History of the Christmas Tree

Ancient Egyptians and later the Romans celebrated the winter solstice by decorating their homes with tree branches. While the Druids of early Britain believed placing branches of evergreens over the doors would repel malicious spirits.

Legend has it that in the 7th century an English monk became a missionary to Germany. As he was teaching them about the Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, he used the triangular shape of a fir tree as an illustration. As the people were converted to Christianity they left off revering the Oak in favor of the evergreen and within five centuries it was being used at Christmastime as a home décor.

Martin Luther is credited with being the first to decorate a Christmas tree with candles trying to capture the beauty of the moonlight shining on the snow-covered branches of fir trees in the forest. The lighted candles were said to honor Christ’s birth.

The History of the Christmas tree in America

The first Christmas tree in America probably appeared in 1777, brought to America by the Hessian troops who came to fight during the American Revolutionary War. It is also possible that it arrived with the German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Between then and 1850, the custom didn’t really catch on, influenced in part by the Puritans of New England who banned Christmas.

However, the Christmas tree did not become popular until the mid-1800s, after a picture of Great Britain’s royal family standing in front of a Christmas tree was brought to the US. America’s own royalty, the upper class, immediately adopted the Christmas tree. Within a few decades Christmas trees became the standard evidence of the season in almost every household throughout the country.

The history of the Christmas tree does nothing to detract from the enjoyment many people experience at the sight of a beautifully decorated tree. With its twinkling lights shining, it stands framed in the front window of a house, sending out warmth, invitation and season’s greetings to passersby. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!