History of Christmas Trees

An English monk used the symbolism of the triangular fir tree while teaching the Word of God in Germany to describe the Holy Trinity (God, Son, and Holy Spirit, all point on the tree) during the 7th century. Originally Germans favored oak, but as Christianity spread, they soon favored fir and viewed it as God's tree. As time goes on, the fir tree will become a symbol of Christianity.

Christmas Day as December 25 can be traced back to 1043, where the earliest English reference exist. However, Christmas carols didn't surface for another four hundred years.

From the introduction of the Christmas tree to decorating the tree, that process took nearly 800 years. Riga, Latvia in 1510 is the noted birthplace of decorating Christmas trees. Not long after trees were decorated did Martin Luther place candles in his tree to illustrate to his kids how stars twinkled at night. This would eventually lead to placing strands of lights in Christmas trees as we know it today. Later in the century, markets were selling Christmas items all across Germany, including; ornaments, gifts, decorations, food and gingerbread men.

Exactly 100 years after the first tree was decorated, Germans invented tinsel; using REAL silver. Machines were created to shave silver into thin strips. Though it tarnished quickly and was heavy to sit on a tree, lead and tin alternatives didn't work. And so silver was continually used until the 1950s.

Since their modest beginnings Christmas trees have evolved with the times to include todays artificial trees with built in lights. Regardless of the times and how you decorate the tree, the one constant is the triangle silhouette in honor of the Holy Trinity and the Christ Child.