When we see fir trees, whether real or artificial, we immediately think about Christmas. But have you ever wondered why we celebrate Christmas by gathering around a tree? The history of Christmas trees might answer your question.
Even before Christians used fir trees to celebrate Christmas, they were used by pagans during their winter solstice celebrations. They would decorate their homes with the evergreen branches of the fir tree because it reminded them that spring was coming. Romans also celebrated with fir trees, decorating their temples with them to celebrate their festival of Saturnalia.
Some Europeans were early adopters of Christmas trees, although they weren’t always fir trees. In some northern European countries potted cherry or hawthorn plants were used instead. Families that couldn’t afford a real plant would make their own trees out of wood and decorate it with paper, seasonal fruit and candles.
The first documented use of a tree to celebrate Christmas and New Year specifically was in Riga, Latvia, in 1510! Not much is known about the tree, except that it was burnt after the celebrations. But there is a plaque in Riga’s town square memorializing the tree.
Artificial Christmas trees only started becoming popular in the early 20th century. Many of the fake trees were fashion statements – in Edwardian times people bought artificial trees made out of ostrich feathers, and around 1900, artificial white trees were all the rage! Fake trees have been made with all sorts of materials, from wood and paper to metal and glass.
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