Ellie wrote:This is strictly a guess-Germany.
Ellie, I thought that, too. Actually found it on the web, "In the German-speaking countries... the tree is put up on December 24 and taken down after New Years or on January 6, known as "Twelfth Night." A part of the tradition of taking down the tree is the "Plündern," raiding the tree of cookies and sugar plums, an event, anxiously awaited by the children." (Love that word... Plundern! I can identify with it, too!)
However, a little later in the article, the following was noted, "The first report of a decorated tree is from Strassburg in the Alsace. A traveler writes about the 1605 Christmas...''Trees were decorated with roses made from colored paper, apples, wafers, yellow mica, sugar.'"
So, looks like France might be the correct answer!
The article is actually full of all kinds of fun facts.
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.co ... istory.htm