The custom of decorating Christmas trees may have started in 15th or 16th century Germany, with devout Christians bringing decorated evergreen trees into their homes. The earliest Christmas trees are widely believed to have been firs, although spruce and pines too were just as popular back then as they're today. Traditional Christmas tree decorations consisted of edibles ornaments, like apples and nuts. Legends credit Martin Luther, the hero of the Protestant Reformation with first using lighted candles to decorate a Christmas tree after being inspired by the sight of stars shining bright amidst a group of pine trees.
It's hard to believe, but the Christmas tree was frowned upon by America's first European settlers. The winter celebration of Christ's birth was initially believed to harken back to both pagan traditions and English religious practices: Puritanical settlers wanted to avoid both. Christmas tree displays, as well as holiday feasting, were condemned and legally penalized. In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts passed a law that prohibited the observance of Christmas (by anyone other than a Church body) and the very act of hanging Christmas decorations would invite financial penalties.
Of course, those laws were repealed and, as immigrants from throughout Europe moved to the Americas, Christmas celebrations became the norm. The popularity of Dickens' A Christmas Carol in 1843 helped Christmas celebration become more popular in the States. In 1846, a sketch of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children standing around a Christmas tree was published in the London News. The Christmas tree instantly found its way hearts and homes of the rich and trendy in Britain as well as the East Coast American society. By early 20th century, homemade ornaments, cookies, colored popcorn and berries had joined the traditional favorites onto Christmas trees. The rest, as they say, is holiday history!
Today, those beautifully decorated tree continue to be a part of holiday traditions worldwide. Many families enjoy decorating a beautiful tree together. Breck's Gifts features some lovely tabletop-sized holiday trees this year, and there's still time to order -“ they're perfect for a small apartment or as a secondary tree to add a little holiday spirit throughout the house!
