The Tradition of the Christmas Tree

What would Christmas be without the festively decorated Christmas tree in the house or garden? The evergreen conifer in our homes and living rooms at Christmas now has a long tradition. But where does this custom actually come from, and who invented it? The stories about its origin and tradition sometimes vary widely. What is clear is that the custom of the decorated fir tree probably originated in the German-speaking world.

In Germany, the Christmas tree evolved into the focal point of the festively decorated living room for gift-giving during the 19th century. To this day, the brightly lit Christmas tree remains a must-have in many families. Can the tree's origin be traced back to the Germanic Yule festival, as is often suspected, or does the decorated fir tree inside the house rely on a different tradition?

Folklorists report a craftsman's house in Bremen as one of the earliest pieces of evidence for the festive Christmas tree. A Bremen guild chronicle from the year 1570 recorded that a fir tree was decorated with apples, pretzels, dates, nuts, and paper flowers and set up in the guild house. On Christmas Day, the children of the guild members were allowed to "shake it off," meaning they could take off and eat the treats.

Another clue about the Christmas tree comes from Basel. There, in 1597, tailor's apprentices are said to have carried around a green tree laden with apples and cheese, set it up in their inn, and then enjoyed the treats from it. Other sources report Alsace as the origin of the custom. In Sélestat in Alsace, there is evidence of Christmas trees being set up outside the church, dating back to the 16th century. Also in Alsace, according to reports, every citizen was supposedly allowed a fir tree for Christmas in 1561

Initially, it seems no candles were placed on the tree. Instead, it was only hung with apples, paper roses, wafers, and "Zischgold" (likely a predecessor to later tinsel), as recorded in a Strasbourg chronicle from the first half of the 17th century.

The tree itself is a symbol of the world axis, and the candles symbolize the stars around which the world axis rotates. In winter, the evergreen tree, whether fir, pine, or holly, is a sign that life continues. This message is reinforced by the apples, nuts, and other fruits, which simultaneously represent fertility.

Initially, the custom of the festively decorated, evergreen Christmas tree was observed by Protestants. In Catholic churches and families, only the nativity scene was set up at first. The custom then gradually spread southward from Northern Germany. Noble houses played a decisive role in its spread across Europe and worldwide.