Many people the world over are familiar with that ubiquitous conifer beautifully decked out in glitter and lights—the Christmas tree.  And today most people prefer and artificial Christmas tree for their homes. However, most people aren’t aware of the storied history of the Christmas tree, either its ancient history in pagan rites or its modern origin in Germany. 

The Christmas Tree’s Ancient Roots 

Trees have played an important part in both Christian and non-Christian traditions, from the Trees of Life and Knowledge in the Garden of Eden to Norse mythology’s Yggdrasil world tree.  Ancient pagan rites were often performed in sacred groves, and evergreen trees (or branch clippings from them) have often been used through the ages in rites celebrating unending life, rebirth, rejuvenation, and fertility.  Ancient Egyptians used palm fronds in the same way, and ancient Celtic druids also used holly and mistletoe in their worship and rites and evergreens for symbols of good luck. 

The Yule log is another excellent example.  The ancient worship of the Norse god Thor involved oak trees, and during a winter celebration oak logs would be burned during celebrations.  It was thought that sparks thrown from the burning log foretold the birth of livestock.  Legend has it that in the seventh century AD Saint Boniface traveled from England to Germany to spread Christianity, and pursuant to that mission chopped down Thor’s Oak at Geismar.  A fir tree growing at the roots of the oak was then proclaimed by Saint Boniface to be the new tree symbol for the Germanic people, its undying green leaves symbols of life everlasting through the gift of Christ’s life on earth.  Less apocryphal stories hold that Saint Boniface used the triangle shape of the fir to symbolize the Holy Trinity to the pagans to whom he preached, and so they replaced the oak as a divine symbol of Thor with the fir as a divine symbol of Christ.  And yet the Yule log, despite its ancient connection to Thor, still remains a popular fixture in western European and American Christmas traditions. 

By the 12th century, the fir tree was used throughout central Europe as a symbol of Christianity during Christmas.  Some historians believe the tree was hung upside-down from ceiling rafters.  

The Christmas Tree’s Modern Roots 

Prior to the 16th century, Christmas trees were undecorated symbols of Christianity.  The first decorated Christmas tree is thought to have been erected in Riga in Latvia in 1510.  Some years later Martin Luther is thought to have decorated a small Christmas tree with candles, possibly the first to use lights to decorate a tree.  In 1539 the Cathedral in Strasbourg erected a Christmas tree, and by the middle of the century decorating Christmas trees was a popular custom throughout many German towns.  Food (gingerbread, for example), wax decorations, and paper flowers were common decorations. 

In the beginning of the next century, tinsel was added to Christmas trees.  Through the middle of the 19th century, tinsel was formed from silver, despite the fact that it tended to tarnish quickly in candlelight. 

Christmas trees likely first came to America with German settlers or Hessian troops remaining after the Revolutionary war.  (There is a story, in fact, that a Christmas tree so reminded the Hessian troops of home that on Christmas Eve they abandoned their posts to drink and celebrate, and were attacked and defeated by Washington.)  There is little evidence that the tradition spread outside these communities at first, however.  Indeed, celebrating Christmas itself experienced a marked downturn in popularity in America, with Puritans banning the holiday, schools staying open on Christmas day, and in 1851 a minister nearly losing his job for erecting a Christmas tree in his church.

When Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert, he brought the tradition of the decorated Christmas tree with him to England.  In 1846 the Illustrated London News featured an illustration of the royals and their Christmas tree.  The Queen and Prince were vastly popular, both with their subjects and fashion-conscious east coast Americans as well, which helped popularize the tradition outside its native Germany.  By this time spun glass ornaments were being produced for Christmas trees, though outside Germany they were a status symbol.  Woolworth began importing the ornaments to America, and electric lights and hooks for hanging ornaments soon followed.  In addition to glass or home-made ornaments, trees were often topped with national or empire flags during this period.

As often happens, shifts in culture can have unexpected consequences, and as the German Christmas tree tradition became widespread, the most popular trees became endangered.  In some parts it was common to have a separate tree for each family member, with presents placed under the appropriate individual’s tree.  Statutes had to be passed restricting families to one tree per household.

By the 1880’s, randomly decorated trees gave way to aesthetically decorated trees.  And whereas before trees were usually small enough to sit on tables (as most families did not have many ornaments), now the fashion was to have a large tree, a symbol of prestige.  By 1900 themed trees were the rage.  However, with the death of Victoria in 1901, the exuberance for Christmas tree decorating fell away, and didn’t rekindle in England for 30 years.  When it did rekindle, it was for smaller trees, and the first artificial trees were made:  goose feather trees and later brush trees.

The Christmas tree industry is thought to have started with Mark Carr, a farmer who hauled several evergreens into New York City and sold all of them, in 1851.  By 1900, approximately one in five American families had Christmas trees.  By 1920, nearly all had at least one.

During the Great Depression, landscapers couldn’t sell their evergreens for landscaping and so turned their nurseries into Christmas tree farms. 

In the 1950’s aluminum trees were invented and became popular in the 1960’s.  By the turn of the century, a wide variety of artificial Christmas trees were available for the Christmas tree enthusiast.

Your family’s Christmas tree might hold decorations that commemorate your history, but the history of the tree itself is richer still. From its roots in ancient mythology, the Christmas tree has grown into a world-renowned symbol of the holiday season. 

About the author: Angela Lytle is a self employed mother of four and the publisher of Christmas Decorations Online, a website featuring a variety of Christmas decorations from beautiful Christmas ornaments to colorful outdoor Christmas lights.