The History Of My Christmas Tree

As I was putting up my tree this year, I began thinking about the history of the Christmas tree. How did it start? Why did it start? What does it truly have to do with Christmas? The truth is, pines and evergreens in the homes began as a celebration of the winter solstice. People then, and still, looked forward to the days becoming longer and the world turning green again. In America, the Germans brought the tradition of the tree over with them. It was fought at first, being thought of as a Pagan ritual. Eventually, however, the Christmas tree took root. (see what I did there?)

As I was hanging each ornament on my tree, I started thinking of all the trees I have put up over the years. Sometimes I had two. Two years in a row, I actually had 3. (I will never do that again) One I would call fancy, and the other was the family tree. I would pick a theme and decorate it according to each theme. One year it was pink and silver. Another year it was plaid. Sometimes just red and green. I suppose I picked whatever marketers wanted me to choose. The “trendy” themes.

Tree toppers have varied in all of my years of putting up a tree as well. Stars, angels, Santa hats, and bows have all sat on top of my trees.
I have always enjoyed giving away Christmas tree ornaments as gifts. I get them personalized. Your baby’s first Christmas? He receives an ornament. You just got…