Christmas Tree Traditions New and Old

Traditions are a very large part of what makes the Christmas holiday so much fun. Without traditional Christmas songs, annual television specials, and Christmas tree decorations, Christmas just would not be the same. The tradition of Christmas trees is not a new one—it dates way back to ancient times and pagan rituals. It has played a role in holiday fun for hundreds of years, and it will sure to do the same for years to come.

The Fabulous Fir Tree

Though the ancient peoples would not have understood the Christmas tree tradition, they did play a part in establishing the custom. Everyone, from the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Druids, worshipped the evergreen tree in one way or another. In most cultures, evergreen trees were used to celebrate the winter solstice.

One ancient myth says that St. Boniface, the German saint who converted the people to Christianity, encountered pagans worshipping an oak tree. The saint cut down the oak tree out of anger and in its place, a fir tree sprouted up. To St. Boniface, this was a sign of the Christian faith.

The Modern Movement

While the use of the fir tree might have come from ancient traditions, it was not until more recently that a Christmas tree was actually displayed indoors. One popular myth is that Martin Luther was the first to decorate a Christmas tree around 1500. When walking through snow covered woods on Christmas Eve, Martin Luther was struck by the beauty of the fir trees. HE brought a small one indoors and shared the splendor with his children. Together, they decorated it with lights to celebrate the birth of Christ.

The Christmas tree tradition migrated to the United States most likely during the American Revolution, but it was not widely practiced (and even banned in some areas) until the 1800s. Christmas trees were universal by the 1920s.

In the early history of the Christmas tree tradition, participants would hunt down their own trees. However, by the 1800s people had begun taking advantage of the tree market by cutting down trees and selling them for profit. Christmas tree farms emerged during the Great Depression. Some people preferred, and still prefer, artificial Christmas trees over the real ones.

Old Traditions, New Traditions

The Christmas tree tradition might be old, but it has only grown in popularity over the past several hundred years. Whatever might come in the future of Christmas, you can be assured that a tree will continue to provide a steady source of comfort and tradition.

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