Buying a Christmas tree and decorating it in your home is one of the most well-known traditions of Christmas, and you’ve probably been doing it without questioning why for as long as you can remember. However, it didn’t just become a tradition because someone decided to bring a tree into their home randomly. There are lots of reasons why we decorate our Christmas trees and it can be traced back throughout centuries of history, religion, and culture.
The history
Before the Christmas tree was adopted by Christians for the celebration of Christmas day, pagans would bring evergreen branches and place them around the home for the winter solstice as a reminder that spring would be here soon. Evergreens themselves are also said to keep away evil spirits and witches.
The fire tree was also used by Romans within their temples as a decoration during their Saturnalia festival at the end of December.
Symbolism
Plants and trees have remained an important part of people’s lives long before Christianity adopted the tree for its main Christmas decoration. During the cold winter nights, trees and branches have symbolised life, and fir trees have been used to represent agriculture and resilience, to give people hope during the darkest days and toughest weathers.
The beginning of the modern Christmas tree
Germany began the tradition of decorating the modern Christmas tree as we know it today, starting with simple pyramid shapes decorated during the festive winter season. This developed into larger decorations such as placing candles on each branch.
While the Germans have a big part to play in the decoration of the tree itself, it is thought that the first person to bring a Christmas tree into the home was Martin Luther, who wanted to recreate his night-time walk through the woods within his home.
Why is it popular?
In the UK, this actual decorating of the tree became even more popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, when a picture emerged with her and her family next to a decorated tree at Windsor Castle. More people followed suit after this and continued the trend.
When to put the tree up
Many cultures and traditions have varied over the years. Romans never used to put their tree up until Christmas Eve, but Advent states that the tree should go up around 4 weeks before Christmas and stay up until Epiphany on the 6th of January.
However, many people now have their own family traditions and have special days on which they decorate their homes and Christmas trees.
