yet another question. These come from our six year old. What are the dead christmas trees on scaffold poles all about. We see them frequently, also seen on cranes. Normally festooned with red and white plastic ribbon. Why?
Secondly, the cut out wooden, garishly painted which advise the arrival of a new baby. How long are they erected for. do they have a 'shelf life'? are they removed once the bab turns one or two? Our girl wants one put on our balcony. I told her no. Rotten mother that I am.
can anyone enlighten me.

I think the christmas trees have to do with one of the milestones in the construction of a house. The roof if I'm not mistaken.

They use trees as a sign of celebration. You'll see trees with ribbons (often safety ribbons from the construction site) on top of cranes or roof tops when the roof of a building has been erected. Trees with the baby name are often used when a baby is born. In Canton Schwyz, we've just started seeing the baby name and tree thing in the last ten years. I believe other cantons have been doing this longer. Often the Godmother or Godfather of the baby or someone from the family organises the tree for the new parents.

I don't know the shelflife but I get tired of looking at the same tree or sign after four months.

this is correct; when the roof is completed, the tree is placed there or thereabouts....

The dead trees are green when they first go up, once the timber for the roof is fixed the builders have a celebration.

I've no idea if there is a fixed time for the baby sign's.

We took down our baby sign after a year. Also you may see some trees decorated with baby things which is usually 'planted' when one of the parents is in a club aka Verein.

There you go. I can now put Miss vomit's mind at rest and confirm that she is too old for a sign