Gigantic Christmas Tree
Click on photo to enlarge

Queen Elizabeth II credits her great-great grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, for introducing the tradition of Christmas Trees to England in 1846, and by example to the British Empire and America.

A sketch of HRM Victoria, Albert, and their children gathered around a Christmas tree—published in The Illustrated London News—was the spark that ignited worldwide demand for the evergreens and their ornaments.

In the United States, public displays of Christmas trees began to take root during the administration of President Calvin Coolidge, who inaugurated the tradition of lighting the White House Christmas Tree in 1923.

Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children
Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children

The workers who were building the massive midtown Manhattan office and retail complex erected the first Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in 1931. Their tree, decorated with paper garlands, berries, and tin cans, stood a modest 20 feet tall. 

According to History.com, Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states and provide jobs for 100,000 people, including at least part-time work for the smiling “Main Street” installer featured in the photo above.

Whether in Christmas, Florida—a community of about 1,100 residents located 16 miles west of the Kennedy Space Center—or Santa Clause, Indiana—which boasts the world’s only post office to bear the name of Jolly Old St. Nicholas—professional We Believe in Smiles™ photographers span the globe in search of radiant, life-affirming smiles. You can browse an inspiring gallery of more than 935 WBIS photos here.

Daily on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, We Believe in Smiles™ posts a fresh portrait of an individual (or individuals) who reminds us all of the magic of a healthy smile. DOCS Education is proud to be the founding global sponsor of WBIS, whose message is simple: No politics. No marketing. No B.S.

JUST SMILES

Photography by Avital portrait first posted online in December 2019. ©2019 We Believe in Smiles.™ All rights reserved.

To inquire about purchasing or leasing a photo canvas of this or any other WBIS photograph for your office or home, phone 844-228-4825.

DOCS Membership

Upcoming Events
Streaming
May 17- 18, 2024
Atlanta, GA skyline
GA
August 23- 24, 2024
Streaming
October 04- 05, 2024

More Articles