They even decorated it themselves! Victoria was a trendsetter in her time and was instrumental in popularizing the Christmas tree. They only became popular with the general public in the US, England and Canada after 1848, when Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert, put up a Christmas tree at Windsor castle. German immigrants first brought the modern Christmas tree to America in the 1700s. It symbolized the birth of Christ as Light of the World. In the 18th century, upper class Germans would place the “Christmas Light” in their home, a small pyramid like frame that was decorated with glass balls and tinsel, with a candle on top. Martin Luther cut down a fir tree, took it home and placed small candles on the branches so he and his wife could be reminded of the beauty of the Christmas sky. Walking home late through the woods one night, he was awestruck by the twinkling of the stars through the trees. Legend has it that the German 16th century protestant reformer, Martin Luther, placed the first candles on an evergreen tree in his home. Adam and Eve, by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1526 They were decorated with apples (sin) and wafers (redemption) to commemorate the name day of Adam and Eve, who were symbolically redeemed through Jesus Christ on this day. In early 16th century Germany, “Paradise Trees”, which represented the “tree of knowledge” from the Garden of Eden, were erected in people’s homes during the annual Feast of Adam and Eve on December 24th . Even our modern idea and visual representation of Santa Claus is predominantly German (although he is an amalgamation of many traditions). Many Christmas customs including the Christmas tree, gingerbread houses, glass ornaments, Christmas markets and nutcrackers originated in Renaissance Germany.
While Christian groups were concerned about ancient Pagan influences, Christmas is actually a relatively modern tradition. They deck it with silver and with gold they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” –Jeremiah 10: 2-4, King James Bible For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen…. In New England, Christmas was considered culturally taboo by Puritans until 1856, when it became a legal holiday.Įven before there were Christmas trees, before the birth of Christ, the Prophet Jeremiah condemned ancient Middle Eastern customs of cutting down trees, bringing them into the home, and carving and decorating them.
The ban was lifted in England in 1660, when Charles II took the throne. A 1659 public notice alerting congregants to the new holiday ordinanceĬhristmas celebrations were made illegal by the Puritan-dominated parliament in England in 1644, and subsequently also in New England Christmas was banned in Boston from 1659-1681. Puritans rejected Christmas traditions such as the Yule log, holly and mistletoe, decorated trees, drinking alcohol and any joyful expression during the nativity. The English Puritans condemned Christmas as paganism and idolatry, and argued that the celebration was but a hijacking of a Roman festival by early Christians. In reality, the history of the Christmas tree is much more convoluted, and blends of several traditions, including Pagan, German, Scandinavian, Roman, Christian and Victorian. It was believed that the Christmas tree was derived from Pagan practices that existed side-by-side with Christianity in antiquity until the Middle Ages. While Christmas is a Christian holiday, the Christmas tree is obviously not part of the Bible’s nativity story. The Christmas tree has been a subject of controversy for Christians throughout history. Glade jul (Happy Yule) by Viggo Johansen (1891) It graces homes and office buildings all over the world and it has been accepted as a symbol of the holiday season by Christians, many other faiths as well as the secular community. The Christmas tree is one of the most iconic winter traditions of modern culture.
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