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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Christmas tree
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A decorated fir tree in the house at Christmas was an established custom in Germany long before it began to spread in the 19C. It was also in occasional use in England before the marriage of Prince *Albert to Victoria in 1840. But it was his addition of it to the royal Christmas which gave it sudden and wide popularity. The best-known Christmas tree in Britain is the one which goes up in Trafalgar Square. It has been an annual gift since 1947 from the city of Oslo, in commemoration of friendship in World War II – when the king of Norway was in London with a government in exile.
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