Christmas A to Z Letter U

December 19, 2025

Welcome Back to Christmas A to Z
U …is for Up on the Rooftop, Under the Tree

Up on the Rooftop

The song Up on the Housetop, I know it as “Rooftop”, is one of the first songs I learned to play on a Magnus Chord organ that was given to me one Christmas. This organ was played by number, instead of notes, but was fun to play.

Up on the housetop Reindeer pause,
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney With lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joys
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go
Up on the housetop Click, click, click
Down through the chimney With good Saint Nick
First comes the stocking Of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa fill it well
Give her a dolly that Laughs and cries
One that will open and Shut her eyes
Repeat chorus
Next comes the Stocking of little Will
Oh just see what a glorious fill
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
Also a ball and a whip that cracks

Under the tree

In the late 1800’s gift giving had traditionally been at New Year, but moved as Christmas became more important to the Victorians. Initially gifts were rather modest; fruit, nuts, sweets and small handmade trinkets.

These were usually hung on the Christmas tree. However, as gift giving became more central to the festival, and the gifts became bigger and shop-bought, they moved under the tree.

For some, placing the Nativity scene under the Christmas tree is tradition. My family did this for many years when my daughter was young.

I have always enjoyed looking at photographs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Nativity under the Tree display. It is so beautiful and would be wonderful to see in person.