The Christmas Tree Tradition

Long before Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people worldwide in the winter. Just like how people decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees today, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows.

In many countries, it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

However, Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it. Beginning in the 16th century, it was devout Christians that brought decorated trees into their homes. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans found Christmas trees. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, even though trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier, even in the United States.

Of course, now we are home to one of the most famous Christmas trees in the world displayed at the Rockefeller Center each year. This tradition began back in 1931, when a small tree was placed there by some construction workers. In 1933, a tree was placed there on purpose, with lights. The tallest tree ever displayed here was in 1948, when a 100 foot tall tree was erected, after being grown in Killingworth, Connecticut. Nowadays, the Rockefeller tree is home to over 25,000 lights during the holiday season.