The Origins of the Christmas Tree

Many centuries before a Christmas tree was so named, people would honor trees and plants that stayed green all year. Those who lived during these times would bring in the boughs and the branches to decorate their homes, in much the same way that is done today. Some civilizations even believed that this practice could ward off evil, and protect the household from ghosts, or in some cases, even sickness.

The winter solstice--the time around the 21st of December, when the daylight hours are the shortest for those who live in the Northern Hemisphere--is sometimes referred to as Yule, and this is when the evergreens were honored. Today, some people mark this occasion much in the same way as the ancients, by celebrating the return of the sun, and the promise of, warmer days coming back to them once more. The greenery was a living reminder during the dark and cold months that this, too, would pass.

It is interesting that the early Romans celebrated this season with celebrations that honored the god they called Saturn, for Saturn is the astrological ruler of this time of year. To mark the occasion, they, too, brought in evergreen foliage to decorate their homes and other buildings. Throughout the region, different civilizations adorned their dwellings with greenery, helping them to stay positive that the fields would once again be flourishing with produce.

It is believed that the modern day Christmas tree have started in Germany, somewhere around the 1500s. Christians who were strong in their faith brought evergreen trees into their homes, and decorated them with candles to represent the stars that lit up the heavens. Martin Luther, a Protestant who lived during these times, is credited with the idea of putting candles on the evergreen trees.

Although the celebration of having indoor trees started quite some time ago in Europe, it wasn't until the 1800s that it became popular in North America. It is thought that the tradition started with the German immigrants to the United States, sometime around the mid 1700s. However, some Puritan Americans still saw this as a Pagan symbol, and wanted no part of it.

To really appreciate the impact that Christmas trees had in the New World, it has to be understood that, at that time, the Puritan fathers were trying to eradicate all the traditions that might be perceived as anything but the purest of Christian pursuits. This included carols, greeting cards, and everything else that seemed frivolous or indulgent at the time. In fact, during the 1600s, such practices were punishable by law.

It wasn't really until the dawn of the 20th century that Christmas trees started gaining in popularity in the United States. By this time, ornaments were being made specifically for the purpose of hanging on the boughs. Fruits, nuts, berries, and other culinary delights were still used, though, sometimes being dyed bright colors to stand out against the greenery.

Electric lights were added to the trees with the advent of domestic power, and this made the lighting of the boughs a lot safer. It also meant that the lights on the Christmas tree could last much longer than their candlelit counterparts. Electricity allowed Christmas trees to be erected in places where they might not have been possible, otherwise, such as on street corners and in village squares. Soon, having a lighted tree in the home became an accepted part of the American Christmas, with some houses having more than one tree.

Today the Christmas tree is a fairly universal image of this age old tradition. Lighting of public trees by famous people draws crowds and much media attention. Even on a smaller scale, families gather to decorate the tree together, seeing it as a time of connecting. Treasured ornaments from years gone by are gently placed. Now, as loved ones bond over memories, and create new customs with each generation, so too does the tree serves as a reminder of the light and the warmth to come, seemingly generating its own light and warmth during the season of good cheer.