Symbolic Christmas Tree Ideas 5 Quick Steps

Making a Home-made Symbolic Christmas Tree

This bare and wintry symbolic Christmas tree was made from one salvaged tree trunk but you could achieve a similar symbolic Christmas tree effect by nailing two branches together. Smaller branches are inserted into holes drilled in the horizontal branch. The pears are made in papier maché (see our page papier-mache-pears) and are then painted gold or sprayed with a gold spray paint.

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The Materials for this symbolic Christmas Tree idea.

Two strong branches
About 12 smaller, thin twigs
Tape measure
Electric drill with twist wood bit attachments No. 8 and No. 12
Hammer
Three six-inch (150mm) nails
Wood glue
Plaster of Paris
Large tub – terracotta pot or bucket
Old plastic bucket to be fitted inside tub and filled with plaster of Paris
Gold spray paint and newspaper
Fir-cones, papier maché pears or small gold baubles to decorate
A bought glittery bird available from department stores

1. Anchoring the trunk.

Place your old bucket inside the tub. Make up the plaster of Paris in the inner bucket. Position the main branch vertically in the plaster of Paris and leave to set hard.

2. Adding the branch.

Measure the length of your horizontal branch and mark the center. Use a drill and wood bit No. 12 to bore a hole at the center mark. Using a hammer, knock a six-inch nail through the branch into the top of the vertical trunk. Drill two more holes 4cm (1 1/2in) away from the first nail on either side. Then knock two more six-inch nails into these holes, so they go into the trunk at an angle of 60 degrees, and help to stabilize the branch.

3. Making holes for twigs.

Using a drill and wood bit No. 8, drill small holes into the top of the branch at ±150mm (±6in) intervals, these holes are for the twigs.

4. Adding the twigs.

Lay the twigs on newspaper and partially spray-paint them gold. Leave to dry, then either wedge the twigs into the holes or stick them in place.

5. Decorating the tree.

Conceal the plaster of Paris by either painting it or covering it with scrunched up tissue paper, then heap presents and tree decorations on top. Finally, tie your decorations on. We have used papier maché pears, and fix the bird, a symbolic partridge, in the center. Try to decorate the symbolic Christmas tree with trimmings to complement its style.

Following on with the branch and twig theme, here are two more simple home-made symbolic Christmas tree ideas for you to try.

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A Bit of Christmas Tree History

A Christmas without the Christmas tree is incoherent. The fragrance and essence of the Xmas trees have been an integral part of the celebrations as well as of the family unit since time immemorial.

The celebrations usually begin with the selection of the tree, and carries on with the decorations till the day of Christ, when all the revelry takes place in front of this very tree. Gifts are placed under the tree, as family and friends gather around to celebrate the birth of Christ.

A Christmas Symbol

For families in North America, Germany and other parts of Europe, the Xmas Tree is the symbol of the Christmas season.

They played a symbolic part because they stayed green and alive when other plants appeared dead and bare.

They represented everlasting life and hope for the return of spring. The use of evergreens was and is most widespread in England and Germany. At least 500 years ago the religious meaning began to be associated with these plants. MORE…

Thank You To The Christmas Day Website

Reference: The Country Look—Decor & Crafts, homy fresh.com