History of the Christmas tree

Christmas trees are a central part of Christmas celebrations around the world. They can be seen in homes where families gather around them to open presents, in shopping centres, public parks and just about every hotel and airport over the festive season.

But where did the Christmas tree come from? And why do we decorate them?

The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshiped evergreens. Every year when the winter solstice arrived they would bring in green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolise life’s triumph over death.The Romans decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts when they celebrated the winter solstice with a feast called Saturnalia in honour of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness and lamps to light ones journey through life.

Centuries ago in Great Britain, druids used evergreens during winter solstice rituals. Holly and mistletoe were used as symbols of eternal life and evergreen branches were placed over doors to keep away spirits.

Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions.

It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.

The Christmas tree tradition most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio, adds Robson. But the custom spread slowly. The Puritans banned Christmas in New England. Even as late as 1851, a Cleveland minister nearly lost his job because he allowed a tree in his church. Schools in Boston stayed open on Christmas Day through 1870, and sometimes expelled students who stayed home. The Christmas tree market was born in 1851 when Catskill farmer Mark Carr hauled two oxsleds of evergreens into New York City and sold them all.

By 1900, one in five American families had a Christmas tree, and 20 years later, the custom was nearly universal.