Concerning the Christmas tree, it constitutes a decorated tree, typically an evergreen conifer such as a spruce, pine, or fir, or an artificial tree resembling its natural counterparts, with strong associations to the observance of the Christmas festivities.
This custom originated in Central Europe and the Baltic states, notably Estonia, Germany, and Livonia (now Latvia), where Protestant Christians introduced the practice of adorning trees within their homes. The traditional embellishments included roses crafted from colored paper, apples, wafers, tinsel, and sweetmeats.
Moravian Christians, in a subsequent phase, introduced the practice of illuminating Christmas trees with candles, which underwent evolution with the advent of electrification, transitioning to the utilization of Christmas lights. At present, a diverse array of both traditional and contemporary ornaments, such as garlands, baubles, tinsel, and candy canes, contribute to the decorative elements.
Placement of an angel or star atop the tree often symbolizes the Angel Gabriel or the Star of Bethlehem. Edible items, including gingerbread, chocolate, and various confections, enjoy popularity and are affixed to the tree’s branches with ribbons. Historically entrenched within the customs of Lutheran Churches, it merits mention that it was not until 1982 that the Catholic Church inaugurated the Vatican Christmas Tree.
In adherence to Western Christian traditions, Christmas trees are erected on varying dates, ranging from the first day of Advent to Christmas Eve, contingent on the regional practices of individual countries. Removal of Christmas decorations, including the tree, typically aligns with Twelfth Night or Candlemas if not undertaken on the former occasion. This festive season concludes on the first Sunday of Lent, which initiates seven weeks before Easter.
The Christmas tree frequently draws comparisons with the “Yule-tree,” particularly in discussions regarding its folkloric origins. The Yule tree’s brightly colored decorations and lights symbolised celestial entities, spirits of the deceased, religious events and figures, and offered edible delights.
In the United States, the National Christmas Tree has been ceremoniously illuminated annually since 1923 on the South Lawn of the White House, evolving into a prominent holiday event. President Jimmy Carter, in 1979, chose to illuminate solely the crowning star atop the tree as a tribute to the Americans held hostage in Iran. This gesture was repeated in 1980, with the tree fully lit for 417 seconds, symbolizing each day of captivity.
During a substantial duration encompassing the 1970s and 1980s, the world’s largest decorated Christmas tree was installed annually on the premises of the National Enquirer, a prominent American tabloid newspaper, in Lantana, Florida. Although once a spectacular and celebrated event in southern Florida, this tradition regrettably dissipated with the demise of the paper’s founder in the late 1980s.
The act of bestowing Christmas trees has frequently been intertwined with the conclusion of hostilities. Noteworthy instances include Manchester sending a tree and £500 for confectionaries to the much-bombarded town of Lille in northern France after the signing of the Armistice in 1918. Additionally, commemorative gifts in the form of Christmas trees have been exchanged, such as the presentation of a tree from Oslo, Norway to London’s Trafalgar Square as a token of gratitude for British support during the Second World War.
Similarly, Boston receives a tree from the province of Nova Scotia in acknowledgment of swift aid during the 1917 ammunition ship explosion in Halifax. In Newcastle upon Tyne, the main civic Christmas tree is an annual gift from Bergen, expressing gratitude for the role played by soldiers from Newcastle in liberating Bergen from Nazi occupation. Norway also annually gifts a Christmas tree to Washington, D.C., symbolizing gratitude for U.S. assistance during World War II. This encapsulates the intricate tapestry of Christmas and the symbolically charged Christmas tree.
