This One Strange Austin Tradition Is A Complete Mystery But It’s Awesome Anyway

Black Friday brings hordes of eager shoppers to the strip malls and department stores, but that's not the only thing heralding the holiday season. As you drive along the winding Capital of Texas Highway 360 loop, you'll see shimmering tinsel, vibrant bows, and glistening stars. Austinites have decorated these majestic cedar trees for years, and nobody is quite sure how this festive tradition took root. This one strange Austin tradition is a complete mystery, but it's awesome anyway.

When the Thanksgiving tryptophan wears off, it's time to get ready for the next holiday tradition.

With the help of these lavishly decorated trees, Christmas cheer sweeps through the 360 loop.

Full of florescent ornaments, twinkling stars, and glittering ribbons, these trees will catch your eye. Some take the classic approach...

...While others find a quirky style.

You'll see hundreds of these merry trees decorating the highway. It's hard to not smile when a tree is grinning back at you!

Want to decorate a tree this year? It's important to keep these tips in mind.

Austinites love Christmas, but we hate messing with Texas. Always remove the plastic coatings from the decorations before hanging them on the tree. When trash blows away, it's no longer festive. That's litter!

Adorn to your hearts content!

But always remember to take down the decorations when the holiday season is over! This way, we can keep one of Austin's weird traditions for years to come.

Have you ever decorated a tree along the 360 loop? If you're looking for more holiday cheer this season, these 10 magical light displays around Austin will simply mesmerize you.