Though it is still November, Christmas decorations are already prominent in department stores, shopping streets, and major spots. Christmas melodies play and the mood builds day by day. At Palaceside Building in Takebashi, Tokyo, LED illuminations and Christmas trees hung with red, gold, and silver balls decorate the open space in the basement shopping arcade's central atrium and beside the main entrance; red "2012MerryX'mas" banners hang from basement and first-floor corridor ceilings.
Several theories exist on the origin of Christmas decorations: in ancient Rome, citizens celebrated the sun's return after the winter solstice by decorating evergreen holly — a custom absorbed into Christian missionary work and adapted as the Christmas tree; or in Germany's Harz mountains, dwarfs living in fir trees brought happiness and protection, so villagers hung eggs, flowers, and candles on firs and danced and sang, believing the dwarfs would stay. A record also survives of bakers' Christian charity guild in Freiburg, Germany, decorating a tree at the Holy Spirit poorhouse in 1419 — perhaps the first documented case.
Ornaments each carry meaning. The top star symbolizes the star that guided the wise men at Christ's birth — a star of hope. Bells announce joy at his birth; apples and red balls represent the fruit of Eden, abundance, and life's joy. Holly is said to recall the crown of thorns at the crucifixion; red berries, Christ's blood.
By the way, did you know that the Shirokiya fire in Nihonbashi on December 16, 1932 (Showa 7) — Japan's first major high-rise fire, killing 14, and said to have led many female clerks who died preserving modesty to start wearing underwear — was caused by Christmas illuminations?
Shirokiya was lavishly decorated for Christmas and year-end sales. Before opening, staff found a faulty bulb on a Christmas tree in the fourth-floor toy section. A male clerk tried to fix it; a short in the wiring sent sparks into the tree's tinsel, which ignited. Fire spread instantly to nearby celluloid dolls and became a catastrophe.
Most illuminations are now LED and celluloid toys are gone, but electrical wiring still causes many fires. With dry air, take care with Christmas decoration wiring.