In the spirit of the season, this month I will be relaying some interesting legends about the origins of old Nativity customs and symbols. For this blog post, I will discuss the history (very brief) of the Christmas tree. In our modern world, we take evergreen trees along with their various decorations seemingly for granted. But where did the custom of displaying a tree in our homes or even in the town square at yuletide come from?
Evergreens, which are typically used as Christmas trees, have been considered an important symbol to many cultures all across time. In ancient Celtic cultures, the evergreen represented the perseverance of life amidst harsh conditions. Since evergreens survive all year round without shedding their leaves, even under the coldest conditions of winter, they were thought to contain magical powers, and to be the hardiest and most everlasting of all trees. Native Americans considered the tree a symbol of new beginnings and also used them to honor their ancestors. For Christians, the evergreen represented eternal life, which is a core component of their religion and a promise of immortality to come.
The first documented use of a Christmas tree as a symbol of the season was found in the cold northern regions of the Baltic states of Europe, specifically in Estonia and Latvia. During the 15th century, locals would set up a tree in the main town center, and dance around it. Afterwards, they would set it on fire. There are also records of a Christmas tree in 15th and 16th century Germany that was used in the same way. The only difference is that in Germany, the tree was decorated, then danced around, and finally set on fire!
In the 16th century, the founder of Protestantism Martin Luther was said to have been the first to bring the Christmas tree into the house and decorate it with candles to symbolize the Christmas North star that had guided the Wise men to the birth of the infant Jesus. These traditions continued, and from Germany all the way to the United States, people continued to bring evergreen trees into their homes and decorate them with candles, fruit, figurines of angels, as well as presents for their family.
Even though today, we put presents under the tree and use electric lights, not candles to decorate the evergreen, many of our own original traditions and beliefs still remain the same and will continue to be passed down, a symbol of their own everlasting nature.
A Winter's Dream 