Since we haven’t even sat down to Thanksgiving dinner yet, it might seem a little early to be bringing up Christmas-related matters.

But the department stores are already pumping out “Frosty the Snowman” and “Little Drummer Boy” serenades, after all, and the holiday season will be bearing down on us before we know it, so I thought this would be a good time to mention an odd new Christmas decorating trend that just might be coming to a town near you this year.

It seems that people are choosing to turn their Christmas trees upside down for some reason.

That’s right, upside-down Christmas trees are becoming hot. I read about it recently in USA Today, and have been puzzled by it ever since. Hammacher Schlemmer, one of several big online companies hawking upside-down artificial trees this season, has already sold out every one of the $599.95 pre-lit models it had in stock. Target, which is selling three models of upside-down trees on its Web site, from $299.99 to $499.99, invites us all to hang an inverted tree from the ceiling and “look at Christmas decorating from a whole new angle.”

Yeah, the way the pagans used to do in central Europe in the Middle Ages.

Don’t take my word for that; I’m no Christmas tree historian. But Sheryl Karas is, having written a book on the origins of the Christmas tree, and she told USA Today that she thinks the resurgence of the upside-down tree is more than just a whimsical twist on tradition – it’s downright spooky.

“It’s a pagan thing,” she said, sounding perplexed by the whole business.

And so am I, frankly. Just because the world seems to be completely upside down lately, is that any reason to also turn such a familiar and beloved Christmas symbol on its pointy head?

The vendors aren’t trying to uproot Christian tradition, of course. They say the upside-down trees are simply novelties that allow ornaments to dangle more attractively, presumably as they once did in the oh-so-elegant 12th century. The inverted floor model, which looked to me like a mistake that slipped by quality-control at the artificial fir factory, is said to provide even more room on the floor for gifts. Now there’s a selling point the kiddies are sure to find appealing.

I stopped by my local Target store to see my first upside-down Christmas tree in person, but all of their models were standing right-side up. When I asked a clerk where the upside-down trees were he looked at me funny, no doubt thinking I was either pulling his leg or a crazy person.

“Upside-down Christmas trees?” he said with a pleasant smile. “No, I don’t believe we carry those here.”

A young woman who was browsing the little forest of artificials told me she had, in fact, heard about this upside-down tree fad. She said she has never hung an inverted Christmas tree from the ceiling before but she has friends in Houlton who have, which made me realize how little I actually knew about The County.

Bill Novak of Dexter, who was shopping for an artificial tree with his wife, Rita, said he had also read about the fad somewhere. But he wasn’t buying any of it, and he didn’t think most other Mainers would, either – too unnatural.

“I’m certainly not in the market for an upside-downer,” Novak told me with an incredulous shake of his head. “Sounds kind of silly, if you ask me. I guess I’m just set in my ways, but trees do not grow upside down. I don’t get it.”

Besides that, where the heck are you supposed to put the star?