and subjects you talk about it's such a wide range from average everyday ordinary things that we don't think about to unique things that I've even wondered about in passing. I came across your channel a few months ago and every day since then I try to watch or download at least a couple of your shows. And I will be and have been working my way through every one of your snippets! And I also look forward to all of your future topics and shows. Thank you!
Merry Christmas from snowy New Hampshire. I still think the folks in the neighboring state have a bit of Puritanism left in them:) And when did the tradition of trains around the Christmas tree begin? Don't ever remember a Christmas without a tree and trains.
My son said he was going out to buy a Christmas tree. Said he was getting a fake one this year. I said WTH ! You live in Washington ! It's The EVERGREEN state ! LOL !
I thank you and your lovely family for the smiles! Wishing your a very merry Christmas and the WORLD a better new year! You and this channel have helped me thru this horrid year... Bless You and Yours!
I half expected your lovely cat to add their own greetings by way of a "meow", but alas, that didn't happen. Either way, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and as good a time as is possible given the current situation.
I had an artificial tree for 40 years that I lived. It had more space between the branches vertically than modern trees that made it easy to hang ornaments. Sadly it was falling apart too much to keep around any longer. I can't find any like it to replace it. :(
I discovered your channel during this bleak pandemic year, and love it, love it, love it. Thank you! Wishing THG and family a very Merry Christmas, and a bright and hopeful New Year.
My wife and I attended the Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas market) in Nuremberg, Germany one year long ago. I can vouch for the fact that Christmas markets are a BIG deal in Germany and are very well attended. The Nuremberg event has been going on since the early 1600's.
Grateful for you and your family in this holiday season. History guy channel will always be a part of my RUclips watching repertoire. Thank you for the great episode and merry Christmas!
I have an old toilet brush tree. It belonged to my mother's family when she was a child. I don't use it anymore, yet refuse to get rid of it. All of the pieces are there, and it does take some time to put together. Glad to learn a little more about it. Thanks, History Guy. Merry Christmas to you, and anyone reading.
Was that a History Daughter near the end of this episode? Also, has The History Guy ever did an episode on the Christmas in the Trenches that John McCutcheon sang about?
Just found your channel. I do enjoy collecting historical stuff especially combat helmets, headgear and Victorian Campaign medals! More on that period of you please 😆
Seasons greetings and a peaceful and prosperous New Year to The History Family, including all three cats: Demi, Pookie and Lucky Star, from Drouin, Australia. I assume you couldn't convince the other two cats to be in the family photo. Thank you for your help in getting through this year.
Since 1971 the official Boston Christmas tree has been donated to the city by Nova Scotia in appreciation of humanitarian assistance rendered to the city of Halifax by the people of Boston in 1917.
Early on December 6, 1917 an ammunition ship bound for Europe exploded in the inner harbor of Halifax destroying much of the city. Boston authorities learned of the disaster by telegraph, and quickly organized and dispatched a relief train around 10 pm that day to assist survivors. A blizzard delayed the train, which finally arrived in the early morning of December 8, and immediately began distributing food, water, and medical supplies. Medical personnel on the train relieved local medical staff, most of whom had worked without rest since the explosion occurred.
This would be an interesting topic for The History Guy to do a video on.
@@e.b.1728 I thought he had, but it was a different explosion.
@@e.b.1728 He's covered the Halifax explosion, but not this aspect.
I was wondering if he would cover this in this video.
My grandfather was a young Harvard Medical School student at the time, and I seem to recall a story that he went up to help with that. The following year, shortly after he graduated, he would be working through the 1918 Influenza pandemic, and the year after that, the Great Molasses Flood in Boston, all by the age of 26.
Our local Fire Station has a sign that says, "Water your Xmas tree... so we don't have to!"
I have to insert a comment regarding another tree that deserves to be remembered. For many decades now a Christmas tree has been delivered annually from Nova Scotia to Boston in thanks for help delivered in the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion that killed thousands.
