In 1510, an pyromaniac enthusiastic man called Martin Luther was the first person to have decorated a Christmas tree with burning candles as he wanted to show his children how the stars twinkled at night. From http://www.christmasarchives.com/trees.html. (Just one question - why couldn’t he take the kids outside and show them the real stars?) Anyhow, the tradition spread like wild fire. The risky Christmas business has been captured in Kansan Harriet Adams memoirs from 1870.

Father took us with him as he carried an axe and selected the tree, which he cut and big brother helped carry it home. Then Father set it up securely in the center of the living room, and found a piece of tin and made the candle holders... Christmas morning we were awake early, but it was an inviolate rule that the tree could not be seen until after breakfast was eaten. So we hurried through a perfunctory meal... while father and mother went in... to light the candles. When the door was opened we marched in and clear around the tree, taking in the beauty of the candles, and the tree festooned with strings of cranberries and popcorn and gaily colored ribbons, while we looked for the gifts hidden in the branches and protruding from our stockings. Then there was the most delightful odour of scorching cedar, and Father would keep walking around and around the tree smothering every smoking stem and keep the candles burning safely. From http://www.kshs.org/cool/coolxmas.htm 

A counterweight Christmas candle holder design was patented in 1867. The counterweight design held the candle upright with a clay weight below. This design was an improvement on simply wiring or tying the candle to a tree branch; however, the counterweight holder had a tendency to slip off the tree, increasing the risk of fire.

If you are stupid enough, want to practice this old Christmas tradition, Wikihow cautiously tells you what to do http://www.wikihow.com/Put-Real-Candles-on-Your-Christmas-Tree-Safely

It might be more sensible to use your regular Christmas lights this year, but just take a moment to appreciate the vision of bright spark Edward Johnson. While vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, he had lights modified so he could decorate his own Christmas tree. Read more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Hibberd_Johnson 

The tradition of putting up a Christmas tree started in Germany in the 16th century. Early decorations included apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and paper flowers that children were allowed to collect on Christmas day.

Choosing a green option might be the way to go this year by avoiding trees, either real or otherwise, altogether.

You could also do Christmas Italian style with a Ceppo: a small wooden pyramid decorated with sweet treats.

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