Figure 1.--The Christmas tree tradition originated in Germany, but has spread around the world. This looks like a German boy with the family Christmas tree in the 1930s. Note that through the 1930s, Germans did not commonly have electric Chritmas tree lights.

One of the most beloved Christmas traditions is the family Christmas tree. The origins, however, are not Christian, but Celtic/Germanic origins. The history of the Christmas tree is somewhat hazzy, primarily because it is so old. There are, as a result, no historical records covering the actual origins. Surely it is tied in with the Celtic/Germanic tradition of bringing greenery into the home during the winter. The tradition appears to heve predate the Celts and Germnans. The actual history of the Christmas tree appears to be tied in primarily with three countries: Germany, England, and America. The origins are clearly German, but England and America have played supporting rules. While the Chrostmas tree was a German tradition, it was brought to Britain by Prince Albert who was of course a German prince. Many modern traditions accepted throughout Europe and North America are Vicyorian in origin and the Christmas tree is one of them. Interestingly the English people who settled Ameica did not bring the Christmas tree tradition with them. It was the Germans who emigrated to America that brought the Christmas tree tradition with them. It was the American commercialization of Christmas and the role of media in spreading American fashions and traditions around the world. Thus the Christmas trees we see in countries around the world may be a German tradition, but are just as likely to have beem implanted there by America.

Ancient Origins

One of the most beloved Christmas traditions is the family Christmas tree. Here the origins are not Christian. Anthorpolgists note ancient people bringing greenery inside to decorate their homes. This appears to have been the case in Egypt. The Egyptians liked to bring date palms into their homes. We are less sure abouut Babylonia or other ancient people. These ancient practices probably did not lead to the modern Christmas tree tradition. They do suggest, however, that there is a cross-cultural human tendency to decorate homes with greenery. Our modern tradition comes from the Celtic/Germanic traditions. The history of the Christmas tree is somewhat hazzy, primarily because it is so old. There are, as a result, no historical records covering the actual origins. Surely it is tied in with the Celtic/Germanic tradition of bringing greenery into the home during the bleak winter season before fall harvesting and spring planting. Greenery in the home seems to have lifted the spirit. his eems to be an innatehuman response. But the ancient Celts/Germans were of course not Christians. The Romans were, however, were introduced to Christianity (1st century AD). The Romans celebrated Saturnalia--the winter festival honoring the god of agriculture. And during Saturnalia, Romans would bring greenery into their homes. And the Roman Church as Christianity grew would coop pagan festvals. Thus Saturnalia gradually morphed into Christmas. Thus Christmas from an early time was associated with bringing greenery into the home.

Modern Tradition

The actual history of the Christmas tree appears to be tied in primarily with three countries: Germany, England, and America. The origins are clearly German. Roman Saturnalia turned into Christmas was accepted by Christinized Germans and the Celtic/German traditions were woven nto the German celebration of Christmas. These traditions may have been built upon by Martin Luther. As a young monk, Luthur reportedly noticed a snow-covered evergreen tree and thought it beautiful. He brought it into his home and decorated it with candals to honor Jesus' birth. Some sources go much further and even say that Luther invented the Christms tree tradition. A knowledgeable German reader tells us that there is no evidence of this. It may be that Luther added to an already existing tradition, but he did not invent it. But the celeration of Christmas does seem to have shifted as a result of the Reformation. Until this, Christmas has been a relatively minor holiday in Christendom. Roman Catholocism had developed many saints who Luther thought had taken attention away from Jesus. A central aspect of the Reformation was to refocus the Church on Jesus. Luthur wanted more attention placed on Jesus and increasing the importance of Christmas was one way of doing so. Christmnas gradually became the most important Christian celebration in Germany. And the center of the family's celebration in Germany became the Chritmas tree. In Italy the tradition if creches became important. England and America have played supporting rules. While the Christmas tree was a German tradition, it was brought to Britain by Prince Albert who was of course a German prince. Many modern traditions accepted throughout Europe and North America are Victorian in origin and the Christmas tree is one of them. Interestingly the English people who settled America did not bring the Christmas tree tradition with them. They came before the Victorian era. It was the humble Germans who emigrated to America, rather han the nglish royal family, that brought the Christmas tree tradition with them. We see Germans in America from an early point. Many of the Hessians who fought wih the British stayed in Ameica after the War. Large numbers of Germans emigrated after the failed Revolutions of 1848. These Germans brought the Christmas tree tradition with them. And gradually their non-German neigbors adopted the tradition. Americans by the turn-of-the 20th century had widely adopted the tradition. At first families went into the woods to find trees. After World war II tree farming became well established and people bought their trees. Tree farms now exist all over the country. It was the American commercialization of Christmas and the role of media in spreading American fashions and traditions around the world. Thus the Christmas trees we see in countries around the world may be a German tradition, but are just as likely to have beem implanted there by America.

Tree Types

Fir or pine tress are commonly used for Christmas trees because they are the trees that remain green in the winter, This was of course primarily the case in the northern European areas inhabited by Celts and Germsans.

Decorations

St. Boniface is often credited with the idea of decorating Christmas trees (7th century). He was a monk from Crediton, Devonshire. He went to Germany as a missionary to teach the Word of God. Germany at the time at the peak of the Dark Ages was still pagan. He is credited with doing many good works there. He mostly orked in Thuringia, an area which would become in modn times to become the cradle of the Christmas Decoration Industry. St. Boniface is said to have used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). As a result the converted Germans began to revere the Fir tree as God's Tree, as they and the Celts had previously revered the Oak tree. With the Christinization of Germny and the rest of central Europe, the fir tree bcame awidely accepted symbol of Christianity. One report suggess that the Cristmas tree and other geenery was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings as a symbol of Christianity (12th century). at Christmastime in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity. One report suggests that the first decorated tree was noted at Riga, Latvia (1510). Latvia and the other Baltic republics were heavily influced by Germany. Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small Christmas Tree with candles, to show his children how the stars twinkled through the dark night. It is unclear if this was factual or a legend.

Time Table

Presents

Children were drawm to the family Christmas tree by its innate beauty and then as the tradition developed by all the beautiful decorations. Of coure ultimately the Christmas tree became the place where all the beautifully wrapped presents were srashed. It became a place of childhhod dreams. We are not sure just when this tradition developed, but believe it was was estanbished by the time tat Germans began coming to America in large numbers (19th century). And like the Christmas tree itself was adopted by the wider society and not just the German community.

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Created: 3:03 AM 12/19/2007
Last updated: 7:37 PM 7/14/2016