2007-12-06 09:31:30 · 4 answers · asked by pooh_4sho 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Brought to the United States in the 19th century by German immigrants. The person above me was pretty thorough though. Oh well, lol
2007-12-06 09:41:03 · answer #1 · answered by Vocem di Rationis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas trees in the home are a German tradition. In the 19th century, Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, arranged each year for a Christmas tree from his German estates to be placed in the palace and the family decorated it. The idea spread and soon many people were putting Christmas trees in the house.
I don't know if the tradition spread to the USA from the UK or whether German migrants to the USA brought it with them but I suspect the former.
2007-12-06 09:42:46 · answer #2 · answered by tentofield 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas Tree
It is told that Saint Boniface, a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, England who established Christian churches in France and Germany in the 7th Century, one day came upon a group of pagans gathered around a big oak tree about to sacrifice a child to the god Thor. To stop the sacrifice and save the child's life Boniface felled the tree with one mighty blow of his fist. In its place grew a small fir tree. The saint told the pagan worshipers that the tiny fir was the Tree of Life and stood for the eternal life of Christ.
It is also told that Saint Boniface used the triangular shape of the fir tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. By the 12th Century, Christmas trees were hung from ceilings as a symbol of Christianity. However, in that time, for a reason no one could yet explain, the trees were hung upside down.
Trees as symbols
Trees were a symbol of life long before Christianity. Ancient Egyptians brought green palm branches into their homes on the shortest day of the year in December as a symbol of life's triumph over death. Ancient Finns used sacred groves instead of temples. Romans adorned their homes with evergreens during Saturnalia, a winter festival in honour of Saturnus, their god of agriculture. Druid priests decorated oak trees with golden apples for their winter solstice festivities. During December in the Middle Ages, trees were hung with red apples as a symbol of the feast of Adam and Eve, and called the Paradise Tree.
2007-12-06 09:40:25 · answer #3 · answered by chris f 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cant answer that, but they do look nice and welcoming. makes a house more homely
2007-12-06 09:35:03 · answer #4 · answered by di rocks 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