The evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come. The Romans used Fir Trees to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia. Christians use it as a sign of everlasting life with God.
Christmas tree has always been looked upon as a marvelous thing by kids and adults alike. It reminds us of the evergreen trees covered with snow that sparkle like silver in moon light, when the sky is clear. Christmas tree, perhaps, has its origin in the Vikings from North Europe, who took evergreen trees as an inspiration to struggle on with life, during winters and as a reminder that spring season will soon come again. Many Pagan festivals used Christmas trees and later, they were imbibed into Christian festivals too.
The custom of decorating Christmas trees during the festival of Christmas came from England and France during the ancient times, when Druids used to decorate oak trees with candles and fruits at the time of their harvest festivals. Ancient Romans too are known to decorate trees during Saturnalia - their harvest festival - with trinkets. German Christians were the first to incorporate Christmas trees in their homes. At places, where trees were not so readily available, they used wooden pyramids as artificial Christmas trees.
The first known Christmas tree that came into limelight was the one decorated by Prince Albert of English Royalty, who decorated his tree with candies and gingerbread along with candles and fruits. German immigrants brought the custom from Europe to America and by 1800s, it had become a household craze. Ancient Christmas tree ornaments included cookies, popcorn, apples and nuts. Today, Christmas tree holds a special significance of Christmas and is an inevitable part of the festival
Christmas tree has always been looked upon as a marvelous thing by kids and adults alike. It reminds us of the evergreen trees covered with snow that sparkle like silver in moon light, when the sky is clear. Christmas tree, perhaps, has its origin in the Vikings from North Europe, who took evergreen trees as an inspiration to struggle on with life, during winters and as a reminder that spring season will soon come again. Many Pagan festivals used Christmas trees and later, they were imbibed into Christian festivals too.
The custom of decorating Christmas trees during the festival of Christmas came from England and France during the ancient times, when Druids used to decorate oak trees with candles and fruits at the time of their harvest festivals. Ancient Romans too are known to decorate trees during Saturnalia - their harvest festival - with trinkets. German Christians were the first to incorporate Christmas trees in their homes. At places, where trees were not so readily available, they used wooden pyramids as artificial Christmas trees.
The first known Christmas tree that came into limelight was the one decorated by Prince Albert of English Royalty, who decorated his tree with candies and gingerbread along with candles and fruits. German immigrants brought the custom from Europe to America and by 1800s, it had become a household craze. Ancient Christmas tree ornaments included cookies, popcorn, apples and nuts. Today, Christmas tree holds a special significance of Christmas and is an inevitable part of the festival
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