【B1】 [br] 【B8】 [originaltext] Coming in all shapes and sizes, Christmas trees

Coming in all shapes and sizes, Christmas trees serve as one of the most potent symbols of Christmas, and for many people their decorations and lights evoke the "magic" of Christmas.
    The tradition of using an evergreen tree as a symbol of Christmas dates back before recorded history.
    The Druids in ancient England and Gaul and Romans in Europe both used evergreen branches to decorate their homes and public building to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Over the years, these traditions were adopted by Christians, who incorporated them as part of their Christmas holiday celebration.
    Trees used specifically to celebrate Christmas are mentioned in the early 1600s in Germany and surrounding countries.
    The families would set up these trees in a prominent location of their home and decorate them with colored paper, small toys, food, and sometimes candies. Gifts were placed beneath the tree. As these people moved or immigrated to other countries, they took this tradition with them.
    Through the years many different things were used to decorate Christmas trees. As the world moved into the 1900s, many trees were decorated with strings of popcorn, home-made cards and pictures, cotton to look like snow, candy in all shapes and sizes, and occasionally, fancy store made glass balls and hand-blown glass figurines. Candies were sometimes used, but often caused devastating fires, and many different types of candle holders were invented to try to prevent tree fires.
    Traditionally people went by themselves into the forest to find their tree, cut it down, and bring it back home. But these days one is more likely to buy it from a tree farm, ox use an artificial one, the better of which look quite realistic.