There are really no rules when it comes to what sits on top of you Christmas tree. It’s become a matter of choice and a lot depends on family tradition as to what people think is a “proper” decoration for the top of the tree.
When trees first became a thing, a lot of people put a figure of the little baby Jesus at the top of the tree. That evolved into angels and stars over the years and there are now many variations. It’s really a matter of personal choice.
In the 1800’s, a British magazine published a drawing of Queen Victoria and her family gathered around their Christmas tree. At the top was an angel. And suddenly, everyone had to have an angel. With the coming of electric lights for Christmas trees, stars became popular. Usually, it was the five pointed star of Bethlehem, and a light bulb or two could make it look like that star was really shining at the top of your tree.
But that has evolved even more. Some may use a simply bow, other may have some fancy fiber optic creation.
I was brought up in a star family. We used the same rickety old star for many years. Until it finally fell apart and had to be replaced. By another star. That was what went at the top of the tree. A star.
But when I got married, I discovered my wife came from an angel family. There had to be an angel at the top of the tree. Tilted a bit to the left, if possible. I’m not sure what the reason was. It may have been explained to me at some point, but I have long forgotten why it had to lean to the left. Or maybe my father in law just made that up because he couldn’t get the thing to sit straight. Because they can be difficult to get absolutely perfect.
But for over forty years, an angel has replaced a star at the top of my Christmas tree. Not just any angel. The same angel. Carefully selected by my wife as the perfect tree topper. She’s had a few repairs over the years. I think the lights have been replaced and she has been rewired once or twice. She has a few burn marks from lights that may have overheated a bit. But she didn’t burst into flames, so she’s a bit of a guardian angel as well as just a tree topper. But she still occupies the place of honour, every year.
So I guess I was a star person. Now I’m an angel person. Not that I’m an angel. Far from it. But there is one on my tree.
