Blogger: SkullantacySmith

Introduction

Christmas trees are a familiar tradition. They always go up along with other decorations, but they tend to be the centrepiece of any room. We fuss about what decorations will go on it, the colour of the tinsel and what will go on top. But have you ever wondered where the tradition started? Well, wonder no more as we go on a deep dive into this festive tradition.

The History Of The Christmas Tree

The use of green plants and trees to decorate homes began long before Queen Victoria of England popularised the tradition. In ancient times, they were used to keep away witches and evil spirits, such as ghosts. It was even believed it would ward away illness during the winter months.

The Winter Solstice—which lands on the 21st or 22nd of December annually—is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It was believed by those dwelling in the Northern Hemisphere, where this takes place, that the sun was a god and would grow unwell during these months. The solstice was celebrated in honour of the sun beginning to become well again and stronger for the summer months. The evergreen boughs would remind the ancient peoples of the green foliage and plants that would grow once summer came around again. The Ancient Egyptians, early Romans, Celts and Vikings are some ancient peoples who have variations of this early tradition.

The popular version of Christmas trees originated in Germany from the 16th century. It is recorded that people from Germany would bring trees into their homes and decorate them. Due to Queen Victoria's German heritage, she introduced Christmas trees to Great Britain in the nineteenth century.

Conclusion

Christmas traditions, such as what we now know as the Christmas tree, began their journey much earlier than they were made popular. The ancient tradition can be traced back as far as ancient civilisations like the Ancient Egyptians, Romans and Celts to name a few. However, nothing quite beats how unique every Christmas tree today is decorated.