03 Dec 2023 Welcome to the Central Arkansas Tour de Trees

By Stefanie Brazile

Christmas trees are the centerpiece of holiday decorations and the main focal point in homes across the world this time of year. Southerners rarely have only one Christmas tree, and we love to go all out, adding lights, garlands, ornaments and baubles of all shapes and sizes. Tinsel has even made a comeback this year.

But where did the tradition originate? Its roots are deep in the ancient world, and several countries claim to be the birthplace of the Christmas tree, including Latvia and Estonia. There’s also a strong argument that German families influenced the idea of bringing an evergreen indoors and decorating it. Many credit the Protestant reformer Martin Luther for being the first to put candles on Christmas trees, but historians agree that its popularity increased in 1848 when Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, allowed “The Illustrated London News” to publish an illustration of the family gathered around a decorated Christmas tree.

That illustration made its way to the U.S. around 1850 when a Philadelphia-based magazine, “Godey’s Lady’s Book”, republished the festive scene of the royal family.

Today, Christmas trees are a cherished tradition around the world, and especially in the 501. We’ve visited several homes in Central Arkansas to bring you lush images of glamorous Christmas trees, some with high-end décor, a couple of trendy trees, cozy trees and, of course, a fun tree!

We hope you enjoy our Tour de Trees and that the following posts inspire you as you deck the halls in your home! (Click the images below to visit each individual post.)