The History of the Christmas Tree
by Taylor's Way | Dec 10, 2018 | Blog
From ancient evergreen boughs to glittering modern trees — discover how one of Christmas's most beloved traditions came to be.
Ancient Roots: Evergreens and the Winter Solstice
Long, long ago, before people decorated their homes with Christmas trees to make their homes feel festive for the holidays, or to have something to put their presents under, the ancient people used evergreens to decorate their homes as they anticipated the coming of spring.
During ancient times in the Northern hemisphere, they believed that the sun was a god. They believed that winter came due to their sun being weak and ill. On the shortest day of the year, known as the winter solstice — which also falls at a time that is close to Christmas — they believed it was a time when their god was starting to be well again. They celebrated by filling their homes with evergreen boughs, which reminded them of all the green plants that would soon grow again when spring arrived.
Martin Luther and the Candlelit Tree
Skip a few centuries down the road and later the Christmas tree tradition evolved into bringing the beautiful evergreen tree varieties such as Pine, Fir, and Spruce into the home and decorating them with candles.
It is said to believe that the 16th century Protestant, Martin Luther, was taking a stroll and was awed by the twinkling stars amidst the evergreens. He wanted to recapture that scene for his family and did so by bringing an evergreen into their home and decorating its branches with lit candles.
Queen Victoria and the American Christmas Tree
It wasn't until the mid-1800s that this tradition was accepted by Americans. Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were published in the London News with a sketched illustration of their family standing around a Christmas tree. With her popularity, America quickly caught on to the idea of the Christmas tree tradition, and by the late 1800s Christmas trees and ornaments were quickly on the rise.
How the Tradition Has Evolved
Ancient Evergreens
Boughs of evergreen were brought indoors to celebrate the winter solstice and anticipate the return of spring.
Candlelit Trees
Pine, Fir, and Spruce trees were brought inside and adorned with lit candles to recreate the magic of starlight through the forest.
Modern Christmas Trees
Today we have endless possibilities — from freshly cut Pine trees to brightly colored artificial pre-lit trees. The options for holiday decorating are plentiful and evolving.
The Joy of the Season Is Unchanging
It's crazy to think how far we have evolved from the original reasoning of the evergreen décor during the winter months. From anticipating spring, to recreating starlit forests, to following the traditions of a beloved queen — the joy and anticipation the Christmas season brings is unchanging.
