Chapter I, Trees and toppersAnswer
Upside-Down Christmas Trees: Why Hang One, and Where to Find Black
Why people hang an upside-down Christmas tree, what the folklore really says, and how to find a black upside-down tree that stands or hangs safely.
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The short of it
- Two designs
- Floor trees on a metal stand, or ceiling trees on a hanging chain (Vickerman lists both)
- Black versions
- Often sold as Halloween trees, for example a 7 ft pre-lit black upside-down tree with purple lights listed at Walmart
- Older custom
- The Polish podłaźniczka, an evergreen top hung from the rafters over the Christmas Eve table
- Label to look for
- "Fire resistant" on any artificial tree (CPSC)
People hang an upside-down Christmas tree for the look and the space: ornaments dangle freely, and the narrow end leaves floor room below. The folklore behind it is mostly unverified. Black upside-down trees exist but are usually sold as Halloween trees, often pre-lit, so check the Halloween range as well as the Christmas aisle.
For a right-way-up black tree, the black Christmas trees guide compares sizes, and purple Christmas trees suit a softer look.
Why people hang upside-down Christmas trees
Upside-down Christmas trees appeal for three practical reasons. Ornaments hang into open air instead of into the branches, so each one shows. The tip sits at the bottom, which frees floor space for gifts. And the shape looks strange in a way that suits a goth room.
The shape went mainstream in 2017. ABC13 reported that Target, Home Depot and Walmart carried inverted trees that year, apparently for the first time, and that many sold out. FOX 4 reported the same three stores and the same sellouts.
Where the upside-down Christmas tree story comes from
The upside-down Christmas tree has a lot of origin stories and very little proof. Treat confident histories with caution.
The Saint Boniface story. A popular tale says Boniface, an 8th-century missionary, cut down a sacred oak and hung a fir upside down in its place. The oak part is real history: Britannica records that Boniface destroyed the sacred oak of Thor at Geismar, and Willibald’s 8th-century Life of Saint Boniface says its wood went to build an oratory. That early account mentions no fir and no upside-down tree.
The Polish podłaźniczka. This custom is better documented. A podłaźniczka was the top of a fir, spruce or pine, or a branch, hung from the ceiling rafters over the Christmas Eve table and decorated with apples, nuts and wafer ornaments. The Polish Press Agency, quoting an ethnography curator at the Silesian Museum in Katowice, describes it as a very old custom whose origins have not been fully explained. It was popular in Silesian villages and mountain areas, and gave way to the standing tree between the world wars.
So the honest answer is that hanging evergreens from the ceiling is old, while the inverted, cone-shaped artificial tree is a modern product.
Floor-standing or hanging upside-down trees
Upside-down Christmas trees come in two designs, and the choice decides where the tree can go.
| Design | How it holds up | Good for | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor-standing | A center pole on a metal stand, tip near the floor | Rentals, rooms where you cannot drill | Base width and how stable the stand feels |
| Hanging | A chain or hook from the ceiling, no stand | Small rooms, homes with pets that climb trees | The ceiling hook’s rated load and the tree’s weight |
Vickerman, an artificial tree maker, sells both kinds. Its Unique American Upside Down tree stands on an included metal stand and comes in 5.5, 7.5 and 9 ft heights; the lit 7.5 ft version weighs 43 pounds. Its 48-inch Oregon Fir Ceiling Tree is designed to hang from the ceiling, comes with a hanging chain and weighs about 10 pounds.
That gap in weight is the point to remember. A hanging tree needs a ceiling fixing that can take its weight, so check the maker’s hanging instructions and the rated load of the hook before you buy.
Where to find a black upside-down Christmas tree
Black upside-down Christmas trees are harder to find than green or white ones. Vickerman’s upside-down trees, for example, are listed in green, white and champagne. Black versions turn up more often as Halloween trees: Walmart has listed a Gymax 7 ft pre-lit black upside-down tree with purple lights and a foldable metal stand.
A Halloween label is good news for a goth tree. The same black tree can stay up from October to December, as the Halloween Christmas trees guide explains. On a pre-lit tree the light color is fixed, so pick it with December in mind as well as October.
Before buying, check three details on the listing:
- the height and the widest point, measured at the top of an upside-down tree
- whether the tree stands, hangs or does both
- the light color on a pre-lit model, since black Halloween models may come with purple lights
Black trees, including upside-down and Halloween styles
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Decorating a black upside-down Christmas tree
A black upside-down Christmas tree shows off hanging ornaments better than any other shape, because nothing hides them. Long drops work best: bats, ravens, crescent moons and glass icicles hang clear of the branches and turn in the air.
Put the heaviest ornaments near the wide top, where the branches are strongest. Keep the narrow lower tips for small, light pieces. A topper is optional; many people hang a star or a bat from the point at the bottom instead.
For color schemes and layering, see how to decorate a goth Christmas tree. Ornament materials and motifs are in black Christmas ornaments.
Black glass ornaments for an upside-down tree
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Safety labels for an upside-down artificial tree
An upside-down artificial tree follows the same safety rules as any artificial tree. CPSC advises looking for a “fire resistant” label on artificial trees and using lights tested by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. On a pre-lit tree, check the light set’s listing mark before plugging it in. CPSC also warns never to use electric lights on a metallic tree.
The whole goth room, from mantel to door, starts at the goth Christmas decor hub.
Questions, answered
What does an upside-down Christmas tree mean?
There is no single agreed meaning. A popular story ties it to Saint Boniface, but the earliest account of his life mentions no fir and no upside-down tree. The best documented relative is the Polish podłaźniczka, an evergreen hung from the ceiling over the Christmas Eve table.
Is an upside-down Christmas tree disrespectful?
Some people see it that way. When the trees took off in 2017, ABC13 reported that reactions on social media were mixed, with some taking it as a slight against a traditional Christmas. It is a style choice, so a household that likes the look can use one without claiming any special meaning.
Do they make black upside-down Christmas trees?
Yes, though most black ones are sold as Halloween trees. Walmart has listed a 7 ft pre-lit black upside-down tree with purple lights, for example, so check the Halloween range as well as the Christmas aisle.
Why do stores use upside-down Christmas trees?
The shape shows off ornaments, since they hang freely, and leaves floor space below. In 2017, ABC13 and FOX 4 reported that Target, Home Depot and Walmart carried upside-down trees and that many sold out.
Filed in Chapter I, Trees and toppers. Part of Goth Christmas Decor: Black Trees, Dark Ornaments and Krampus.