# People didn't ever really put candles on Xmas trees, did they?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-didnt-ever-really-put-candles-on-xmas-trees-did-they/144637>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 24, 2002, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-didnt-ever-really-put-candles-on-xmas-trees-did-they/144637 "2002-12-24T00:48:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Sivalensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Sivalensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sivalensis)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-didnt-ever-really-put-candles-on-xmas-trees-did-they/144637/21 "2002-12-24T18:29:55Z")

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I remember that my best friend when I was little (in Boston) used to light candles on their tree (or her parents did). It’s just a short glimpse of a memory, so I don’t know how long they were lit or anything, but they were at least for a short time. I don’t know if her ethnicity is German (if it is, it’s at least a couple generations removed).

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**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-didnt-ever-really-put-candles-on-xmas-trees-did-they/144637/22 "2002-12-24T19:20:43Z")

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I think the trick is that the tree is very very freshly cut since Germanic traditions dictate you dont get a tree until Christmas eve and it is only lit for a night or 2. I wouldnt recommend that on a tree that was a week old or older.

Haapy Christmas everyone!

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