The history of the Christmas Tree. Christmas season is the time to dust off the ornamental boxes and prune a tree (or trees!). Whether you prefer white light strings or multicolored bulbs; The aesthetics of your tree will take care of the rest of your Christmas decoration. From classic Shiny Brites to handcrafted decors, these ornaments bring color to trees of all shapes and sizes and create a charming display space for Christmas gifts. But do you know where the Christmas tree came from historically?
Before Christmas trees were considered an essential decor for the feast days, they were simple evergreen trees with a pleasant scent that were used as a source of joy during the harsh winter months. Here is the useful, interesting and fascinating history of the Christmas tree…
What does the Christmas tree symbolize?
In ancient cultures, the winter solstice was heralded as the beginning of the brighter days ahead; These days were a sign that the sun god was recovering his power. Of course, evergreen plants also kept their color throughout all seasons, and so were displayed and adopted in harmony with the solstice as a reminder of the warmer months.
A similar mindset was adopted in Egypt. The Sun Gods, Ra, the weaker the weather the colder and the darker. The winter solstice was seen as a turning point between seasons; For this reason, they decorate their homes with palm leaves and branches. Likewise, a festival called Saturnalia was held in Ancient Rome; this festival would encourage people to celebrate the coming spring season with evergreen plants.
When did the Christmas trees appear?
The original Christmas tree tradition can be traced back to 16th century Germany, where Christians began decorating trees inside their homes, or simple pyramid-shaped piles of wood if they were going through difficult times. The tradition of adding candles to tree branches is often attributed to Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s. Legend has it that Luther was inspired by the stars in the sky and wanted to recreate this image using candlelight in his home.
Some say the first Christmas tree was in London – near what is now known as Leadenhall Market. But this seems like a one-off fashion because Christmas trees wouldn’t come to Britain until the 19th century.
In which country did the Christmas tree tradition begin and do these trees have anything to do with religion?
Despite the Christmas tree’s origins in Christianity, most Americans initially refused to adopt this tradition because they believed it was linked to Pagan beliefs. The tradition was mostly limited to Germany until the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Until then, the Puritans of New England * had taken a strict view of Christmas in America, and however, those who celebrated or decorated in any way were severely punished. (In their belief, the feast was so sacred that the only proper way of celebration was only a church ceremony.) This solemn American Christmas tradition continued until the time when Irish and German immigrants began to cross the Atlantic and imposed their customs and orders despite Puritan norms.
In German settlements, particularly in Pennsylvania, local trees were often ornamented in the late 18th century and soon found themselves in the homes of German families, but the majority of the population was still skeptical. The tradition was not kept until Queen Victoria of England and Prince Albert (of German origins) were shown in a popular newspaper in 1848 standing around a Christmas tree with their families. On this occasion, Americans were convinced that Christmas trees were attractive holiday decorations.
Where did the tradition of decorating Christmas trees come from?
Apart from the candle aesthetics long established in Europe, decorations such as decoration (mostly imported from Germany) became more common in the late 1800s, and with it the cookie and ornament ribbon (strips made of popcorn, nuts, nuts and the like) such as home-made ornaments have become a decoration element.
These simple decorations gave way to synthetic materials such as electric lights and glitter ornaments because technological and industrial developments have transformed throughout the 20th century. Inspired by imported German glass ornaments, Shiny Brite ornaments marked the beginning of the ornamental industry in the US in the early to mid-1900s.
Where does the American National Christmas Tree come from?
In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge initiated the White House tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree with an approximately 14.5 meters *** Balsam fir that he brought from Vermont to Washington D.C. This annual ceremony continues today, and a growing blue spruce Christmas tree in Virginia was planted on the north side of The Ellipse park in the White House.
Where does the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree come from?
In 1931, a simple tree was placed in the middle of Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York. Soon this tree became a tradition similar to that of the White House to mark the start of the Christmas season in New York. This tree is usually Norwegian spruce and is chosen by the Rockefeller Center’s chief gardener.
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