On a separate note, I have to say I prefer your old glasses, you fashionista dilettante, you.😉
Merry Christmas from Nova Scotia.
Another notable tree is transported from Poland (1997 and 2017) and other countries to the Vatican. A tradition started by Pope John Paul II in 1982.
Since 1947 the people of Norway have given a Christmas tree every year in gratitude for the assistance Britain gave during ww2. It stands in Trafalgar square. I think a tree is a beautiful symbol of remembrance.
@@dariuszrutkowski420 Why is there a pagan obelisk in the middle of St. Peter's square? No one, including Catholics, have been able to explain why that obelisk is there.
@@ExcalibursEdge because Caligula brought it from Alexandria, Egypt and put it on the Vatican Hill in 40 AD, long before the Vatican was the centre of the Church.
I'm actually surprised he didn't mention it. I was waiting for him to do so.
I was at Saint Peter's Basilica for Christmas midnight mass in 1982. I got to see the first Christmas tree at the Vatican. I also had a job as Capt Morgan for the rum company. I am a former pirate who is a part of history that deserves to be remembered.
😂
Almost my entire family on my Dad's side, are in the business of growing and selling Christmas trees, both commercial and wholesale. Our name use to be Seitz in Germany....so it's funny we would now be selling so many Christmas trees...lol. I know my family has had at least one of their trees placed in the White House - that was while Nixon was in office. Our old grandpa at the time, Paul Sides made the trip to D.C. to have his picture taken with all his sons, who were basically partners in the venture. Old Grandpa was born in 1895 and had never once traveled outside of his home state of N.C. but for this honor....he did. I've heard tell...that they sell upwards of a million trees a year. I got to help my Dad sell trees on his Christmas tree lot in Orlando Florida. I really loved working on that lot, with all of it's smells of fresh cut pine and holly etc. People from all walks of life came to our lot looking for a tree. Doctors, lawyers, truck drivers and yes....even prostitutes. I remember one begged her pimp, "Please sugar....buy us a tree!" He was picky about the price, as he held out a wad of cash and remarked, "Just remember how good I'am to you ladies!" Yeah... my dad had that lot for over 30 years, and saw the children who came.....turn into the parents who came after that...bringing with them a whole new generation of customers. The last year I worked on that lot back in Dec of 1993 we had an older man come with his daughter....who also brought her little boy. They asked if my dad and I would pose with them beside our make-shift Christmas house/office. To me....that was a fitting end to a long labor of love. My dad was gone that next spring due to cancer, and so was his business. I don't think anything ever hurt me emotionally, as much as that.....but that's a whole other story!!!
That's a great story. Thanks so much for sharing.
History that deserves to be remembered.
A beautiful, truly Christmas story...your Dad sounded rather like one of the Magi. Merry Christmas!
The original German Name eould be Sitz. They changed the Name because the People could not pronounce it right so they wrote it like that when coming to the US. I am German.i just thought uou like to know if you try to to some history on your Family. Most People cant find things because of the Spelling or miss spelling when they came over on the Ship.
@@sunshineammorgen1365 thanks for sharing! My last name is Kirsch. It is German. Have any insight to the name?
I think my family was from Magdeburg:)
One Christmas our son brought a new kitten home with him from college. As soon as his carrier door was opened, Gizmo bolted straight to our decorated tree and climbed up inside. To avoid breaking ornaments by trying to extract him, we instead set a bowl of food on the floor and waited. After posing for several cute photos similar to yours, Gizmo eventually gave in to hunger and rejoined the party. God bless us everyone!
Sounds like a tradition was born!
My grand daughter’s kitten did this as soon as they set up their tree. She’s white and looked like snow on the branch.
We have a small 6-foot live tree this year (normally an 8-10 footer) with all plastic ornaments because we got a kitten in the Spring. He's in his "hell" stage which we hope he will outgrow by next Christmas. My large family collection of antique ornaments remains under the eaves and it just doesn't seem like Christmas without them. Merry Christmas All - anybody want a cat?
