It was always a thrill picking out a live tree with my folks. Bringing it home from the local tree lot; stringing twinkly lights on its spacious branches, randomly tossing tinsel, hanging the many colorful ornaments, topped off with a star. Our small house was consumed with the scent of pine. Majestically standing from floor to ceiling, I was in awe of its beauty!
We also had a spindly tree that Mom pulled out of storage every year, which she sparsely decorated and propped on a table. Think "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree" here. I was not very fascinated by this fake tree!
Come to find out, this small tree has huge sentimental value to my parents.
When Dad was serving in the Army 8th Infantry Division (1959-1965) he was stationed in Germany for 18 months, where my parents lived off base in Bad Kreuznach. They didn't have much money but purchased this tinsel tree at the Post to decorate their cramped upstairs apartment. Mom was very homesick...this tabletop tree reminded her of family back home in the States, and the goose feather tree from her childhood.
Feather trees were created in Germany during the mid-1800's with growing concern the forests were being depleted, especially during the holiday season. These tabletop versions of the native pines abundant in the Hinterlands were the first artificial Christmas trees!
German immigrants brought this tradition to America.
Most of the primitive trees were made of goose feathers wrapped around stiff wire forming the branches, attached to a wooden rod trunk inserted to a base for support.
By the mid-1930's, feather trees lost their popularity in the United States as the live Christmas tree industry flourished. Feathers were replaced by synthetic materials such as aluminum. Genuine goose feather trees are rare antiquities as most have deteriorated due to poor storage and improper care. Contemporary feather trees are reproduced in a variety of colors and sizes.
I recently asked Mom whatever happened to that tabletop tinsel tree, which she proceeded to delicately pull out of storage for the first time in many years. Remembering my childhood...and realizing this deeply rooted history...I am in awe of its special beauty...!
Our Tinsel Tree
(purchased in Germany, 1960)
Propped for the purpose of this post...
a tradition restored at the Rapp Haus!
