Who says Christmas necessarily thinks Christmas tree! But where does this tradition come from? Why do we decorate a fir tree during the Holidays? What is the story behind the Christmas tree? As many questions you may wonder about and that come with several answers for origins are varied.
Where does the Christmas tree com from? It has pagan and Christian origins: from the Roman antiquity, during the Saturnalia festival – agricultural celebrations in tribute to Saturne or Chronos in the Greek Mythology, gather to Jupiter – one decorated the house with fir tree branches. A festival that used to last a week, from December 17 to 24, by the winter solstice, and during which the master/slave hierarchy was paused, no war could be declared and no condemned executed. For seven days, trials and schools were closed and gifts were exchanged whilst enjoying a delicious meal on large tables, without any “social class” distinction.
Another people, another custom… In northern Europe countries, at this time of the year, one celebrated rebirth, and spruce was the king tree of December, each of the lunar month being associated to a tree. A conifer symbolizing life, seen as a cycle, but decorations started in the Middle-Ages. So, when representing Biblical scenes performed in front of churches, trees were decorated with apple to represent the tree of heaven.
In France, it specifically appeared in the 12th century. In the 14th century, candies and flowers were added to the apples. The star only made it to the top in 1560, as a distinctive feature of Protestant celebrations, to show the difference with the Catholic celebrations. A symbol echoing to the star of Bethlehem, the star that guided the Wise Men to the Christ. Today, Christmas tree bulbs replaced apples and the Christmas tree has become a staple of the Holidays. For the record, about six million trees are sold in France.
While waiting for December 25, here are the origins of Santa Claus.