@SamhainBe
Poor kitty....dangerous to be natural these days. Merry Christmas!
I want to tell you a story my mother told me many years ago.
My mother wanted to be an engineer like her older brother but in the early 20th century, women who went to college, were 'supposed' to be nurses or teachers. Mom had good grades and applied to a number of colleges. The only school that accepted her was the engineering school of the University of Alabama. That was going to be expensive because mom lived in New York. My grandfather was not a big fan of Mom's plan but agreed to give her some money towards school so Mom was going to have to earn the rest. Mom worked for a brush company that was a division of Empire Brush company to earn and save money for college. One day at work, she told me about a machine malfunctioning. The machine made bottle cleaning brushes and the mechanism that cut them to length failed. The machine had turned out dozens of bottle brushes that were several feet long before it was shut down. Mom picked a couple up and was cutting up saying 'Look at Me, I'm a Tree'. Mom made it clear that she didn't have any big idea or invention, she was just 'cutting up'. That year Empire Brush did design a 'tree' with a large hardwood dowel with holes in it and long bottle brushes inserted. The company never said it was Mom's idea or that they got the idea from that day but they did give her a 500 dollar cashier's check made out to the University of Alabama. Mom drove to Alabama and became the first woman to attend their school of engineering. I wish I knew more specific details but Mom died many years ago.
I thought that you folks would enjoy that story. I always enjoy your channel.
Merry Christmas and yall Take Care, John
What a heartwarming story. I'm not the kind of guy who weeps for anything, but this made a big lump in my throat. Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
Sounds like she had a "brush" with success. Bring on the brush jokes!
I just have to say, Alabama has a fine engineering program, and of course, Roll Tide!!!
ROLL TIDE
That’s an awesome story!
I remember the aluminum tree with rotating color wheel my grandparents had.
My sister in law still has one and uses it every year.
Life on an Iowa farm! Mom had found an aluminum tree that was about two feet high and had a bulb at the tip of each branch and one on top. Very simple yet pretty. We would have a real tree also, but this little tree sat on a small table, and it could be seen shining through the living room window as we would come home on the gravel road. It also served somewhat as a night light in those long winter nights. It came out as soon as Thanksgiving was over and often didn't go back in hiding till later January. The folks evidently disposed of it after I had left home because the wiring had gone bad. Wish I knew about it because I would have rewired it and it would be in the window of my place yet to see another Christmas come.
TVTropes uses the term "aluminum Christmas tree" to refer to any true-to-life element of a fictional work that's assumed by the audience to be fiction because it seems implausible.
My Mom has one still uses it
we stall had ours when I was a kid … that light was epically hot
Due the current pandemic, this is the first year in over 50 years that I didn't go to a Christmas tree farm and cut down my own tree. My sister and I went to a local lot and bought one there. For a great number of those 50 years, we went to a farm owned by dear family friends. For a time it was the whole family, eventually my sisters and I would go and get the tree and patronize the Christmas shop on the first floor of the owner's home, while my parents and mom's sister would go a day or two later to visit with the owners. Sadly, the husband and wife who owned the farm both passed away around the turn of the century and the farm was sold off. But I look around my room and see many of the decorations I purchased at their shop, and the memories of Christmases past come to me.
Feliz Navidad. Joyeux Noël. Frohe Weihnachten. Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus. Häid Jõule. Καλά Χριστούγεννα. Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia. С Рождеством. Merry Christmas.
Chicago Czechs wish you "VESELY VANOCE"...[pron. Vess-uh-lay Van-o-say]🎄
The Maltese wish you Il-Millied It-Tajjeb
God jul, from Sweden.
As a family, we cut our Christmas tree down from my parents’ woodlot (I am blessed they are in great health). This became such an important tradition for my children (my daughter 24 and twin boys now 23,), they, to this day, insist we cut our tree down as a family. This was the only normalcy we were able to experience for this Holiday Season... I’m extremely grateful for this tradition.... Merry Christmas...
