O Tannenbaum

Despite the fact that we won’t be at home for Christmas, I wanted to put up a Christmas tree. So, we did. In the old Victorian houses we had, we always found the largest trees possible and filled them with ornaments. We decided to put the tree in front of one of the windows in the living room, which meant that while height was not an issue, it could not be very wide. So, we went in search of a tall, skinny tree this year. Fortunately, there are several tree farms around.

My favorite part of doing this is all the memories it brings back. There are ornaments from Megan and Ian growing up, as well as the ones we picked up along the way on our travels. Each ornament represents something special.

But where does this tradition come from?

The use of trees in celebrations dates back to ancient times across many different cultures, where evergreens, in particular, played a prominent role in the festivities. During the solstice, fir and pine trees were regarded as symbols of renewal and endurance through the dreary winter months.

During the winter solstice, Egyptians celebrated the sun god, Ra, by decorating with green palm fronds, symbolizing their triumph over death. The Romans held their week-long Saturnalia in honor of Saturn and decorated their homes and temples with evergreen branches, the emblem of the cyclical nature of the seasons. The Celts and Druids of Gaul and Britain revered the evergreens as sacred trees. Using them in their solstice rituals provided protection against dark forces.

In the Medieval period, European churches often used evergreens in religious plays around the holidays. They believed the ‘paradise tree’ represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. These were decorated with apples to symbolize the forbidden fruit and wafers for communion. Over time, these were replaced by cookies and edible ornaments.

During this period, it became popular to decorate one’s home with evergreen branches or even small trees hanging from the ceiling as a symbol of life and possibly a throwback to the solstice rituals.

The first documented mention of Christmas trees is from 16^th century Germany. Families brought whole trees inside and decorated them with goodies, such as fruit, nuts, and gingerbread. Initially, these trees were seen more frequently in the Protestant regions as the Catholics preferred nativity scenes. Having spent 4.5 years in Bavaria, I can attest to the fact that the Catholic families there today love their Christmas trees, at least in our village.

Legend has it that Martin Luther was walking one night through a snowy forest when he was awed by the starlight twinkling through the tree branches. The experience made such an impression on him that he tried to recreate the effect at home by adding candles to the tree in his house.

During the 19^th century, Christmas trees became fashionable in England. While they existed prior to this time, it wasn’t until an engraving of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with their children standing around a decorated tree appeared in The Illustrated London News in 1848 that the fashion swept the country. This idea quickly spread throughout the British Empire.

As German immigrants settled in North America in the 18^th century, especially in Pennsylvania, they brought their heritage with them. The tradition’s popularity grew, and in the 1850s, President Franklin Pierce set up the first Christmas tree in the White House. This tradition was cemented in American culture during the Civil War by illustrations showing soldiers and families with Christmas trees. Public trees became more widespread following the lighting of the first Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City in 1931. Even today, it is recognized as one of the world’s most famous displays.

In the early years, most cultures decorated with homemade items, from ribbons to baked goods, fruit, nuts, and candles. Over time, more decorative items of glass and metal were seen. And in more recent years, plastic has taken over. However, in places such as Germany and Scandinavia, natural and edible items remain popular. In Italy and Mexico, it is pretty standard to see nativity scenes set up alongside brightly colored trees.

Do you put up a Christmas tree? For me, it’s a time of sharing and getting together with family and friends. I would love to hear your special memories.