One of the most awaited Christmas décor items,
especially by kids, is undoubtedly the magical looking Christmas tree.
It is said that Christmas tree was included in the celebrations ever
since humans observed these evergreen trees glistening in the moonlit
sky on a clear night sparkling against the backdrop of white snow. One
of the most import Christmas symbols for centuries, Christmas trees were
used in many pagan festivals to honor their gods and spirits. Vikings in
North Europe considered these evergreen trees a reminder of the Spring
that is about to approach and that the Winter will end soon. In ancient
England and France, Druids used to honor God of harvests by decorating
oak trees with fruit and candles, just as Romans adorned trees with
trinkets and candles on Saturnalia.
It is said that the German Christians were the first to bring the trees
into their homes to decorate or use a Christmas pyramid made of wood in
areas where there was a scarcity of trees. Soon, whole Europe caught up
with the trend and the English Royalty popularized it among the elite.
Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, decorated the first Christmas
tree. They had then used candles, candies, fruits, and gingerbread.
Christmas tree came to America with the German immigrants and was
accepted by the general public only in the late 1800s. At the time of
the first public display of a Christmas tree by German settlers in
Pennsylvania, it was considered a symbol of pagans. Till then, apples,
nuts, cookies, candies, colored popcorn and candles were the popular
Christmas tree ornaments.
In the early 20th century, electricity brought a revolution in
Christmas tree decoration. Electrical Christmas lights grew more and
more popular every year and now most communities throughout the US
feature public displays of Christmas trees. The President of the United
States now lights the National Christmas Tree every year in Washington
as an indication of the beginning of Christmas celebrations. The huge
lighted tree at Rockfeller Center in New York is quite a spectacle and
skaters spinning beneath it look like angels. Christmas Tree has now
gained popularity all over the world and choosing the right Christmas
tree and its ornaments, placing gifts beneath it and opening them at
midnight is all now part and parcel of Christmas fun and revelry.
