CHRISTMAS has begun because I have erected my tree. It is only a small tree but perfectly formed. I normally go for a Nordman Fir as they have small needles that don't drop too much, but I was persuaded to go native and opt for a Scots Pine.

I'm glad I did. The Scots Pine has much longer needles, which don't get lost in the carpet. They also infuse the room with a wonderful resinous aroma. It really does smell of Christmas.

It is a tussle to get the lights and tinsel on through the lances of sharp points that form a tight barrier, but well worth the struggle. Keep plenty of lavender essential oil or aloe vera gel to hand. They are excellent at relieving the itchy rash that can follow such a battle.

The Christmas tree, though, is only a recent introduction to the British winter celebrations. It was an idea imported from Germany about 170 years ago.

Most people will tell you it was Prince Albert who introduced the idea. But, in fact, it was a young princess called Lieven who did so ten years before him. Queen Victoria and her husband popularised it as an activity families could enjoy, rather than something looked upon as a child's amusement.

Before that, we had a country-born type of worship of anything that was green. Holly, ivy and pine boughs were brought into the house to represent life. The colour symbolised hope and rebirth. After the longest night, all the trees, shrubs, plants and flowers that had disappeared or died back over the winter, would be kick-started back into a slow regrowth, ready for spring.

Mistletoe is another evergreen plant. It is a saprophyte; that is it lives off the life juice of another plant, but does not kill or harm it. It is well known for having played a large part in the Druidic rituals in pre-Roman times.

The Arch Druid was supposed to have cut the mistletoe with a golden (or copper) sickle and catch it as it falls from the tree in a clean white cloth. It was then divided up between the villagers and hung over doorways to protect against witchcraft.

It was seen as a symbol of fertility, and each time a kiss was solicited under the bough, a berry was picked off, until there were no more berries left. The berries were to be squashed into the crevices of nearby woodland trees, and if they sprouted next spring foretold of an imminent child to the woman in question.

Another green tradition associated with Christmas is the yule log. The warmth and life associated with the burning of wood at a time when everything is cold and lifeless was symbolic of the undying sun.

The Norse burnt logs in honour of Thor, and the Celts had a thing about perpetual fire, which meant the log had to be lit from a coal left over from the previous year.

The Christian tradition states that the log is to be a branch from the ash.

The shepherds had to make a hurried fire by which to give Jesus his first bath. The only logs they could find were those of the ash, the only tree that will burn well when it is green.

In Scotland, the birch tree is used.

The bark is stripped off and bundled together and bound with hoops of hazel.

In both countries it was considered unlucky to throw away the ashes, which were reputed to cure toothache, rid cattle of worms, add fertility to the garden and protect the house from misfortune.

The yule log is still part of Christmas tradition, but, like many time-honoured rituals, it has morphed and now appears in chocolate form.

I wonder, though, if washing up the plate when it is all gone brings as much bad luck as clearing out the ashes from the grate?

JOBS THIS WEEK

* PICK hawthorn, holly and cotoneaster berries. Pop them in an ice cube tray, fill with water and freeze. In a few months time there will be no berries left and the weather will have turned colder.

Then you can put the iced berry cubes on the bird table and provide them with a nutritious treat.

* IF you have sown autumn sweet peas under cover, they should be reaching a foot in height by now.

Pinch out the top six inches and you will be rewarded with a more vigorous, bushier and flower filled plant next summer.

* DON'T waste any of the trimmings from shaping up your Christmas tree. Collect up the branches and weave them into a wreath for the front door or table decoration. The bare ends can be poked through a willow or wire skeleton. Add pine cones, acorns, berries and any interesting seed heads from the garden.

LAST MINUTE GARDENING CHRISTMAS PRESENT WITH A DIFFERENCE

HOW about sending a gardening friend a sapling that has been impregnated with truffle spores. In years to come the floor beneath the hazel or oak tree will be littered with the golf ball sized culinary delicacies.

Visit www.treestogrow.co.uk for further information.

* Brigid presents Ask about Gardening every Sunday on BBC Radio Cleveland 95FM from 1-2pm.

Questions will be answered on the day by e-mailing Cleveland.studios@bbc.co.uk, texting 07786200995 or phoning 01642-225511.

Alternatively, send questions to brigidpress@hotmail.com or The Clow Beck Eco Centre, Old Spa Farm, Crofton- Tees, Darlington, DL2 2TQ