@@vgalea hey that's interesting. That sounds exactly like the Arabic for 'Merry Christmas': عيد ميلاد مجيد
Which is transliterated to English as: 'eid milad mijid!' :)
You'd think that the Brotherhood of the Blackheads would be a dermatologist society.
I thought the same!
It could be?
"Blackhead" in German: "Schwarzkopf".
@@fr.gregblevins9825 They had good hair.
So were the men known as "THE PIMPS" as in pimples?
O History Guy, O History Guy
How lovely are thy research
Hey “Kim-Jung-Un”
Until he pronounces Manitowoc. 😁
Is thy research or are thy researches.
I appreciate that he always notes his sources.
😷☕
Merry Christmas History Guy and everyone who enjoys watching him
... and of course to Mrs. History Guy, History Guy, Jr., and History Meow too!
To you as well!
Same to you James - Merry Christmas!
Real tree (we clean up needles for months afterward). Old ornaments, kitschy ornaments, lights, lit village and electric train. Nativity in the dining room. It smells of pine, which is perfect.
Years ago I had a Jewish co-worker and I was tasked with wrapping several Hannukah gifts for his young son. I commented one day about how cool it must be to get gifts for days instead of unwrapping everything on one day. His response was classic: "Are you kidding? We have a child. We have a Christmas tree."
Merry Christmas to the History Guy and Family, too.
"Remember , it wouldn't be an exciting story without a Christmas tree!!.
Glad Jul !!!., and again, Merry Christmas!!!.
Merry Christmas! Giving this fine video a boost with a like and comment two years after it was produced. 😃
As a resident of Oregon I cannot imagine not having a Christmas tree, but from comments here it appears many people have manufactured trees. There is truly little loss of trees in the wild, Christmas trees are grown on farms. They also grow like weeds in my garden and everywhere else around here. I pull 15 or 20 5" starts out of the ground every spring.
@GREATBEAR MAMA 😁
A Charley Brown Christmas. That simple forlorn tree spoke volumes the spirit of Christmas. Merry Christmas to all and wishing a much much better New Year.
One of the most ridiculous Christmas trees in my memory was erected in main square of Canton, Ohio in December, 1959. It consisted of a very tall pole from which were hung a series of hoops wrapped with strips of aluminum foil. The hoops were small at the top and huge at the bottom. What the planners did not take into account was that the city square was at the top of the hill on which the city was built, with wide streets running East, West, North, and South. As a result, it was the windiest location in the county. The hoops began swaying violently, endangering cars and buses (At the time the square was the transfer point for all city buses.), as well as the buildings around the square, including the County Court House. The tree was quietly taken down and city officials became very quiet whenever it was mentioned. The next year a blue spruce was used and there has been no suggestion of any kind of artificial tree since that year.
I spent a lot of time in canton, Eaton and dayton growing up.. but I was born in the 80s so ... but ty for the cool story
@@nline2blast722 Not too many people remember that tree because it was only up for a week or so. I always called it the "Hula Hoop" tree because It looked to me like a bunch of tinsel wrapped Hula Hoops hanging from a flagpole, especially when they were swinging around in the wind. I remember it because I rode the city bus to school that year.
Thank you for all your history knowledge. Merry Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas to the History Guy clan. Thx for all your videos and enthusiasm for history.
Merry Christmas THG from rainy cold Dublin Ireland!
Merry Christmas 😊
merry christmas
Same from Cork
Merry Christmas from Ulster!!!
Merry Christmas to all of Ireland from Berkshire county Massachusetts where it is cold but sunny.
THANK YOU HISTORY GUY FAMILY AND THE SAME TO YOU!!
..there is the story here in Chicago of the Rouse Simmons, the "Christmas Tree Ship" which delivered for years many of the trees to Chicago..until it sank with a full cargo of trees in 1912 and the loss of 17 people....
