Where did the idea of putting a tree (xmastree) come from?

Question

Think about it why a tree is a tradition of cristmas, if you put eg. a willow tree in a house you would think it was stange.

Answer 1

Evergreens were brought into the homes for centuries. The most common reason was as a way to brighten up the dreary pre-electricity winter days and/or to bring hope of the coming spring.

I THINK (not positive) the tradition of putting lights on the tree (which, of course, came from the tradition of putting candles on the tree) was a part of the St. Lucia Day celebrated in certain European countries. I know the white gowns and candle-wreaths worn on a girl's head came from that, and I'm mostly sure the tradition of putting candles in windows came from that. It also is about bringing light and cheeriness into the cold, dark homes.

No idea why we decorate it with other things than lights, unless to add to the festive look.

You're right, willow trees would look odd. Because of the meaning of it, evergreens (fir, pine, etc.) are used. Pusywillows were used in the Easter celebrations in Pre-WWII Germanic countries (I don't know if they still are), when children would tie them together and decorate them with bits of dyed wood shavings and ribbons. The bouquets were blessed by the priests, and Holy Water was tied to them, and on Easter Day, the Holy Water was sprinkled over the people, the home, the gardens, the animals, and the fields, so that all would be blessed.

These days, with creativity on an upswing when it comes to holiday decorations, other trees are becoming more common. My mother-in-law (who loves the beach) has a fake palm tree with bright Christmas lights (my husband and I made it for her). :-)

Answer 2

The pine tree was used in various traditions before Christianity, let alone Christmas, came about. Different religious groups would often decorate trees outside with scraps of fabric, trinkets, coins, and so forth. They would also take trimmings of the evergreens inside for decorations.

Why the evergreen tree? Even though the days got shorter and colder, different Pagans from different regions and times all noticed that evergreen trees stayed green despite the changing weather!

Dionysus, whose birthday is on the Winter Solstice, was often depicted carrying a coniferous tree.

Not in winter, but related, a pine tree was cut down in honor of Attis, the lover of the Great Mother, Kybele. The tree, after it was brought inside, was decorated as well. This tradition also predates Christianity.

Answer 3

In the simplest explanation; The Yule tree was a Pagan custom of the Germanic peoples of early Europe. They would decorate the tree, which was in the forest, with cakes and decorations for the "spirits" of the wood. They were bright and noticeable to get the attraction of the spirits. With the spread of Christianity throughout Europe, the Germanic peoples accepted (mostly) what the Catholic missionaries were telling them. However, they thought they could practice their pagan customs along with the Christian customs, but of course this doesn't mix.

The Church attempted to ban the practice of decorating this Yule tree for obvious reasons, but the people were pretty attached to their custom. So, under the noses of the missionaries and the Church, they brought the tree inside to decorate. After realizing that they (the Catholic Church) were losing this battle, eventually absorbed it, among other things, into the practices of the Church; renaming pagan deities with Saints and with Christ as the head.

From the Christian perspective, they should not have done this. However, seeing it from a spiritual perspective gives you a different outlook. Placing what was pagan under the blood of Christ is ok, but practicing those pagan customs in a way that puts Christ second is not. Anyway, that's it a nutshell. I could probably explain it better, but that's pretty much it.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Well, first the Romans used to put evergreen branches in their house as a celebration of the December feast. Then, one day Martin Luther was walking along sometime near Christmas and he saw the stars shining through a tree. He was so excited about this that he chopped down the tree, brought it home, and put candles on it. The candles were like the stars he shaw shining through the tree that dark night. This decorated fir tree was the first christmas tree.

Answer 5

It's a pagan tradition, as is most of Christmas. Holly and ivy, Mistletoe, pine trees, chestnuts on an open fire, exchanging of gifts, all a celebration of the winter solstice.
Nothing to do at all with the birth of Christ, it was just a convenient date for the Christian calender so they stole it and made it their own!

Answer 6

It os a custom in Germany to put a Xmas tree, and was introduced here by Queen Victorias husband, Prince Albert.

Answer 7

the precise foundation of the Christmas tree seems lower than debate, besides the indisputable fact that that is secure to say that this image developed from Pagan custom. The Norse pagans and Celtic Druids respected evergreens as manifestations of deity because they did not "die" from 3 hundred and sixty 5 days to three hundred and sixty 5 days yet stayed eco-friendly and alive at the same time as different flowers appeared useless and bare. The timber represented eternal existence and desire for the go back of spring. The druids adorned their timber with symbols of prosperity -- a fruitful harvest, funds for wealth and diverse charms which includes those for romance or fertility. Scandinavian Pagans are considered the first to carry their adorned timber interior as this presented a warmth and captivating ecosystem for the community fairy human beings and tree elementals to hitch interior the festivities. The Saxons, a Germanic pagan tribe, were the first to position lighting fixtures fixtures on the their timber interior this kind of candles. historic Romans adorned their houses with vegetables on the competition of Saturnalia, their New 3 hundred and sixty 5 days and exchanged evergreen branches with acquaintances as an illustration of fantastic success. the first Christian use of the Christmas tree image is credited to sixteenth century at the same time as non secular Christians also extra adorned timber into their houses. German born Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, is credited with beginning the fad in England in 1841 at the same time as he extra the first Christmas Tree to Windsor castle. at the same time as Europe had already been celebrating Christmas for a at the same time as, the first recorded sighting of a Christmas tree in u . s . a . got here in 1830's Pennsylvania. it kind of feels an section church erected the tree as a fundraising attempt. Christmas timber were frequently not concept kindly of in early u . s . a ., as many human beings said them as Pagan symbols, that's in truth, their foundation. with the help of the 1890's, besides the indisputable fact that, Christmas embellishes were being imported from Germany and xmas timber were in severe trend.

Answer 8

According to a German mate, it started there, and was brought to England by Albert as someone has said. When it got to the Americas, who knows.
Charles "That Cheek Lad"
Have a Happy Christmas everyone!

Answer 9

Älbert the Prince consort to Queen Victoria introduced it to Britain

Answer 10

Germany. I learned it duringg immmagation week.
Good Luck!
Happy Holidays:)
~Santa's Personal Shopper~