soapdragon Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 This year everyone seems to be 'trimming' their tree as opposed to 'decorating' it! I always though that trimming involved cutting bits off (we may yet have to do this as OH seems to forget each year that we don't have a 'great hall' ) I think its American but not sure why its taking over....I much prefer decorating as it sounds much more festive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I thought you were talking about Leylandii Perhaps you could try dressing it or deck it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Trimmings are adornments and embellishments so I suppose the expression comes from that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 No trimmings come with Turkey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 We do have to trim ours! As OH also thinks we live in the great hall He cuts a bit off the bottom,then the top.then the branches look a bit odd.Then he trims another bit.Then we have the great tradition of complaining about the tree,he then says he's never getting another one(then its tree time again) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) I refer to it as decorating the tree; I think of 'trimming' as an American term(?) Edited December 17, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 We do have to trim ours! As OH also thinks we live in the great hall He cuts a bit off the bottom,then the top.then the branches look a bit odd.Then he trims another bit.Then we have the great tradition of complaining about the tree,he then says he's never getting another one(then its tree time again) Its always OH's job to get the tree in our house too and, each year, I ask if the seller gave him a discount for getting the sp"Ooops, word censored!"st/most lopsided/uneven one! However, as we usually site it close to the sitting rom wall so generally take a few branches off the back as a sort of spacesaving operation. The off cuts then double up as mantelpiece decorations However, I totally agree with Plum that trimmings come with turkey - Heaven forfend that anyone should confuse tree with turkey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachachecha Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I am American and we say decorate the tree. Trim the tree sounds way too formal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 I am American and we say decorate the tree. Trim the tree sounds way too formal. Thanks for that - that's really interesting as I thought that the term 'trimming' was American in origin. Shows how wrong you can be! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachachecha Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I am American and we say decorate the tree. Trim the tree sounds way too formal. Thanks for that - that's really interesting as I thought that the term 'trimming' was American in origin. Shows how wrong you can be! It may very well be American but my family has always said decorate the tree or decorate the house for Christmas. I asked my daughter was she would tell people she was doing as she put ornaments on the tree and she replied "that I was decorating the tree". I told her why I asked and she said she has heard people say trimming too. Oh well, interesting none the less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I refer to it as decorating the tree; I think of 'trimming' as American I think its a regional thing - growing up in the south east, with Geordie parents, we decorated the tree & house. Where i work in Yorkshire the tree gets trimmed and decorations are 'trimmings'. Where I live (20 miles away) we are back to decorating... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I think trimmings in General is an East Midlands and north expression. I can remember my grandad asking if we had the trimmings up yet. Most of my family originate from Nottinghamshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 How odd! I say trimmings or decorations to refer to all the Christmas stuff, Yorkshire mother and Brummie father! We do decorate the tree here though, we don't trim it, unless it's too big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I'm from the East Midlands and I decorate my tree! And the decorations are decorations, not trimmings. I agree - trimmings are what you eat with your turkey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Just watching a cheesy US Christmas film, and they are currently "trimming" their tree. Personally, I will be decorating my tree this afternoon, and will also have trimmings with my Christmas Turkey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Don't get them mixed up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I'm an East Midlander too and dont trim my tree nor do my EM friends. More like "Ayup 'as than put yon tree uuuop?" As an hononary Londoner we also put up tree but without "ayuping" about it. Never heard of trimmings except for the turkey and all the trimmings. Dont fancy my turkey festooned with tinsel thanks very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 (edited) I'm American (from Michigan) but have been living in the East Midlands (Leicestershire) for a long time. We always call it 'decorating the tree.' However, I found this on t'internet.. Origin of TRIM http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trim probably from Middle English *trimmen to prepare, put in order, from Old English trymian, trymman to strengthen, arrange, from trum strong, firm; probably akin to Old English trēo tree, wood — more at tree First Known Use: circa 1521 Edited December 19, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Ayup !!!! Now Lasses and Lads . Over ere in Yorkshire we Trim t' tree . Alays ave dun alays will . As far as I can remember even the old folk when I was a small lass " Trimmed the trees" They went up 12 days afore and down 12 days after. To Trim is to dress something up nice, adding bows to hats or dresses and the like, so I guess we do the same t' tree anall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted December 18, 2013 Author Share Posted December 18, 2013 That's amazing! I really thought that this was an Americanism and now find its English 1500s! Mind you, there is a school of thought that says that modern American is closer to the English of 1650 ish due to the emigrations from Britain to America! Oddly, it seems that this 'language' has been less diluted than the original which has evolved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeloo Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Also American and always said "decorate the tree." Trimming the tree sounds old-fashioned, like something from Victorian times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Fascinating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Ay and you'd be frit ta death if ya didnt take it down by tha end of 6th January - bad luck would befall thee. Where I come from the joke is the small town has a language of its own and the girls have a bit of a reputation However I escaped all that as my mum (RIP) was a frustrated Hyacinth Bouquet and I now speak proper English with the odd EM twang and a smattering of London slang. However I will listen carefully this Chrimbo to see if anyone has trimmed their trees. I know dad has but he had a bloke up a ladder with a chain saw to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Ayup Alisgirls ... you're not from Mansfield? This is absolutely fascinating, because I've always assumed that 'trim' was an Americanism, and not used in the UK. Londoners definitely decorate their trees. And I had no idea Saronne and Leeloo that you were American ... your accent doesn't show when you're posting! The internet is indeed a strange and wonderful place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Ayup Alisgirls ... you're not from Mansfield? My guess would have been Barnsley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
