You might be surprised at the history of the Christmas Tree. There are many myths surrounding its origin. The origin of the first Christmas Tree is disputed by both catholic and protestant traditions. Many also tie it to pagan rituals.
The first Christmas tree was documented to have been planted in Germany during the Middle Ages. It has strong ties to the Garden of Eden.
The First Christmas Tree
Luther is credited with being the first person to decorate a Christmas tree according to Protestant tradition. World Vision radio broadcast on December 13, 1959. It tells of Luther's efforts to bring the beauty and symbolism of the evergreen into the home to cheer up his family during a long winter. He said that the evergreen represented God's eternal love and their faith's steadfastness. He decorated it with candles that represented the star that led the Wise Men toward Christ.
Martin Luther was the first person to use decorations to tie a tree to Jesus. However, he wasn't the only one to do so.
A story tells of a group of German bakers who decorated an evergreen with baked goods, tinsel, and apples on December 24, 1419. This was almost 65 years before Martin Luther was even born.
The 12th Century saw December 24th become the feast of Adam and Eve. The Paradise Play, which told the story of their creation and sin, exile, and God's forgiveness was performed during this celebration. An evergreen fir with bright red apples was the only prop that was used consistently. This tree was also known as "The Paradise Tree".
A baker's guild from Freiburg Germany displayed a Paradise Tree in 1419. It was decorated with wafers, gingerbread, tinsel, apples, and wafers. This may have been the first public display of the Christmas Tree.
Although the first Christmas tree as we know it was created by the 1419 baker's guild, it didn't just magically appear. The Christmas Tree's history is much more complicated than that. It has been surrounded by mythology and ancient rituals and an even deeper connection between people and nature.
From, where did the Christmas tree originate
Trees have been an integral part of faith-based rituals, and they have been used throughout human history as decorations. To worship Ra, Egyptians used fresh palm rushes. To celebrate Saturn, the Romans of early times decorated their temples in evergreens. The Winter Solstice was also celebrated by European pagans who decorated their homes with evergreen branches.
The Paradise Tree, mentioned above, ties it directly with the Christian creation story as well as the origin of humanity. It is possible to say that the Christmas Tree tradition originated at the beginning. However, it has been shaped by many religious practices and the retelling of ancient stories.
The Evergreen Christmas Tree
The feast of Adam and Eve is a significant day in Catholic history. However, Catholics have a different story that explains why the evergreen fir is used over the oak or palm leaves.
An English missionary in the 8th century St. Boniface stumbled upon an oak tree, where they were performing a religious ceremony for their God, Thor. Boniface smashed the oak and, when Thor failed to strike him down, pointed to the evergreen to represent the Christian God's, eternal love. One year later, the same converts returned to celebrate their new faith by decorating the evergreen. This story connects neatly the pagan roots and traditional use of evergreen worship to the pagan roots.
It is simple: as people and faiths mix, stories and traditions merge, creating common ground. This can be seen in the way that Christmas was derived from many ancient Roman traditions at the Saturnalia.
How America Got Its Christmas Tree Tradition
The tradition was a marketing tactic by a few bakers or an extension of an important religious feast, but it has stuck. Paradise Trees decorated with sweet treats and flowers were a popular holiday decor in France and Germany by 1605.
German settlers brought the Christmas Tree to America later, but Puritans were hesitant to participate due to its pagan roots. Puritans went as far as to ban Christmas and close their churches on December 25th. It wasn't until the 1830s that the first Christmas Tree was displayed in the United States. It didn't take off in the States, however, until the Royals established precedent in England.
Prince Albert introduced the tradition to England in 1848 when he planted a decorated tree at Buckingham Palace. This picture was later altered to look American, and published in Godey's Lady's Book two years later. It helped popularize this tradition. (Britannica)
What does a Christmas Tree mean?
History has shown us that the Christmas Tree is not a symbol of one belief or group. It belongs to many.
Your Christmas Tree may be a symbol of your faith or family tradition or just a way to celebrate Christmas.
Make sure you get your Christmas tree from AA Christmas Tree this year. We have been creating beautiful Christmas memories in New York City for over 15 years.
We would love to be a part of your Christmas Tree tradition.
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