Have you ever wondered how the tradition of bringing a tree into our homes began?
The Christmas tree is a major part of the festive celebration
Getting the family involved in decorating the Christmas tree with twinkling lights and colourful tinsel is wonderful and the final effect is warm and festive, but where did it all start?
We all know what the Christmas tree means to us; it has become a magical symbol of joy for all those who celebrate Christmas. We place a star or an angel on the top of the tree to represent the angels from the Nativity story or the Star of Bethlehem, but nobody knows for sure exactly when or where the very first Christmas tree originated.
The very first Christmas tree
Some stories date as far back as the 7th century. According to one legend, Martin Luther created the first Christmas tree in the early 16th century when he brought a small tree into his home and decorated it with candles to show his children how the stars twinkled in the night sky and to celebrate the birth of Christ. So, Christmas trees were originally created for children.
The first Christmas trees were said to have been decorated with candles
It began to grow in popularity across Germany and Eastern Europe in the 1500s where decorated trees were erected outside town halls and churches and the first Christmas markets started appeared in many towns. In fact most of our Christmas traditions started in Germany, from tinsel to Christmas sweets.
Even these very first Christmas trees were decorated with seasonal treats for children, consisting of pretzels, fruit, nuts and cheese from the Christmas market; not the chocolates and candy sticks we’re used to nowadays.
Very quickly the Christmas tree started spreading across the rest of Europe, Russia and the rest of the world.
Where did tinsel come from?
Being the first to create the Christmas tree, it’s not surprising that the Germans also invented something to decorate it with in the early 1500s, tinsel. Back then tinsel was made of real silver cut and pulled into beautiful and delicate thin strips.
Germany became the main producer of Christmas decorations across Europe and in fact silver was used to create tinsel right up until around the 1940s. Luckily, it’s much cheaper today!
Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree
The Christmas tree was introduced to Britain in the early 1800s but it wasn’t until Queen Victoria adopted it as a family Christmas custom that the Christmas tree suddenly became very fashionable not only amongst royalty but also with the middle classes.
Queen Victoria introduced Christmas trees to Britain
Charles Dickens is thought by some to be the man who invented the ‘sentiment’ of Christmas with his stories of the Christmas tree and ‘A Christmas Carol’. Victorian children grew to love the Christmas tree and the magic and cheer (not to mention toys) it brought to their lives.
Decorations such as silver wire star shapes and tinsel came from Germany and homemade gifts such as beads and pouches of sugar almonds decorated the tree. Candles on wooden hooks lit the tree and wreaths were hung on the front door to welcome guests.
As the Christmas tree began to light up homes across the country each year, it became bigger, taller and filled with more glittering decorations, bells and toys and presents were placed under the tree.
The modern Christmas tree
The ‘themed’ Christmas tree with matching colours of red, green, white or silver became fashionable in the early 1900s and today the stylised Christmas tree has never been more popular.
Artificial Christmas Trees have become popular in recent times
Until around the 1970s natural trees were used but the artificial tree has since become a more convenient option. Nowadays there are so many to choose from; colourful fibre optic trees, white sparkling trees and even bright pink trees.
Whether you go for the antique Victorian look of golden bells and glass ornaments or you have in mind a trendy tree with minimalist decorations, you can be sure that your kids will want a say in picking the just the right decorations and fairy lights.
Some argue that you can’t beat that warm festive smell of real pine needles but whatever your style, decorating the tree with the family is most children’s idea of heaven and apart from writing their list to Santa, is there favourite thing to do at Christmas.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This was great! Well written and informative. Thanks!
I heard on the radio that people used to decorate trees with cheese and pretzels. I didn’t believe it. After some research I do! Thanks, this was fun and easy to read.