It seems there are several traditions concerning just when to put up a tree: modern tradition is to put it up the day or weekend after Thanksgiving; classic tradition is December 13, that is, twelve days before Christmas; some prefer December 6 in honor of St. Nicolas.

The evergreen tree has been featured in stories since the dawn of time. Or so it seems! Read many of these stories from around the world and down through the ages in The Solstice Evergreen: the History, Folklore and Origins of the Christmas Tree, by Sheryl Ann Karas.

I have a memory of an aluminum Christmas tree, someone in my neighborhood had one, complete with the four color rotating light that would make the tree change colors. However, I did not know that some of these trees rotated as well, or why you never put a string of lights on them until I read Season's Gleamings: the Art of the Aluminum Christmas Tree by J. Shimon & J. Lindemann.

The Star Tree, written and illustrated by Gisela Colle, and translated by Rosemary Lanning is a charming story from Germany. An old man, dismayed of all the bright lights and isolation of city life sets out to light up a tree in the forest. Will anyone else even notice?

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, by Robert Barry is one of my all time favorites! I love what happens when a tree is just too big for the space it occupies!

Reading Hermit With Dog