It would hardly seem like Christmas without at least one tree gracing the inside of your home. Some folks even enjoy decorating multiple Christmas trees for the season, indoors and out. You can find fresh trees and artificial trees, aluminum and feather trees, and even trees that are designed to be displayed upside down. You can hang tinsels, ornaments or popcorn from its branches. You can put presents underneath and a star on top. Christmas trees are a staple of our holiday decorating today. But have you ever wondered where this holiday tradition began?

A Visit to Germany

It is not easy to trace the historic line of the Christmas tree precisely; however, it does appear that the tree as we know it today first began in Germany in the 16th century. Early reports during this time describe a small fir tree decorated with fruit, nuts and paper flowers observed in the guild house. Another reference from this time period is a description of people carrying small trees decorated with cheese and apples. However, there are also reports of Martin Luther decorating the first Christmas tree to symbolize the stars that shone brightly at night. During this same century, Riga, Latvia claims to be the home of the first Christmas tree as well.

The Evolution

By the latter part of the 18th century, it is thought that illuminated Christmas trees had come onto the scene. Since electricity had not been invented at this time, the trees were lit with candles that were stuck onto the tree branches with melted wax. During these decades, the idea of a tree as a part of holiday tradition began to spread, with many countries and cultures offering historical reports of the presence of these icons in a variety of sizes and styles.

By the late 1800

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