Like many Christian celebrations the idea of the “Christmas tree” actually spawns from a certain pagan ritual where they would cut down a tree and bring it into their home and decorate it or shape it into one of their gods. Legend has it that in Germany St. Boniface (675-755), who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have found some pagans worshipping an oak tree and in anger he cut down the tree and to his amazement on the inside he found a young fir tree growing. This was taken as a Christianization of this ancient pagan idea that the evergreen tree represents a celebration of new life and from there on the fir tree was given a Christian symbolism at Christmas time.
The modern history of the tree dates to the 16th century in Germany when fir trees were brought into the home to celebrate the Feast of Adam and Eve (Dec. 24th). The earliest recording about a “Christmas tree” on paper is found in Germany in 1570 which talks about a small fir tree being decorated with apples, nuts, pretzels, and paper flowers as a benefit for children who collected these treats on Christmas day. Another claim to the home of the first Christmas tree is in Riga, Latvia, where they said a tree was erected and decorated in 1510. There is also a story that Martin Luther actually cut down a fir tree and decorated it with lights to symbolize the way the stars shined at night, and this occurred around Christmas time. By the 18th century the Christmas tree custom was very popular in the upper Rhineland homes of Germany. However, it was regarded as a Protestant custom.
Over time this all changed and the tradition spread throughout Germany and the rest of Europe eventually reaching North America at the hand of German immigrants in the late 1700’s. Throughout this time the decorating of the tree with different foods, decorations, and lights has been developed. Today, we see Christmas trees in almost every home, Christian or not, and they are becoming more of a commercial symbol of Christmas.