The centerpiece of many family memories is the Christmas Tree.
When asked to think of a particular memory from Christmas, many of us will picture our family sitting in our living rooms unwrapping gifts with a majestic evergreen tree adorned with lights and ornaments. Why is this tree here? How did it come to be in our homes?
This particular tree has traveled down many paths and is believed to have originated from several different celebrations.
In ancient pagan civilizations, an evergreen tree represented hope and eternal life because they remained green all year round. Therefore, they decorated those outside and brought in the clippings to decorate their homes during the winter solstice.
Around the 7th Century, a monk, St. Boniface, traveled to Germany to spread the Word of God. It is said that because of it’s triangular shape, he used the fir tree to symbolize the Holy Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
German celebrations have highly influenced this practice of decorating the evergreen tree since the 15th and 16th centuries. The first documented use of the evergreen tree as a Christmas tree in 1510 centered in the town square of Riga, Latvia. But another legend that is said to have occurred during this same time period is that of Martin Luther’s use of the tree in his home. He too, was in Germany and was so amazed by the grand forests that he took an evergreen home to share this beautiful specimen with his family. It is said that he decorated this piece of nature with candles to represent the stars in the night sky.
With these past influences in hand, finishing out 16th Century, German churches would display an evergreen tree in plays. Decorated with apples to symbolize a Paradise tree, “Paradeisbaum” they were celebrating the annual feast of Adam and Eve on Dec 24th. Within 200 years it was customary to see every home with a Paradise tree decorated with each families’ personal touch.
America would not see a Christmas tree until the Revolutionary War. German mercenaries, Hessians, brought this tradition across to the New World. But because of the Puritan opposition, this custom was not popularized until the 1840’s when Americans were introduced to German handcrafted glass ornaments.
When Christmas time comes around this year take a good look at that representative of Mother Nature and remember why it came to celebrate this festive time. Your family has had traditions for its arrival in your home so add those to the history books and share them with future generations.
Tidbits
Tannenbaum is the German word for fir tree which were originally used for Christmas trees.
The first Christmas tree in the White House was put up by President Franklin Pierce in 1856.
President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923.
