Long ago, before Christianity, plants and trees that stayed green all year round were important to people during the winter. Evergreen had a special meaning for people then and still for people now. The tradition of Christmas trees started in the 16th century in Germany by Martin Luther, and the trees and decorations have different meanings for people today.
At first ancient people believed that the sun was a god, so when winter came, they believed that the sun-god had become sick and weak. Evergreen boughs reminded people of all the green plants that would grow in the summer if the sun-god got stronger. As soon as winter came, people would hang evergreen boughs in their homes to help the sun-god get better.(history.com)There was no Christmas or Christmas tree, there was just signs of hope.
In 1846, popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Queen Victoria was very popular with people. With her being so popular, whatever she had done immediately became fashionable, not only in Britain, but all around the East Coast American Society.(history.com) Thanks to Queen Victoria, she drew people’s attention toward the Christmas tree tradition.
Although, the celebration of Christmas or Christmas trees for that matter, wasn’t always loved. The influential Oliver Cromwell, preached against the tradition of decorated trees, christmas carols, and anything else related to Christmas in any way. In 1659, the general court of Massachusetts made a law making any observance of December 25th a penal offense. During this law people who hung decorations were fined 5 shillings, which was pretty expensive back then, but is only about 5 cents today. The strict solemnity continued all the way up until the 19th century, when the arrival of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan Legacy.(history.com) The German and Irish brought the fun of Christmas back again.
Martin Luther, a German theologian, was simply taking a night stroll and stopped to look up in awe at the stars twinkling through an evergreen’s tree branches. Luther thought of the twinkling stars as sign from Jesus. He thought that Jesus had sent the stars down to Earth for the Christmas holiday. Luther seeing this beautiful image in his head, he wanted it to come to life in his own home. Soon after, he cut down an evergreen tree, brought it into his home, and decorated it with lighted candles until he was satisfied with the outcome.(history.com) Luther had an influence on others, so he made others want to have evergreen trees in their home decorated with lighted candles on their trees and a variety of other decorations that the people had experimented with on their own. Martin Luther as well drew people’s attention towards the christmas tree tradition.
The first Christmas tree was developed in medieval Livonic and early modern Germany. However, the Christmas tree tradition was argued between the cities of Tallinn in Estonia and Rigs in Latvia. The Christmas tree tradition had a lot of popularity in the Lutheran areas of Germany and around the Baltic countries during the second half of the 19th century, but the tradition was only aloud among the upper class at first.(wikipedia.com) By the 19th century, the christmas tree custom had spread across Germany and beyond. Meanwhile, in Livonia the Brotherhood of Blackheads built a tree in their town square over christmas, danced around the tree, then set it alight. (german-way.com) The tradition didn’t have certain place where it was created, it just had a different meaning for each place.
Although christmas trees are cherished by a lot of people, no one really knew why it was used. No one really knew why fir trees were the main tree used for the christmas tree. (whychristmas.com) Since no one really knew what christmas trees were specifically used for, people came up with their own reasons to use them. Ancient people would hang evergreen boughs over their doors and windows, because in many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away ghosts, evil spirits, and illnesses.(history.com) Christians used christmas trees as a sign of everlasting life with God. Early people hung their christmas trees upside down on their ceiling with chains, using the tree as a chandelier.(whychristmas.com) Since there was no specific use for christmas trees, people got creative and did their own thing.
The christmas tree used to be traditionally used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years. However some people couldn’t afford a real christmas tree, so people would build wood pyramids and decorate them with paper, apples, and candles to represent a Christmas tree. The wooden pyramids trees were meant to be like paradise trees. Though trees might’ve been expensive for some, people still found a way to have fun with a regular tree or not.
The paradise tree represented the Garden of Eden. Because of this paradise trees were used in medieval German Mystery or Miracle plays that were acted in front of churches, which told bible stories to children who couldn’t read. Paradise had a deeper meaning then being just for show, it helped out. (whychristmas.com)
What’s the meaning of Christmas trees, answer is there isn’t one. It showed meaning in people’s lives in many different ways, whether it be with hate or love, the tree showed purpose. Thanks to the history of Christmas trees, there is joy shown in many people’s lives all around the world.