Love your videos. From one history nut to another, Merry Christmas!!
Growing up with a Jewish father and a Christian mother, we always had a Christmukkah tree, overflowing with lights, tinsel, and ornaments, and with a 6-pointed Star of David (handmade by my father) adorning the top.
That sounds really wonderful! Is it like regular ornaments or special ones?
@@edward9674 We didn't have any religiously-themed ornaments (other than the star), but I'm not sure if that was intentional or just worked out that way. Our "special" ornaments were just handcrafted ones that my parents had bought overseas, plus of course any that us kids had made in school.
I've always thought that the Star of David was the most appropriate for Christmas. Jesus was, after all, born into the House of David.
There's a family legend in parts of my mom's family that Alsace traded hands so many times every structure has a hidden compartment where in homes cash and documents would be stored, while in public buildings, schools etc the flag, documents cash, even schoolbooks where they existed would be stored, hidden from the nation currently controlling Alsace from the other nation. They would remain hidden until the end of the next war, just to see if they would be needed or not. Her father's family came from the region around Alsace in modern Germany in 1720s.
Merry Christmas to ALL of you, History Guy's Family, your viewer's Families and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year! I'm treating myself to a HG binge!
Merry Christmas History family... Thanks for all the great content!
Merry Christmas to The History Gang!
Well this was interesting. I thought I knew Prince Albert started the whole thing during Victoria's reign. Instead there's a fascinating tale going back to .. well forever. Thank you for doing all this research, its appreciated. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. I look forward to watching some more of your videos in the New Year. Love from the UK
Love seeing the family! Your by far one the most wholesome youtubers iv ever seen
thank you!!! history family....i enjoy your program....i wish i could get my kids to watch....they would learn something...merry christmas...from the jones family
From my home to yours, wishing you a happy and healthy Christmas and a new year full of peace and joy. Much love from Dixie.
Thank you for sharing this with me ! Take care , stay safe and healthy with whatever you maybe doing next ! Please have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ! Doing well here in Kansas .
Merry Christmas
Mr. History Guy
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you all!!
Thank you history guy. Merry Christmas to you too. I used to have a special ornament for my cat. It was a rather heavy ornament that had a bell inside. Whenever my cat swatted it, it would swing back and forth and jingle. I always put it at the bottom of the tree. If I forgot to do it she would climb the tree, but when it was there it distracted her! She always went right for that little jingle ornament. Good memories!🐱🎄
Lovely finish to this piece. Put a great big smile on my face.
Over the years, every tree we ever put up in my house got attacked by at least one cat.
"Never have been attacked by tree." Mr. Miyoto
Sounds like a tradition now .... lol ...
So Cromwell was the original Grinch. Not only did he steal the Who's decorations, he confiscated their roastbeast!
Maybe Cromwell was the idea behind the Grinch." He took all of their Who hash, and the last of the roast beast."
A dastardly cad, was he
That took my festivus from me!
I had no idea he was so damn grinchy!
2
Your are making poor people poorer by unnecessary competing with rich, buying useless Christmas tree and decorations and gifts, instead of being just a religious celebration turn it into commercial one.
I love the family scene at the end. Merry Christmas to you all
You had me at "toilet brush". 🎅🎅🎅
I love the intros.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Back in the mid 1960's when I was a kid, we had an aluminum tree. It was silver colored but had a rotating color wheel in front of it that caused it to change colors - blue, red, yellow and green. I have very fond memories of that tree.
Talk about stirring up old memories. Childhood from the 50's, North Branch N.J. Well done. :)
I have been enjoying your videos for a while now, with all the problems going on in the world right now, your channel is a great place to go and be entertained and educated at the same time. Thank you and have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year Mr. and Mrs. History Guy.
Yes, I am watching from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Here the big holiday is New Year's and people buy a tree for the holiday. I have really enjoyed watching this program, especially during the quarantine. Have a wonderful holiday, during these difficult times.
