Everything To Know About The Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree is an important ornament plant associated with the celebration of Christmas. Here is everything to know about the evergreen ornamental plant.

History of Christmas Tree.

It will be surprising for some people to know that the Christmas tree has been existing long before the emergence of Jesus Christ and Christianity. The use of Christmas trees was a custom of the ancient people in Egypt, China and Rome.

Due to the evergreen nature of the plant, ancient people hung a bough over their doors and windows every winter as they believed that the evergreen plant would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

The modern Christmas tree as we know it was originated in 16th century Germany when the German Protestant Christians brought decorated trees into their homes every Christmas. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens boughs and candles if the wood was scarce.

It is generally believed that the 16th-century Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, was the first person that lighted candles on the Christmas tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.

The use of the Christmas trees became a deep-rooted German tradition in the 18th century, The custom was also introduced in England in the early 19th century.  Prior to that, the custom had been taken to North America by German settlers in the 17th century, they got popular in other parts of the World thanks to Western missionaries in the 20th century.

Significance

Christmas tree holds different meanings and significance for different people and across cultures. Generally in Christendom, the ornament has evolved over time and is used to symbolize the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The tree’s branches and shrubs are viewed as an emblem of immortality and are said to symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Christ on the cross. Also, every decoration used to adorn the Christmas tree is believed to have a special significance.

An example is a shining star commonly used as the Christmas tree topper as it is used to symbolize the star that guided the wise men during the birth of Jesus to Bethelem,  Angel is also used as tree toppers because it is said it was the angel who announced Christ’s birth.

Production

Generally, they are two types of Christmas Trees; natural and artificial trees. The natural trees are cultivated on a Christmas tree farm while the artificial ones are made in a factory.

Prior to the establishment of the first Christmas Tree Farm in 1901, most consumers obtain their trees from the forest even up to the 1930s and 1940.

A wide variety of pine and fir species are grown as Natural Christmas trees,  The Douglas-fir, Scots pine and Fraser fir are popular in the United States while Nordmann fir and Norway spruce are popular in the United Kingdom, and entire  Europe.

Unlike the Cultivated Christmas tree, Artificial Christmas trees are made of 100% recycled plastics from used polyvinyl chloride packaging material. Artificial Christmas trees are believed to be convenient than natural ones, with the additional advantage of being reusable.