The world’s oldest Christmas tree (and other bizarre festive records)

Guinness World Records was always in our home and Dad updated it regularly. Each volume finished up looking either well-worn or well-loved, depending on your point of view. I wonder if the “world’s biggest-selling annual” has its own entry?

Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, I love the celebrations, the decorations, Midnight Mass, carols and time spent with family and friends. Among my decorations are pieces collected over many years, some belonged to my Mother (I am a second generation Christmas tragic), others were gifts from special people. Displaying them each year is one my life’s little joys.

It is no surprise then that offered the opportunity to share with you some Christmas entries in the Guinness World Records 2016, it took me approximately a nano-second to say “Oh okay if you insist”.

Presenting for your pleasure, fanfare, please!

The World’s Largest Gingerbread house
The largest gingerbread house had an internal volume of 1,110.1 m³ (39,201.8 ft³) and was created by Traditions Club (USA) at Traditions Club, Bryan, Texas, USA, on 30 November 2013.

The World’s Most Expensively Decorated Christmas Tree
The most expensively dressed Christmas tree was valued at 41,329,531 AED ($15,574,268.60 AUD) and was erected and displayed by the Emirates Palace (UAE) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 16 to 29 December 2010.

The Most lights on a Christmas Tree
The most lights lit simultaneously on a Christmas tree is 194,672 and was achieved by Kiwanis Malmedy / Haute Fagnes Belgium in Malmedy, Belgium, on 10 December 2010. (Glad I wasn’t paying that electricity bill!)

A complete contrast the exuberance of the above examples of Christmas record holders is my personal favourite – there is so much love evident in keeping such a simple memento.

Oldest Christmas Tree
Every year, Janet Parker of Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK, puts up her Christmas tree, which was purchased – possibly from Woolworths – for her Great Aunt in 1886. Standing 30 cm (12 in) high in an ornate pot, it gets decorated with cherubs and the Virgin Mary.

This is just a tiny sample of the Christmas related records in the Guinness World Records 2016. Even if you are not interested in Christmas, this year’s volume is full information you will use frequently the whole of the coming year, leaving your copy dog-eared and well-loved.

Share with us in the comments below: what is your oldest, favourite or most used Christmas decoration?

Guinness World Records 2016 is now available at Dymocks.

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