From a green central Newfoundland, Canada I wish that you and Mrs History have a wonderful Christmas 🎄 🇨🇦 🎄 🛎
Thank you for al the information and memories. As I am part German the Christmas Tree is in my soul, but my Irish Grandma had the aluminum tree ( oh the memory of falling asleep while the color wheel turned!) Merry Christmas to all in the History Guy/Gal family (and History Cat).
Merry Christmas to the History Family, and a much better New Year. From South Central Pennsylvania.
Your history insights bring year round joy to many people. May you and yours have a very merry Christmas
I really appreciate your videos, especially this one, this year. Thank you for making them!
Many years ago, we started buying small live Norfolk Island pines and decorating them. After Christmas, we would take the tree outside and leave it there until next year. We continued to bring it in until it got to big to bring in. At that point, we would plant it in the yard and buy another small tree. We lost a couple of them, but currently have three trees in the yard. This would only work in a location that is not subject to harsh freezes, as Norfolks cannot take the cold, but something similar. could be done with other conifers.
I live in Marin county, California. Close to San Francisco on the coast. I have 2 8 foot Norfolk pines in my front yard, and just had a freeze overnight. Luckily I have them covered in frost bags, let’s see if I can keep them alive, they are so beautiful! Interestingly enough, they got burned by the sun in the first few weeks I had them, I think they were probably grown in a greenhouse.
We purchased a pot grown blue spruce tree about 20 years ago, this would come in each year to be decorated until it became too big which took about 4 years. It was then planted in the back yard, it now stands about 50 feet tall and is covered in strings of lights to the delight of our neighbours.
I hope all has a happy, safe and healthy Christmas and a wonderful new year.
We have done that before. We bought a three foot tall live tree in a pot, then in the summer we planted it in the ground at my brother's farm. I would do it again, but my brother died this past year and the farm has gone to another family.
@@minuteman4199 Maybe you should reach out to that family. That is a tradition that is worth carrying on, even if the family is different. Plus I think we need a little more togetherness in this crazy 2020 world. Merry Christmas!
I do miss the real trees. We lived 'in the woods' and accompanied our parents to find a tree on the property. When we were old enough, my brother and I brought in the tree. Always imperfect, but well loved. Merry Christmas!🎄❤
Merry Christmas to you, such a timely story!
Another wonderful episode! Thanks History Guy and Merry Christmas to everyone!
Wow was this a fun Christmas gift! Thanks for the history!
Wishing you the happiest Christmas season ever! And many blessings to you and your family in the coming year! Thanks so much for all you do. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
"And one involving a... toilet brush." I laughed hard. Keep up the fine work, HG. You are a rare treasure!
That was very edifying, thank you.
I put up my Festivus pole yesterday.
Nice seeing your family including cat. Merry Christmas.
I liked the family cameo at the end. Merry Christmas
Worth the watch just for the Merry Xmas at the end..
Merry Christmas all. Thank you for so many interesting stories this year History Guy and family.
I think you're the best history channel here and I watch your contributions with great interest. Keep up the good work, a very good and healthy new year to you and those close to you - and these words by a usually silent viewer are my little Xmas present to you.
Love your program, each slice of knowledge & history shared is precious. This has a very special and personal touch at the end, recognizing your crew. Keep up the BRILLIANT work, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!! from da Bronx
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
We go out and cut down a Christmas tree every year. We have 5 children. Four of them are out of the house. Most of them do the same thing. Such good memories.
Merry Christmas, History Guy - and family. Again, a great and informative production. You never disappoint.
Merry Christmas to you THG.
I love your channel, I've always loved reading and watching things on history. What I love about your channel the most is the topics and subjects you talk about it's such a wide range from average everyday ordinary things that we don't think about to unique things that I've even wondered about in passing. I came across your channel a few months ago and every day since then I try to watch or download at least a couple of your shows. And I will be and have been working my way through every one of your snippets! And I also look forward to all of your future topics and shows. Thank you!
