A Bit of Christmas Tree History

From the Garden of Eden to middle age tradition to European royalty to the White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony, the evolution of the decorated, lit indoor and outdoor Christmas tree has been a bit of a journey throughout the years.

Whether you celebrate Christmas as a Christian or non-Christian the Christmas tree is widely accepted symbol of the Christmas season. When you think of Christmas morning, I would be surprised if a vision of a Christmas tree did not immediately pop into your head. Followed by the family and kids all gathered around the tree eager with anticipation to open the beautifully wrapped gifts.

The Christmas tree as we currently celebrate an interesting history mixed with facts and word of mouth stories that have evolved into an indoor, lit Christmas tree.

When looking at Christmas tree traditions a person can start back at the celebrations of the Tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden. In the middle ages, evergreen trees were decorated with red apples to celebrate the feast of Adam and Eve.

From the middle age traditions, the Christmas tree history moves from evergreen trees being decorated outdoors to the trees moved indoors but undecorated, to indoor trees decorated and lit.

16th-century Germany fir trees were decorated, both indoors and out, with apples, roses, gilded candies, and colored paper. I would think would have to find trees with rather strong branches to place the apples on the trees. Just a thought!

It is not clear who should be credited with first decorated an indoor tree with lights. There are a number of stories crediting Martin Luther with first placing lights on an indoor tree.

The most accepted version of the story goes like this – Martin Luther wanted to share an experience with his family that he had while having a winter evening walking by evergreen trees sparkling from the starlight. So he placed lights on the indoor tree, to show his family the beauty.

In the 17th century, the tradition of decorating Christmas trees began to spread throughout part of Europe. In Austria & Germany during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the tops of evergreens were cut and hung upside down in a living room corner. They were decorated with apples, nuts and strips of red paper.

It did take a bit of time for the Christmas tree tradition to be accepted in the United States. The first president to introduce the Christmas tree to the White House in 1856 was Franklin Pierce. The first, now famous, national Christmas Tree was lit in 1923 by President Calvin Coolidge on the White House lawn.

Today people celebrate Christmas by decorating their trees with various types of lights and ornaments. There are beautiful themed Christmas trees with ribbons, flowers, lights and ornaments. As well as, the wonderfully decorated trees with mismatched ornaments that tell a story of life every year you decorate your tree. However, you choose to decorate your Christmas tree have a great time creating memories.

copyright © 2008 Rodney Grubbs