Everything has an origin and a history. I am one of those people who wants to know all of the facts. If you can't tell me, then I will go find them. This Christmas season has me asking all sorts of questions. Through my research, I hope to answer my questions and possibly answer someone else's.
Today found me reading about the history of the Christmas tree. Who knew something so simple had such a vast history? So, history has it that the Christmas tree started in Germany in the 7th century when a monk from Crediton, Devonshire was working as a missionary teaching the Word of God. He used a fir tree to represent the Holy Trinity: Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Germans, who became Christians, began to think of this tree symbolically, as God's tree. So from then on and by the 12th century, these trees could be found throughout homes in Europe during Christmas time.
Now this is a very vast subject. You can hardly talk about the history of the Christmas tree without covering other details, such as lights, tinsel, decorations and ornaments. For many years, centuries even, Germany was the largest exporter of all things Christmas, including trees. Street markets in German villages had everything you needed for Christmas decorating and even feasting.
The very first decorated Christmas tree was at Riga, in Latvia in the year 1510. A man was said to have decorated his tree with small candles for his children in the early 16th century. That could've been disasterous!!!
Tinsel was first invented in Germany around 1610 and was made from real silver. It was cut into fine shreds for easy application to the tree. But they found that the silver tarnished so quickly that over the next few centuries, tinsel would undergo many makeovers. In fact, tinsel was made from silver right up to the 20th century.
For a good number of decades and/or centuries, Christmas trees were only tabletop size. Decorations were made from tinsel, silver wire ornaments, candles and small beads. Each member of the family had their own tree and their gifts went under each personalized tree.
The early trees of this period were considered symbolic of the Paradise Tree in the Garden of Eden. The food items that adorned the tree were symbolic of plenty, the flowers made of red paper were symbolic of knowledge and the white flowers symbolic of innocence.
Over the next few centuries, the Christmas tree would take on many more changes and roles. The citizens of Britain were more welcoming of the tree during the Victorian period. Women would spend their time making fabric and quilted ornaments, as well as hanging toys from the branches. At this time Germany also began to export glass beads. Small pounches and baskets were also made to hang from the trees, filled with nuts and other goodies. Angels were also exported from Germany to sit atop the large room sized trees. Candles were still used to light the tips of the branches and of course, tinsel.
By the 18th century, the Christmas tree tradition had made it's way to America and was slowly spreading around the new country. The trees and accessories were, as usual, imported from Germany. It had become a status symbol during the Victorian period to have glass ornaments and large trees that reached from the floor to the ceiling. The more glass ornaments you had and the bigger your tree was, the richer you were.
In Germany, the tree population began to dwindle, thus jump starting the artificial tree revolution. There was the very popular Goose Feather tree, which made trees smaller and more conservative since everyone was trying to save the trees. In America, the Addis Brush Company, which also made toilet brushes, made the first brush trees. Americans also made a lot of their own decorations. Christmas lights were also introduced sometime before this period.
Germany was no longer able to export it's decorations easily, so American and Japan took up the slack. During the 1930's, the Christmas tree made a comeback and were larger and better than ever. Brush trees and feather trees were still being used by the poor. By the 1960's, homes were using aluminum trees. These silver trees were table top trees and I think there might have been full size ones as well. A revolving light under the tree had gelatine windows that the light would shine through to produce different colors of light on the tree. There were no decorations needed.
The artificial tree has taken on many changes over the years. Many people still prefer real Christmas trees but the artificial ones have their advantages. They don't die, no needles to clean up daily and no watering. The artificials are also hypo-allergenic, which is the greatest thing ever for the allergen chalenged like myself.
So there you have it. The not so short version of the history of the Christmas tree. Now I'm going to go light my tree up and grab some "eggnogg". ;)
What does this tree say about are status quo, lol? But check out that adorable baby boy putting on the decorations?! He makes it look like a million!!