Merry Christmas from snowy New Hampshire. I still think the folks in the neighboring state have a bit of Puritanism left in them:) And when did the tradition of trains around the Christmas tree begin? Don't ever remember a Christmas without a tree and trains.
Merry Christmas Mr. &.Mrs. THG, thank you for being there for us.
I was expecting to see a Santa Cap in the back with THG's hat collection.
That would've been awesome!
Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year to you two!
May we have good memories to remember in this next year.
My son said he was going out to buy a Christmas tree. Said he was getting a fake one this year. I said WTH ! You live in Washington ! It's The EVERGREEN state ! LOL !
Odin, Norweigan, Scandinavian .
Wodin Germanic. God of Asgard.
I thank you and your lovely family for the smiles! Wishing your a very merry Christmas and the WORLD a better new year!
You and this channel have helped me thru this horrid year... Bless You and Yours!
I half expected your lovely cat to add their own greetings by way of a "meow", but alas, that didn't happen. Either way, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and as good a time as is possible given the current situation.
Indeed. Merry Christmas, History Cat.
You have a lovely family. I enjoy your content, thank you.
The cat in the tree thumbnail is adorable. Well played sir... well played.
Merry Christmas History Guy and History Family! Thank you for a wonderful year of informative and enjoyable videos, have a Happy New Year too!
Merry Christmas! Good to see you all and especially the History Cat!
Merry Christmas History Family! You were a great thing to find in 2020!
Very interesting episode, thank you for the history and you have a great looking family! God bless you all and have a very merry Christmas!!🎄
Merry Christmas and happy New year from my family to URS. Thank you for all you do.
I had an artificial tree for 40 years that I lived. It had more space between the branches vertically than modern trees that made it easy to hang ornaments. Sadly it was falling apart too much to keep around any longer. I can't find any like it to replace it. :(
Loved the closing bit. Merry Christmas!
I actually caught myself waving goodbye to my screen during that outro. Best holiday wishes to you and the family.
Merry Christmas to you too and happy New year 🎉😊
I love your cat, history guy! It looks just like my two girls. :) Merry Christmas and thanks for all you do.
I discovered your channel during this bleak pandemic year, and love it, love it, love it. Thank you! Wishing THG and family a very Merry Christmas, and a bright and hopeful New Year.
My wife and I attended the Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas market) in Nuremberg, Germany one year long ago. I can vouch for the fact that Christmas markets are a BIG deal in Germany and are very well attended. The Nuremberg event has been going on since the early 1600's.
Grateful for you and your family in this holiday season. History guy channel will always be a part of my RUclips watching repertoire. Thank you for the great episode and merry Christmas!
This was interesting and fun history. Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all. I like the new glasses. It also looks like you lost weight.
I have an old toilet brush tree. It belonged to my mother's family when she was a child. I don't use it anymore, yet refuse to get rid of it. All of the pieces are there, and it does take some time to put together. Glad to learn a little more about it. Thanks, History Guy. Merry Christmas to you, and anyone reading.
Was that a History Daughter near the end of this episode?
Also, has The History Guy ever did an episode on the Christmas in the Trenches that John McCutcheon sang about?
Just found your channel. I do enjoy collecting historical stuff especially combat helmets, headgear and Victorian Campaign medals!
More on that period of you please 😆
Love this channel!!
Thanks!
Thank you!
Merry Christmas to you, The History Guy, The History Family, and The History Cat! And to THG community - be blessed this holiday and happy new year!
Seasons greetings and a peaceful and prosperous New Year to The History Family, including all three cats: Demi, Pookie and Lucky Star, from Drouin, Australia. I assume you couldn't convince the other two cats to be in the family photo. Thank you for your help in getting through this year.
Beautiful family. Thank you History Family may you all experience a history worth remembering this year at Christmas. 🌲🐱🫂💌😃