A Christmas tree is the main attribute of the Christmas holidays for hundreds of years all over the world. With its bright lights, original decorations, and ornaments, a Christmas tree has become a favorite symbol of celebration and warmth during winter play-days. Go for a Christmas tree NYC and treat your tree to a Christmas celebration already now. But, have you ever think about where did the Christmas tree originate? Keep reading to discover the quick history of this symbolic tree.
What is origin of Christmas tree?
According to the legends, a Christian tradition of bringing a fir tree during the Christmas celebration originated straight from the 8th century. At that time, the English Benedictine monk Boniface has spread his missionary idea among the territory of Germany. Then, he noticed some native Germans have performed a rite of sacrifice in front of an oak that was sacramental for the god Thor. Boniface cut down a tree, considering he stopped the wrong worshiping of the pagan god.
So, you may also ask how a Christmas tree is related to this story? Later, a fir has grown out from the fallen oak and became a symbol of Christ and new life. A fir tree has represented a threesome in Christianity, since it has the shape of a triangle.
Christmas tree origin pagan
A Christmas tree origin starts as a pagan tradition long before the advent of Christianity. For instance, the European pagans used the evergreen trees for bringing light in the cold winters, as well as keeping away from any evil. Vikings also have used the branches of evergreen trees for decoration of their temples as a symbol of the god of sun, Balder. Moreover, the ancestors of the Celts have represented a lasting life by decorating the temples with the branches of fir trees too. Apart from the Europeans, Early Romans on the occasion of the Saturnalia – a holiday on the honor of the god of agriculture Saturn – have also decorated their homes and shrines with the ramus of evergreen trees that symbolized a solstice.
The modern tradition of Christmas tree
A current tradition of bringing a Christmas tree for the winter holiday season comes from Germany. In the 16th century, the Christians have actively started to bring the decorated trees to their home, they have even built the decorated Christmas pyramids with the candles and branches of fir trees. This pyramid was intended for keeping different Christmas statuettes and has a star at the top. Interestingly, the Germans set up a fir tree on the 24th of December as a symbol of paradise tree belonged to Adam and Eve and decorated with apples, cookies, and candles. Later, this paradise tree and a pyramid were connected in one Christmas evergreen tree. The candles that were added to the Christmas trees usually represented a symbol of Christ as a world’s light. There is a legend that a famous protestant reformer Martin Luther King was the first who has brought a candle to the Christmas tree in the 16th century to symbolize bright stars.