According to the National Christmas Tree Association, over 75% of American households displayed a Christmas tree during the 2021 Christmas season. This shows how the Christmas tree tradition has become embedded in our culture.
But have you ever wondered how the Christmas tree tradition came to be in the first place? The history of the Christmas tree is surprisingly very ancient but also includes some new iterations! In this post, we tell you everything about the captivating story behind the Christmas tree.
From Pagan Traditions to Christianity
Some ancient civilizations believed that the sun god was ill during winter and the Winter Solstice represented the day when it began to recover. As it started to shine longer and longer, it was a symbol of the incoming Spring season, which of course, was cause for celebration.
For instance, in ancient Roman society, temples were decorated using fir tree branches during the Saturnalia, a festival celebrated in December in honor of the god Saturn.
In pagan times, pagans would celebrate by using branches of evergreen plants and trees to decorate their homes during the Winter Solstice. That’s because evergreens symbolized new life and hope during colder and darker winter times. Mistletoe and ivy are some of the only plants flowering during winter, giving them special significance throughout the ages. And this explains why they’ve been used for so long to celebrate the Winter Solstice.
But what about the Christmas tree itself?
There are a few different legends regarding the evergreen fir tree and how it became a symbol of Christianity. One of them recounts the story of St.Boniface, a famous English Benedictine monk who carried out missionary work in Germany in the early part of the 8th century. His goal was to convert the pagans to Christianity.
During one Winter Solstice in Germany, he came across a group of pagans who were worshiping an oak tree. Shocked by the blasphemy, he grabbed an axe and cut down the tree. The pagans thought he would be struck down by their god, but when he wasn’t, St. Boniface called the pagans to recognize the power of his God over theirs. The legend goes on to say that a fir tree immediately grew in the oak’s place and that St.Boniface converted some of the pagans on the spot.
The following year, the pagans who lived in the area had all been converted to Christianity and decided to decorate the tree to celebrate what they would now call Christmas. The fir tree was perceived as a symbol of new life and an image of the everlasting love of God.
The Modern Story Behind The Christmas Tree As A German Tradition
Christmas trees as we know them today are believed to have emerged during the 16th century in Western Germany. At the time, Christians started to bring Christmas trees (or ‘’Paradise trees’’) to their homes to decorate them with apples, nuts, and gingerbread. They were displayed on the 24th of December, which was the religious feast day of Adam and Eve (hence the apples).
Other decorations were added later on. For instance, Martin Luther is believed to have hung the first candlelight on a Christmas Tree during the 16th century. Paradise trees became Christmas trees. By the 19th century, the Christmas tree had become a deeply embedded tradition in Germany.
As Germans emigrated, they spread the tradition across Europe. It first became widely popular among the nobility, with multiple royal courts adopting the custom and using the gold leaf, candles, and paper decorations to decorate their trees.
How Queen Victoria Turned The Christmas Tree Into A Holiday Staple
As mentioned, the modern Christmas tree custom originated in Germany. Yet, until the early part of the 19th century, it was still widely considered a pagan tradition, especially in places like the United States.
The idea of decorating the royal court of England with a fir tree was first introduced to England through Queen Victoria’s mother.
George III’s German-born wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, held an iconic party in 1800. The fir tree was a centerpiece of the party, dazzling the guests. From then on, young Victoria would put up a Christmas tree in her room every year and decorate it with lights and candy ornaments. She continued with the tradition throughout her life, and in 1848, a drawing of the “Queen’s Christmas tree at Windsor Castle” commissioned by the Queen contributed to the quick adoption of the decorative tree as a tradition across all classes of society.
Christmas Trees In America
The first record of a Christmas tree being put up in a home in America was in the 1830s by German settlers. But as discussed, what really accelerated the adoption of the Christmas tree tradition around the world, including in the United States, was Queen Victoria publicly embracing the Christmas tree in a famous drawing. Middle classes across the Atlantic ocean rushed to emulate the royal family and have their own Christmas tree in their homes.
At the end of the 19th century, Edward Hibbard created the first Christmas tree decorated with electric lights!
Theodore Roosevelt later banned the use of Christmas trees for a while due to his concerns about forest destruction. His sons convinced him that with the inception of tree plantations, the tradition could be carried out without affecting the ecosystem!
Join The Green Landing Family!
We hope this article will shed some light on the origin of the Christmas tree and its symbolic significance across the ages.
At Green Landing, we’re passionate about gardening. That’s why we created a platform to allow gardening enthusiasts to connect with like-minded people and share their experiences and tips to ensure their gardens thrive. Our goal is to grow our close-knit family of gardening lovers.
So, if that sounds like you, don’t hesitate to get in touch! We’d love to have you join the family and exchange tips and ideas.
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