History of the Christmas Tree

Cultures of Northern Europe followed similar practices. The Vikings of Scandinavia used the evergreen to honor their sun god. It was believed that the evergreen was the special plant of the Viking sun god, Balder, and the Viking people decorated their homes with evergreens during the winter solstice to remind themselves of the spring back to life that was on the way in coming seasons. The Druids, also fans of year-round greenery, brought evergreen boughs in to their temples to symbolize everlasting life.

The ancient Romans also held a winter solstice festival and decorated their homes and temples with evergreen for the same reasons as other ancient peoples, as a reminder of warmer seasons and the life and growth that came with sunnier times. Like other cultures, the winter solstice marked for the Romans the beginning of the return to extended daylight, rebirth of life, and greener pastures. But instead of worshiping a sun god, the Roman’s winter festival (called Saturnalia) was a tribute to their god of agriculture, Saturn.

While decorating with evergreen boughs during winter may be traced back to ancient civilizations, the tradition of displaying a whole tree in ones house is generally thought to have begun in Germany. Legend tells of a monk, Boniface of Credition, who used the Fir tree to symbolize the Holy Trinity and inspired the use of the tree in the home as a Christmas decoration. Boniface lived during the 7th century and spent 30 years in Thuringia, Germany doing missionary work; a place which became the heart of the Christmas decoration industry. While there, it is said he taught the word of God and promoted using the triangular shape of the fir tree to describe the concept of the Holy Trinity of God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to his students. In explaining why the Fir should be God’s tree, Bonifice said, "This humble tree's wood is used to build your homes: let Christ be at the centre of your households. Its leaves remain evergreen in the darkest days: let Christ be your constant light. Its boughs reach out to embrace and its top points to heaven: let Christ be your Comfort and Guide". Bonifices’ teachings are credited with the Fir tree replacing the Oak as the Holy Tree of God among believers. Decorating at Christmas time with the evergreen to symbolize Christianity gained in popularity and by the 12th century they were regularly being hung upside-down from ceilings in homes across Central Europe.