History of the Christmas Tree: What was the first Christmas tree?

Tree custom and fir tree custom – two different phenomena

Actually, the question of the history of the Christmas tree is a two-part one, because it includes two fundamental questions:

1. Where does the custom of putting up a tree at Christmas come from?

2. Why is the Christmas tree a coniferous tree?

The first part of the question is relatively easy to answer: Evergreen plants have embodied vitality for millennia – at least in regions with distinct seasons – which is why they were used for winter decorations long before Christianity. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, it was customary for both the ancient Romans and the Chinese to decorate their homes during the winter with green wreaths, garlands, or entire trees. However, they did not primarily use coniferous trees or branches. The Romans preferred the laurel tree, the Chinese the Chinese holly. Only in Northern Europe were fir branches used: Germanic tribes hung such branches in front of their huts at the winter solstice to express their hope for the reawakening of nature in the coming spring.

The first Christmas trees were “trees of knowledge”

That the pagan custom of putting up a tree in winter eventually found its way into Christian religion is probably due to the biblical story of creation. In this, the "tree of knowledge" plays an essential role - and since few people could read and write in the early Middle Ages, trees were popular display items in the churches of the time. Evergreen box trees and juniper trees were suitable (the former are still often found in churches today), but spruces and pines were also used. The red Christmas tree baubles, with which Christmas trees are decorated today, still symbolize the apples that hung on the "tree of knowledge" in paradise.

How the Christmas tree gained Christian significance

How and why the pagan tree custom eventually merged with Christian "tree of knowledge" symbolism and became the Christmas tree custom is not entirely clear. It is assumed that the so-called "winter maypoles" were the link in the Christmas tree's history. In the Middle Ages, tree branches – so-called winter maypoles – were often brought into the house, which were supposed to blossom during the Christmas season. However, since this practically never happened, branches that were green from the outset (like fir branches) were preferred. From the winter maypoles, in the 16th century, emerged the single standing winter maypole, which in Christian societies was only set up at Christmas time. It can be seen as the origin of the Christmas tree.

The first actual Christmas trees appeared in the 1530s. According to a tradition from 1535, trees were already traded in Strasbourg at that time; a large Christmas tree in Strasbourg Cathedral from 1539 is documented. From 1570 onwards, small fir trees were set up in Bremen in winter and hung with dates, nuts, pretzels, apples, and paper flowers. At Christmas, children were allowed to shake the tree and eat the treats.

War as a driving force behind the Christmas tree tradition

Over the course of the 17th century, the Christmas tree custom then made its way into the homes of wealthy urban citizens. Since there were still relatively few fir forests in Central Europe at that time, Christmas fir trees were also a status symbol. However, the Franco-Prussian War primarily contributed to their spread in Germany: Around 1870, decorated trees stood in many soldiers' quarters and hospitals at Christmas. Returning soldiers then brought the Christmas tree tradition home to their families. Thus, the war also brought about a rapprochement of the denominations, as previously the Christmas tree custom had been primarily a Protestant custom. In foreign perception, the Christmas tree custom was from this time onwards considered typically German.

The Catholic Church struggled

Through the closely intertwined European aristocracy, the Christmas tree became known outside of France and Germany in the 19th century: Soon, Christmas trees were being put up and decorated in Great Britain, Italy, and the Netherlands. Emigrants later brought it to the New World. In 1891, a Christmas tree stood in front of the White House in Washington for the first time.

However, the Catholic Church long struggled to accept the Protestant tree tradition as part of general Christian symbolism. It was not until the end of World War II that Christmas trees appeared in Catholic churches. The first Christmas tree in the Vatican even appeared only in 1982: Pope John Paul II had it placed in St. Peter's Square - and decreed that the tree should come from a different country each year. In this way, it was also supposed to symbolize the wide spread of Christianity around the world.

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