A beautifully decorated evergreen tree, with colored lights ablaze inspires
in many warm memories of Christmases long past. The Christmas tree has
become one of the most beloved and well known holiday symbols.
The tradition of a holiday tree has been around since ancient times and has
played an important part in winter celebrations for many centuries. Many
pagan festivals used trees when honoring their gods and spirits. In Northern
Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen a symbol and reminder that the
darkness and cold of winter would end and the green of spring would return.
The Druids of ancient England and France decorated oak trees with fruit and
candles to honor their gods of harvests. At the festival Saturnalia the
Romans decorated trees with trinkets and candles.
There have also been many legends surrounding the lore of the Christmas
tree. In one story Saint Boniface, an English monk, came upon a group of
pagans who had gathered around an oak tree and were preparing to sacrifice a
child. To stop the sacrifice and save the child, the Saint flattened the oak
tree with one blow of his fist. A small fir sprang up in its place, which
Saint Boniface told the pagans was the Tree of Life and represented the life
of Christ.
Another legend tells of Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant religion,
walking through the woods late one night. As it was clear, many stars were
shining through the branches of the trees giving the impression of twinkling
lights. Luther was so inspired by the beauty of the sight that he cut down a
small evergreen and brought it home. He recreated the stars by putting candles
on the tree's branches.
The use of a Christmas tree indoors appears to have begun in Germany. German
Christians would bring trees into their homes to decorate. In some areas
evergreen trees were scarce so the families would build a Christmas pyramid,
simple wooden structures which they decorated with branches and candles.
The tradition of the Christmas tree eventually spread through out Europe.
The English Royalty help popularize the tree in England by decorating the
first Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1841. Prince Albert, husband of
Queen Victoria, decorated the first English Christmas Tree with candles,
candies, fruits, and gingerbread.
When the German immigrants went to American they also brought along their
Christmas trees. In the 1830's most Americans still considered the Christmas
tree an oddity. One of the first public displays of a Christmas tree was set
up by German Settlers in Pennsylvania. At the time many still considered the
tree to be a symbol of pagans and it wasn't until the late 1800's that
Americans began accepting the Christmas tree.
Early Christmas trees were often decorated with apples, nuts, cookies,
colored popcorn and candles. The invention of electricity in the early 20th
century and use of electrical Christmas lights helped spread the use of the
Christmas tree.
It is now common in most communities through out the US to feature public
displays of Christmas trees. Every year the President of the United States
lights the National Christmas Tree in Washington and in New York skaters
spin beneath the lighted tree of Rockefeller Center. Through Europe and the
rest of the world the Christmas tree has also become readily accepted and
adored.
The tradition of a holiday tree has been around since ancient times and has
played an important part in winter celebrations for many centuries. Many
pagan festivals used trees when honoring their gods and spirits. In Northern
Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen a symbol and reminder that the
darkness and cold of winter would end and the green of spring would return.
The Druids of ancient England and France decorated oak trees with fruit and
candles to honor their gods of harvests. At the festival Saturnalia the
Romans decorated trees with trinkets and candles.
