For millennia, people have revered evergreens. The ancient Egyptians used date palm leaves, Romans used evergreens and the Druids included evergreens, holly and mistletoe into their ancient rituals. The evergreens, while remaining green while the rest of the plant world lay bare in hibernation, were a symbol of life over death and were believed to have magical properties that could keep evil spirits away.
There are many stories of how the evergreen tree became associated with the Christian holiday of Christmas. What the legends all have in common is that they were used to represent the Holy Trinity in some way. The tradition also has its roots in Germany where it remained for exclusive for centuries. The nobility slowly adopted this tradition, but it wasn't until Queen Victoria married her German cousin, Prince Albert, that it became more widespread. in the mid 1800's picture of them with a small Christmas tree on a table was widely circulated and their loyal subjects wanted to emulate this royal couple.
European immigrants to the new world brought this tradition with them, but it wasn't until the 1920's that having a Christmas tree in your home became common place.
Early trees were decorated with small fruits, paper flowers, candy and candles. Tinsel was invented in Germany about 1610 and, up until the mid 1900's, was made of real silver. An ordinary cloth was laid under the tree to catch falling wax from the candles and any pine needles that may come off. Today we have ornate tree skirts that serve not only as decoration, but to hide the tree stand.
The Christmas tree was traditionally set up on December 24th and taken down January 6th. Today people put their tree up much earlier.
In our home, I don't like to put the tree up much earlier than a week or so before Christmas, but this year we did get it up early. Every year the kids get a new decoration to put on the tree. Sometimes I make them, sometimes they pick it out themselves and once in a while I will surprise them with something. I like to take the tree down New Year's Eve. I don't like the new year to start with an old dead tree in the house.
What are your Christmas tree traditions?
5 comments:
When I was a kid we never put our Christmas tree up until December 24. And then we would keep it until January 13. By then everyone was already sick and tired of the tree. I like it better over here where you are allowed to put the tree up long before Christmas Eve. To me it makes more sense to enjoy it during the Christmas season rather than after Christmas.
-Terhi
I think it makes more sense this way too. Is there a reason why you did it that way or is it just tradition? I know Jan 6th is the Epiphany. Maybe it's the 12 days of Christmas.
It's a old (Lutheran?) tradition in Finland that says: "Good Tuomas brings Christmas, bad Nuutti takes Christmas awasy." Tuomas' nameday is actually on Dec.21 and we can decorate the house on that day, but for some reason the tree doesn't come in until Christmas Eve. Nuutti's nameday is January 13, if I remember correctly. I can't remember why Nuutti is supposed to be so bad.
Of course these days people put up their decorations and trees whenever they feel like it. The influence of American, I guess. ;-)
-Terhi
Sory atout al the miskates in my pots aboe. :-)
-Terhi
Thanks for clearing that up, Terhi. That's really interesting about decorating the tree around the name days. I love superstitions.
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