The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is the very start to the Christmas season. People go out and shop for their families and friends, they listen to Christmas music, decorate their houses with the most festive decor. But the shining gem of the festoon fix up is the Tree. The evergreen tree that stands tall and proud in the living room of your homes, was not always there from the beginning. It didn’t come until the 1500s when the Germans introduced this ever-popular decoration into their homes.
In the 16th century German Christians began to bring evergreen trees into their homes. The evergreen tree represented eternal life. The tree, which would stay green during this season of cold, would represent warmth and welcome to Christ. The tradition of the Germans would last more than three hundred years. But the person who would soon decide to use a tree in their Christmas celebration would change the way we decorate forever.
Queen Victoria of the House of Hanover, a German, adopted the tradition of the Christmas tree. On the Christmas of 1848 she made the debut of her a tree. She adorned her tree with gorgeous glass ornaments, brightly lit candles, and other priceless decorations. After this, everyone in Britain brought one into their homes and started the tradition of Christmas tree in Britain.
As soon America got wind of the new way to illuminate their homes with such a festive adornment as a tree, they jumped on the trend. During the American presidency of Benjamin Harris, the First Lady was left the task of decorating the tree, which then on became a tradition. By the year 1900 one in five Americans had tree as part of their Christmas celebration. By year 1933 the first Rockefeller Center Christmas went up. Although small, it became a tradition that lasts today, almost being one hundred years ago from the first.
On from then, the Christmas tree blossomed into a worldwide tradition, being a staple in every branch of Christianity. Today the Christmas Tree has been commercialized greatly, with the mass production of false trees. Although false, it still represents the same tradition the Germans gave us almost five hundred years ago. We can all thank them for this beautiful way to decorate with meaning. Merry Christmas!
About The Author:
 |
Talia DiMartino Talia DiMartino is freshman attending Saint Anthony’s High School. She aspires to be a journalist and looks forward too her next few years on the Paduan. |
