What’s up with upside down Christmas trees?

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When one of our writers was looking online to buy a fake Christmas tree recently, she was surprised to see an upside down Christmas tree on the Argos website. It launched our whole team into a discussion on whether the trend was hot or not—only to discover that it’s not actually a trend at all.

Hi Eleanor, upside down trees are very much a common thing thses days. ~ Lauren

— Argos Helpers (@ArgosHelpers) November 5, 2016

While Argos’ customer service rep Lauren was correct about their current popularity, upside down Christmas trees actually have a long history. Like, really long. Like back to the 12th century. Supposedly, an English Benedictine monk went to Germany and used the triangle shape of the tree to reference the Holy Trinity, and then people began hanging the trees from their ceiling and decking them out with candles. It was probably easier to attach the trees’ stump to the ceiling than somehow mount it to the floor and have it stick up straight. Plastic tree stands were hard to come by in the 12th century.

Conversely, some people think upside down Christmas trees are actually sacrilegious, since the top should point upward “toward god.” If you like the upside down vibe, though, as Eleanor discovered at Argos they’re “very much a common thing these days.” Upside Christmas trees actually fit easier into smaller rooms, since the bulk is up at the top and furniture can be placed closer to the bottom. They also may not be as easy for your cat to climb (but cats are clever, so don’t hold me to this).

Buy them in the UK from Argos:

Buy them in the US from the Home Depot:

With these stands, setting up an upside down Christmas tree is exactly the same as setting up a right-side up Christmas tree. Most of them come pre-lit, and thanks to the wire branches, securing ornaments and decorations to them is simple. If you want to hang an actual fresh-cut tree from your ceiling, though, you’re on your own.

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