Christmas Tree Decorating Traditions

During the Christmas season it's wonderful to pass houses with majestic trees in the living room window all decked out in lights, garlands, and ornaments. Putting decorations on a Christmas tree is a time-honored tradition for most households, although Christmas tree decorating as we know it now didn't gain popularity in America until the late 19th century. Early decorations were mostly homemade ornaments and brightly dyed popcorn garlands, but today's decorations include everything from souvenir ornaments to vinyl records and -- of course -- lots of twinkling lights.