Where does the custom of putting up a Christmas tree in the house at Christmas actually come from? There are various theories on this. Not all of them have to do with the Christian religion – in fact, the Christmas tree was not originally a Christmas tree; it is more of a pagan tradition. But one thing is certain: the Christmas tree has always been about sustainability. The permanently green tree was and is a symbol of the fact that life always goes on. You can find out more about the history of the Christmas tree in our article.
Tree custom and Christmas tree custom – two different phenomena
The question of the history of the Christmas tree is actually a two-part question, as it involves two basic questions:
1 Where does the custom of putting up a tree at Christmas come from?
2 Why is the Christmas tree a conifer?
The first part of the question is relatively easy to answer: Evergreen plants have embodied vitality for thousands of years – at least in regions that are seasonal – 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 the house with green wreaths, garlands or whole trees in winter. However, it was not primarily coniferous trees or branches that were used. The Romans preferred the laurel tree, the Chinese the Chinese holly. Fir branches were only used in northern Europe: 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”
The fact that the pagan custom of putting up a tree in winter eventually found its way into the Christian religion is probably due to the biblical story of creation. The “tree of knowledge” plays an important role in this – and as only a few people could read and write in the early Middle Ages, trees were sought-after representational utensils in the churches of the time. Evergreen boxwoods and juniper trees were a good choice (the former are still often found in churches today), but spruce and pine trees were also used. Incidentally, the red Christmas 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 acquired Christian significance
How and why the pagan tree custom eventually merged with the Christian symbolism of the tree of knowledge and became the Christmas tree custom is not entirely clear. It is assumed that the so-called “Wintermaien” were the link in the Christmas tree story. In the Middle Ages, tree branches – so-called winter mums – were often brought into the house to bloom at Christmas time. However, as this practically never happened, people preferred branches that were green in the first place (like fir branches). In the 16th century, the Wintermaien became the single standing Wintermai, which was only put up at Christmas time in Christian societies. It can be regarded as the origin of the Christmas tree.
The first real Christmas trees appeared in the 1530s. According to a tradition from 1535, trees were already being traded in Strasbourg at that time; there is documentary evidence of a large Christmas tree in Strasbourg Cathedral from 1539. From 1570, small Christmas trees were set up in Bremen in winter and decorated with dates, nuts, pretzels, apples and paper flowers. At Christmas, children were allowed to shake down the tree and eat the treats.
War as a driver of the Christmas tree tradition
In the course of the 17th century, the Christmas tree custom spread to the homes of wealthy urban citizens. As there were still relatively few fir forests in Central Europe at this time, Christmas fir trees were also a status symbol. However, the German-French war was the main reason for its spread in Germany: Around 1870, many soldiers’ quarters and military hospitals were decorated with trees at Christmas. Those returning from the war then took the Christmas tree tradition back to their families. At the same time, the war brought the denominations closer together, as the Christmas tree custom had previously been primarily a Protestant custom. From this time onwards, the Christmas tree custom was seen as typically German by foreigners.
The Catholic Church found it difficult
In the 19th century, the Christmas tree became known outside France and Germany thanks to the close-knit European aristocracy: Christmas trees were soon 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.
For a long time, however, the Catholic Church found it difficult to accept the Protestant tree tradition as part of the general symbolism of Christianity. Christmas trees did not appear in Catholic churches until the end of the Second World War. In the Vatican, the first Christmas tree was not even erected until 1982: Pope John Paul II had it put up in St. Peter’s Square – and decreed that the tree should come from a different country every year in future. In this way, it should at least symbolize the wide spread of Christianity in the world.
Why the Keinachtsbaum® is the perfect Christmas tree
The Keinachtsbaum® brings together all the meanings of the Christmas tree: It embodies recurring vitality (because it is refreshed year after year), has the appearance of a traditional, straight-grown fir tree and can be decorated in a wonderfully Christian way. What’s more, it is also in line with today’s omnipresent climate protection concept, as no fir trees need to be felled for a Keinachtsbaum® use at Christmas time. It could hardly be more tradition-conscious and sustainable. Our Keinachtsbaum® is the perfect sustainable alternative: a sustainable Christmas tree made of wood that you can put up yourself.
