why was the pine tree chosen as the ornemental tree for christmas?

Question

of all the trees in the world why this tree and who started it?

Answer 1

Pine trees are not used, but many other evergreens, including fir and spruce are.

The reason Evergreens are used is because the Christmas tree is a symbol of enduring life and regeneration during a season of death and cold.

If you look at the nearest maple or oak now, they have no leaves. They appear to be winter skeletons of their summer selves.

Now think back to the time when humankind was not so sure that spring would ever come again, this being dependent, in the ancient mind, on the continued goodwill of Gods and Goddesses whose will was hard to know, and whose likes and dislikes were not always consistent.

People might fervently hope that Spring would eventually come, but there was always the possibility of irretrievable disaster. What if the sun just kept on declining and never came back? People did not undersatand the cause of natural cycles, they just prayed those cycles would continue, since life depended on them.

For this reason, anything that stayed green in defiance of the season was considered a sign of hope. We use holly as a symbol too, and for the same reason; obvious life in a time of lifelessness.

As a song I just sang onstage at my choir's concert puts it:

"Green for the thorn of the Holly leaf, that shines in candlelight; that holds the hope of evergreen, and shimmers in the night!

Red and Green together be seen, in the dark time of the year;
Red and Green together be seen in the time of dread and fear!

Red for the berry, round and full, that drop of blood on snow,
that shows us our Humanity, the fruit from which we grow!"

So also with the green of the evergreen trees.

Merry Christmas!

Answer 2

Actually the tree is NOT Pine.

Pine trees have very long, slender needles. They are also not as dense in their foliage and therefore don't have the look of the others I mention below.

The Balsams and Firs are the trees of choice. Sometimes people will harvest a Hemlock from the woods.

I believe the reason for choosing them is because of their capability to last a long time, while retaining their nice green color. Additionally, they are typically a nice pyrimidal shape, dense in their branches and foliage, and easy to decorate.

That's the way I see it. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Justin is right. The evergreen christmas tree was originally a symbol used in pagan midwinter solstice celebrations ... as an evergreen it stood for the hope that winter would end and the world would become green again in spring.

Answer 4

pine trees aren't the only trees used. Douglas fir and many spruces are also used. Originally it was a pagan tradition which Christianity assimilated.

Answer 5

I think its because their evergreens and they stay green longer. You could try researching it. If you are in school, you could ask your teacher.

Answer 6

it was the frist one to be found out in the cold snowny night