By Dana Plazyk
We may think the tradition of the Christmas tree started with Christmas, but factually, different cultures have been placing evergreens in their homes and on their doors and windows during their winter solstice for thousands of years. Evergreens had special significance to ancient peoples. They offered protection from evil spirits and the guarantee that warmer weather and green plants and crops would always return. 16th century Germans are credited with the first Christmas trees, but, however, it didn't become fashionable in the United States until 1846, when Queen Victoria and the royal family were sketched standing around a decorated Christmas tree. In the need to be fashionable, wealthy East Coast Americans followed suit and the tradition was embraced in America.
When you trim your tree this year, consider paying homage to the old, old traditions. German "tannenbaums" held real tin "tinsel" and fruits of all kinds, especially apples which referenced the tree as the "tree of knowledge" in the Garden of Eden. Since fresh fruit won't stay that way for long (and unlike old Germany, we tend to decorate our trees long before Christmas Eve), look for high quality artificial and decorative fruit from a floral supplier. Marzipan is a fruit shaped German confection (you can get these artificially as well) that looks great on a tree. Place it next to gingerbread cutouts, and blown glass ornaments-also German originals. Since today's tinsel can look a little stringy, try finding punched-tin garland or ornaments to represent the original tin decorations. Before electricity German families used candles to represent the light of the night sky shining through the tree branches. Today, you can find many authentic looking candle-shaped lights that clip on the branches, just like the candles of old.
And you may think that artificial trees are a late 20th century phenomenon, but you'd be off by about 100 years! The Goose Feather tree was originally invented in the 1880's in Germany to combat the damage being done to fir trees in the name of Christmas. Now of course, we have Christmas tree farms, but consider using decorative feathers in your tree or make a festive feather tree as a table topper. Fast forward to 1930, where in America the Addis Brush Company created the first artificial "brush" trees, using the same machines that made their toilet brushes! Now that's multi-purposing! These trees had a definite advantage over feather trees as they would hold heavier decorations and ornaments. Today, there's an array of artificial Christmas trees, often pre-lit than can be used from year to year.
So whether you go traditional or modern, real or artificial, it's always good to have an appreciation for the origins and history of this icon of the Christmas season.
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