Have You Ever Wondered

Christmas Tree - How did they come to be brought into our homes?
@CatsandDogs (13963)
United States
December 21, 2008 9:29pm CST
Where the idea of Christmas trees came from? My mom thought this would be a good subject to ask on here for she didn't know either. I looked it up on the net and this is what I found. It's really interesting! While Santa Claus became increasingly familiar to Americans, the German Christmas tree also acquired popularity in North America. As early as the 17th century, Germans had transformed this pagan symbol of fertility into a Christian symbol of rebirth. According to legend, the Christmas tree tradition began with the founder of German Protestantism, Martin Luther. While walking through the forest on Christmas Eve, Luther was so moved by the beauty of the starlit fir trees that he brought one indoors and decorated it with candles to remind his children of God’s creation. In 1841 Prince Albert of Germany gave his wife, Queen Victoria of England, a gift of a Christmas tree. This was reputedly the first Christmas tree in England, but the custom spread quickly. German immigrants took the Christmas tree to other parts of Europe and to the United States and Canada, where it soon became a popular tradition. Blown-glass ornaments, tin angels, paper chains, candles, cornucopias filled with sugarplums, and other decorations made the simple evergreen tree into a beautiful parlor centerpiece at Christmastime. Here's the link: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761556859_2/Christmas.html
3 people like this
5 responses
• United States
22 Dec 08
I really don't have any evidence to this, but on the christmas movies about Santa claus its said christmas trees came from Santa marrying Mrs. Claus. It's said he was an outlaw and that they were married in the woods and decorated trees for the wedding. Like I said not sure if it's true but it's one theory. Merry Christmas
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
22 Dec 08
You are a riot! LMBO!! Thanks for the laugh!! Hope you have a Merry Christmas also!!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Dec 08
I love history so reading your story about how decorated trees started is very interesting. Thanks for sharing the story. I have something to take with me to work tomorrow. Cool!
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@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
22 Dec 08
Yeah so do I RetiredArmyMan. History is one of my favorite subjects when I was in school and made good grades in but that was a LONG time ago!! Shhhhh!! Thought someone would enjoy this story.
1 person likes this
• Canada
24 Dec 08
what an interesting piece of history. Thanks so much for posting this. I knew it had somdthing to do with the Germans, and Prince Albert in England, but I wasn't sure of the rest of the story. Thanks again for posting it on here. We don't have a tree in here because of the cat, but my mother has a nice one.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Awww you're welcome!! I love history for it can be really interesting. I had no idea how the Christmas tree came about so I searched it through msn home page and that's what I found. We don't have a tree or anything else up this year because we've lost the spirit.... it's coming back a little bit but still, no money, no gifts so bla.... why bother? It's the second year in a row that it's been like this and I know it'll get better but all I can think of is WHEN?!?!?!?! lol
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
22 Dec 08
I had heard a little bit about it before, but I did not know the whole story. It is really a rather interesting story. Thanks for sharing it with us.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
22 Dec 08
Awwww thank you!! And you're welcome!! LOL I love learning about different things and how they've come to be. Some things are just interesting and this is one of them. I'm going to copy this to word and print it up for mom to read, she's going to really enjoy this!
2 people like this
@bfarrier1 (2082)
• United States
22 Dec 08
Thank you for this information,I didnt know this either.I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
22 Dec 08
It is interesting how things come to be, isn't it? When we were putting the tree up, mom's cat came into the room and looked at the tree and looked as if to say "There's a tree in the house!" lol That got her to thinking, how did bringing a tree inside come to be? And then to decorate it with all these ornaments and things. Funny how things catch on and now just about everybody is doing it. lol
2 people like this