Forget "Jingle Bells" or "Silent Night." The best song to play when you're sorting out this year's Christmas tree is Missy Elliott's "Work It." Time to put that fir down, flip it, and reverse it.
Though it's unclear just how this came to be an actual trend and not a parody of Pinterest fails, upside-down Christmas trees are apparently all the rage this holiday season. Yes, it sounds like a recipe for a needle apocalypse. No, we're not sure how you break the news to Grandma that her antique angel topper isn't needed this year.
According to The Spruce, the trend has historical roots (sorry) that date back to the Middle Ages. Eastern Europeans reportedly hung their trees from the ceiling to represent the Holy Trinity, though it's now common to have the tip of the tree pointing towards heaven — hence the traditional angel and star toppers. Also, it's soooo much easier to water this way.
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Target is currently selling five models of "lush, lifelike" upside-down artificial trees — yours from $285 to upwards of a grand — for festive folks bored with the traditional triangle shape. The inverted style is already making its way to hotels, shopping centers, and homes, with a variety of techniques on display.
There's the chandelier effect. There's the whirling cyclops. There's the presents-on-top take. There's the presents-down-below take. Some come with stands; others are suspended, dangling above everyone's heads like mistletoe, assuming mistletoe could give you a concussion.
It’s a ‘Winter of Whimsy!’ This year’s holiday theme decks our halls in all things bright, including a whimsical upside down lobby tree. pic.twitter.com/TwrifPMp2E
— Hotel del Coronado (@delcoronado) November 22, 2017
Are retailers just trotting out the upside-down tree to free up floor space and draw the eye to the fancy ornaments they want you to buy? Probably. But let he who hath not purchased a flocked tree cast the first stone. It's your tree. Flip it, hang it, dip-dye it ombre-style. Santa won't mind, so long as you still leave some cookies out.
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produced by Brianna Donnelly; edited by Sam Russell.