Christmas tree, live or artificial evergreen tree decorated with lights and ornaments as a part of Christmas festivities. While Christmas trees are traditionally associated with Christian symbolism, their modern use is largely secular. Learn more about C
pagan festivals like theSaturnaliaand ancientWinter Solsticerites. Another example is burning theYulelog, which was part of a pre-Christian winter solstice festival celebrating the return of the sun in the middle of winter. Even the Christmas tree, a German custom introduced in Britain by Queen ...
The article focuses on the tradition of Christmas tree. It offers a history of the pagan custom of putting live evergreen tree in homes from the time of the Vikings until its entry into Christianity. It explores legends such as t...
(1494;The Ship of Fools), the custom of placing branches of fir trees in houses. Even though there is some uncertainty about the precise date and origin of the tradition of theChristmas tree, it appears that fir trees decorated with apples were first known in Strasbourg in 1605. The first...
although trees may have been a tradition there even earlier. As early as 1747, Moravian Germans in Pennsylvania had a community tree in the form of a wooden pyramid decorated with candles. But, as late as the 1840s, Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Ameri...
Britain’s Prince Albert is credited with helping bring the Christmas tree from his native Germany to the English-speaking world, making it a well-publicized tradition in the royal household of his wife, Queen Victoria. Godey’s Lady’s Bookeditor Sarah Josepha Hale—one of the main advocates...
Christmas decorating is almost as big a tradition as eggnog and candy canes. For some, even more! Here we explore the modern art of decorating with ideas, trends and news of how Christmas is done inside and out.
The Christmas tree is also considered by some as Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included an adaptation of pagan tree worship. In Britain, the Christmas tree was introduced in the early 19th century following the personal union with the Kingdom...
Europe quickly embraced the tree as a Christian tradition. However, it seems early settlers to the United States were determined not to adopt these dreadful pagan practices! ThePuritanswanted to exclude any pagan influence from what they saw as a very serious and sacred occasion. In fact, in ...
pagan behavior, St. Boniface cut the oak tree down at the roots. Then, to his shock, a young fir tree immediately sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. The saint took this as a sign of the Christian faith. This may be a reason why Christians have chosen an evergreen tree as ...