I’ve always been fascinated by this tradition – the tree’s the first thing I look for everywhere I go during the yuletide season.
There are different stories on the origin of the Christmas tree. Some say it was Martin Luther who set up the first Christmas tree; the more popular story is that it originated from Alsace, Germany, in 1521. The first Christmas tree was said to have been decorated with dolls, candies, apples, communion wafers, paper roses and gold foil. However, it was only in the 19th century that it became very popular.
We may never know where or how this tradition started but this we know for sure: Christmas isn’t the same without it.
Pops Fernandez: I wanted to bring back the original colors of Christmas, which is why I chose green, red and touches of gold for my tree. There was a time when people used different colors and motifs (like bears), which I did too. But for this year, I thought it would be nice to bring back the original colors of the season.
Lucy Torres: Our tree’s decked with mostly glass ornaments, which carry hints of blue and green, to go with the minimalist look of the house. When I had Juliana, I added pink. When we were in the States, Richard and I saw these cute lights shaped like Adidas rubber shoes, so this year we added the shoe lights for Juliana – they’re the perfect accent to the tree.
Lorna Tolentino: For the past three years, I’ve been using gold. This year it’s pink and silver. The new design was done by Evylyn Alvarez Cruz, who also did my tree three years ago. Gift niya for my birthday and Christmas. She’s a friend, inaanak and a neighbor.
Sharon Cuneta: I bought our tree because we have a high ceiling and a chandelier. I have always loved Christmas and seeing this big 12-foot-tall tree all lit up and looking so pretty wakes up the spirit of Christmas in me. And I love seeing the gifts under the tree.
Charlene Gonzales -Muhlach: Actually I didn’t have a motif. I just wanted to bring in the Christmas spirit, especially since Aga and I are celebrating our first Christmas as a family with our two angels Antonio Andres and Atasha Aaron.
Helen Sotto: The colors of our tree are burgundy and gold, which I find very rich and flattering. The theme is "prosperity," symbolized by grapes and vines, and flowers in wine and gold colors. Other decor are Christmas balls in pearlized pink.
Gretchen Barretto: I put up my Christmas tree as early as October, but my daughter Dominique didn’t like it, so I changed it to a fresh pine tree. But again she preferred a bigger one. On her own she texted my decorator Al Puruganan and told him, "I want a big one with stars." So Al came to the house and put up a new tree with gold stars. After all, Christmas is for kids and she’s the boss in the house.
Janice De Belen: Actually I don’t know much about decorating. My motif and colors were recommended by my designer friend Deng. I guess our tree’s unique.