Where did the Christmas tree tradition come from?

Answer 1

Hi, the tradition of christimas trees actually began long before christianity. The ancient peoples used it and other greenery to keep out evil spirits, ghosts, witches, and illnesses. This was done aspecially in winter when it was thought the spirits and all had more power. The Germans were the first to use an evergreen tree as a christmas decoration tradition. I will give you a couple of links to help you in understanding this better.

Hope this helps & God Bless,

Chris

Answer 2

Christmas trees originated in Germany in the 1500s. When Germans started coming to America in the 1700s, the custom came with them. The trees were usually evergreen, coniferous trees symbolizing everlasting life. The original decorations included candles, fruits, nuts, and paper ornaments. During the 1800s, cookies and candies were added as decorations, and during the 1900s, electric lights replaced the candles. These days, trees are often decorated on a "theme," although many people collect ornaments over a lifetime and decorate their trees as an exhibit of memorabilia. For the past half-century, artificial trees have become common, making it possible to start decorating much earlier than in the past, when a cut tree had a useful life of a maximum of two weeks before it started to shed needles and become a fire hazard. On the other hand, an increased environmental consciousness has caused many people to want to return to using live trees and then recycling them in some way.

Answer 3

Pagans had the Yule tree that was decorated back in Biblical times. In the book of Jeremiah, Jews were forbidden from having anything to do with them.

But yet in the Middle Ages, when the Christians stole the Pagan holiday as a way to convert people without inciting riots, it was suddenly perfectly acceptable to have Christmas trees.

Answer 4

The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianization of the ancient pagan idea that the evergreen tree represents a celebration of the renewal of life.

The modern custom, however, although likely related, cannot be proven to be directly descended from pagan tradition. It can be traced to 16th century Germany; Ingeborg Weber-Keller (Marburg professor of European ethnology) identified as the earliest reference a Bremen guild chronicle of 1570 which reports how a small fir was decorated with apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and paper flowers, and erected in the guild-house, for the benefit of the guild members' children, who collected the dainties on Christmas day. Another early reference is from Basel, where the taylor apprentices carried around town a tree decorated with apples and cheese in 1597.

Answer 5

There's a book called "The Storie Behind the Traditions of Christmas", it has details on tons of Christmas traditions.

Or check out wikipedia.org and search Christmas Tree.

Answer 6

It was a druidic (I believe) ritual during Winter Solstice to hang children (an innocent)off of pine trees and spill their blood so spring would come again. The decorated Christmas tree (inside) was started by Martin Luther who decorated the tree with symbols of Christendom and taught that the evergreen symbolized eternal life through Christ (who hung on the tree) so that no other sacrifice was necessary, thus fulfilling the need for sacrifice of any kind on a tree.

Answer 7

your going to love this one- one of the many origins was Egypt- they would use palm trees and hang gold and silver painted testicles on it- but all the tree stuff originated in Babylon- then the languages were mixed up and the people dispersed and took the traditions w/ them- the Balls were to represent the testicles of Rah that were- ahem- removed just use the Internet and look up origins of Christmas

Answer 8

The Christian used to use the Christmas tree to remind themselves of Gods undying love for them. While the outside world was slowly dying and not there anymore, they'd look at the tree remember that God is there, no matter what.

Answer 9

Hohoho :)
It's because they are evergreen.
Check this blog post about christmas trees
http://www.christmasgifts.net/Christmasblog/2006/08/11/the-christmas-tree-symbol-of-christmas/

Answer 10

If you look at the nature body of any soul they look like a Christmas tree. And when when you become in tune with that tree you have large realization and manifestation powers.