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World’s oldest Christmas tree marks its 124th yule

Old Tannenbaum: 124 years after it marked its first yuletide back in 1886, the world's oldest Christmas tree is proudly on display once again.
/ Source: TODAY.com

One hundred and twenty-four years after it marked its first yuletide, the world’s oldest Christmas tree is proudly on display once again.

The 14-inch tree was originally bought in 1886 and now belongs to Paul Parker, 45, of Bath, England. It was passed down to him by his mother Janet, who received it from her great-great-aunt Lou in the 1940s, according to the Daily Mail newspaper.

His mother passed away in 2008, but Parker still plans to carry on the family tradition and display the tree on his mantel this Christmas.

“She treasured it when she was alive, and my father Grahame is comforted that I will be carrying on the family tradition,” Parker told the newspaper.

The ornament was originally purchased for sixpence, but was valued at 1,000 pounds, or $1,585, in 2005 by the television show “Antiques Roadshow.” Guinness World Records has endorsed it as indeed the oldest Christmas tree in the world.

“But putting a price to this kind of object is ridiculous,” Parker told the Daily News. “As the oldest Christmas tree in history, it has no peers.”

The mini-tree is made of a green fibrous material and sits on a base decorated with cherubs,  Jesus and Mary.