It’s no secret that Christmas is an immensely popular holiday for a multitude of reasons.
Whether it’s someone’s enjoyment of gift-giving, spending time with their family, or just the overall cultural celebration that’s tied to the holiday, there’s a lot to love about Christmas.
Not to mention the sheer amount of tradition and cultural celebration that’s associated with the holiday.
Still, not everyone knows why certain traditions are in place.
With this in mind, why do we put a star on the Christmas tree?
To answer this question…people put a star on the Christmas tree since it’s a representation of The Star of Bethlehem, which in biblical terms guided the wise men to the birthplace of Jesus. In short, the star signifies the birth of Jesus. Although not every person who celebrates Christmas is religious, the star has a religious backstory to it, like many of the traditions that are a part of the holiday.
No matter the reason why you celebrate Christmas, whether it’s for religious reasons or for your own cultural beliefs, it’s always fascinating to know and understand why so many traditions are the way they are.
History is essential, especially when it has to do with a subject that’s so prevalent today.
Nevertheless, if you hope to learn more about this subject, you’re in the right place.
Down below will take an in-depth look at everything worth mentioning pertaining to putting a star on a Christmas tree.
Let’s take a look!
What does the star on top of a Christmas tree represent?
As already mentioned, the star on top of the Christmas tree represents the biblical story of the birth of Christ.
The Star of Bethlehem, also known as the Christmas Star, guided the wise men to the birthplace of Jesus.
This story is referred to as the Jesus of Nazareth’s birth and is why we place a star on a Christmas tree.
Now, like many other Christmas traditions, many people aren’t totally aware of traditions in this respect since religion isn’t a dominating factor of Christmas anymore.
There certainly are plenty of Christians who look at it as a religious holiday.
Still, there are plenty of varying cultures that celebrate the holiday as a cultural experience.
It’s interesting how society shifts in a particular way while traditions remain no matter what their actual meaning is.
We see that very much with the holiday of Christmas and every other holiday that has century-long traditions attached to them.
It makes you wonder if there will ever be any newer holidays moving forward.
When do you put the star on top of a Christmas tree?
Besides knowing the history of a Christmas tree star, there is the other point to highlight of when you should put the star on the tree.
After all, most people want to know they’re following the tradition correctly.
Otherwise, they may risk upsetting those around them who follow the Christmas tradition very closely.
A good rule of thumb is to wait until December to hang up anything Christmas-related.
During this time, feel free to hang up your star whenever your tree is up.
Once Christmas concludes, most people tend to leave their tree up until New Years’. If you wish to leave the tree up shorter or longer, that’s also entirely up to you.
As for how long you should keep the star lit, make sure you don’t leave it on for too long since the heat of it can cause issues with your tree.
Fire hazards should always be taken very seriously.
Obviously, there are many points to pay attention to with this, but be mindful of your star and the heat it’s discharging.
Who should put the star on a Christmas tree?
Another vital part of putting the star on the Christmas tree is determining who gets that role. Seeing as the star represents such an integral role in the Christmas celebration, it can seem overwhelming to decide who gets that job.
Still, there are some traditions you can follow if you wish.
The first tradition is easy enough to follow since it dictates the father is who is in charge of putting the star on the Christmas tree every year.
Simple enough, right?
Another option involves the family’s kids, where the eldest child is in charge of putting the star up every year.
Some families do the opposite and have the youngest try and do it.
You can also hang the star up as a family if that’s a route you hope to go with as well.
Either way, be aware of the entire process and what you hope to do with it.
You can even create a tradition of your own if you wish.
Just make sure whoever is celebrating with you understands the tradition.
Do people put a star or angel on top of a Christmas tree?
Besides hanging a star on top of your Christmas tree, there is another option to consider, which involves hanging an angel on top of the tree.
Many families do this as a way to showcase their faith.
Either option works splendidly with the holiday of Christmas, so feel free to do whatever you prefer.
What is the star on top of a Christmas tree called?
Anything that’s hung on top of a Christmas tree is referred to as a tree-topper.
Although the Christmas tree star represents the Star of Bethlehem, the star itself is simply referred to as a Christmas tree star.
Nothing too complicated for anyone to remember, just a straightforward name for what it is.
Do you have to have a Christmas star on your tree?
No, as already mentioned, there are plenty of other tree toppings you can have on your tree if you wish.
Angels and stars tend to be the most popular option, but some people have homemade tree toppers they utilize instead. It’s truly up to you what you hope to do for the holiday, so get creative with it!