Germany is the country credited for starting the tradition of the Christmas tree and is a custom dating back as far as the sixteenth century. It is well documented that Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, Albert made the decorated Christmas tree fashionable when he introduced the custom to Windsor Castle from his native Germany, although the tradition had been observed by German families living in Britain for sometime prior to that.
The Roman Festival of Saturnalia
Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a festival called Saturnalia. The feast was held in honour of the god of agriculture, Saturnus.
During this festival, houses were decorated with evergreens and traditional gifts were exchanged. These were coins to bring prosperity, pastries and cake for happiness and lamps to light the way on the journey of life.
The Christmas Tree and the Holy Family
As with many other traditions and customs, there are a number of stories associated with the Christmas tree, several of which date back as far as the time of Christ.
Legend tells how the Holy family were travelling to Egypt when they hid in a clump of cedar trees in an attempt to avoid King Herod’s men. In an effort to hide the family from view the trees miraculously sprouted needles and their berries turned from white to blue to allow Mary’s robe to blend in. From that day forward, evergreens, as we know this type of tree, have kept their foliage and colour all year round, and it is said that if you cut a pine cone length ways you will see the tiny imprint of the Christ child’s hand in its flesh.
Martin Luther and the Christmas Tree
Two slight variations of another story tell how Martin Luther was returning home after a sixteenth century Christmas Eve service. One version tells how he was so overcome with the beauty of starlight glistening in the icicles like diamonds hanging from an evergreen tree that he cut down a small tree and took it home.
It's believed that Luther decorated the tiny tree with candles because it reminded him that Jesus was the light of the world. The second version differs slightly, in as much as Martin Luther was overcome at the sight of thousands of stars twinkling through the foliage of the evergreens.
Modern Christmas Trees
Christmas trees have been a tradition in Germany as far back as the 16th century. Families would place an evergreen tree in their homes and decorate it with food, small toys and paper decorations.
By the middle of the century Christmas markets were a regular occurrence. Here it was possible to purchase anything that was needed for the Christmas festival, from the goose for the feast to decorations, including tinsel. Tinsel was invented in Germany around 1610 and until the mid-20th century real silver was used having been pulled into wafer thin strips.
Today in Britain, the Norway spruce, which was the traditional choice for a Christmas tree, has competition from a number of evergreens grown for their colour, fragrance and ability to retain their needles.Examples of these include Balsam Fir and Colorado Blue Spruce. But whatever the choice of tree, whether it be a traditional 'live' tree or an artificial variety it is traditionally the focus point of many households over the Christmas period.
Sources:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
National Cristmas Tree Growers Association Christmastree.org.types
History Channel online
Christmastree.com/where
Christmasiscoming.co.uk
ChristmasArcives.com
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