A History of Christmas Trees and Their Ancient Roots
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One of my first freelance writing gigs almost 20 years ago was a series called The History of Christmas for a now defunct website. I wrote 10 or so different articles about various Christmas traditions from around the world. It remains to this day one of my favorite writing projects. So, for this post I thought I would write about the history of Christmas trees, since the use of evergreens for winter celebrations goes back to ancient times and carries across many different cultures.
Ancient Celebrations & Evergreens
Ancient Celts, Norse, and Germanic people each incorporated evergreen plants into their winter celebrations with unique symbolic meanings. The Celts believed evergreen plants like holly and ivy, with the ability to stay green during winter, represented life's continuity in the darkness. Norse celebrations of Yule included evergreen trees, particularly fir trees, to symbolize the perseverance of life through winter. Germanic tribes utilized evergreen branches and trees for decoration, viewing them as protective symbols against malevolent spirits during the harsh winter months. Across these cultures, evergreens held significance as symbols of protection, resilience, and the cyclical nature of life. Adorning these plants with candles, fruits, and symbolic ornaments added festive elements to rituals and festivities, laying the foundation for the eventual evolution of modern Christmas tree traditions.
Germanic Beginnings
The 16th-century Germans are often credited with popularizing the Christmas tree as we know it today. Bringing entire evergreen trees into their homes, they adorned them with candles, fruits, and nuts, symbolizing hope for the coming spring. One story credits the Reformation leader Martin Luther, for bringing the first Christmas tree home. There is little historical evidence that this actually happened. It was likely a story to help further absorb ancient customs into Christianity.
English and American Customs
The Christmas tree tradition crossed borders, reaching England through Queen Charlotte's influence in the 18th century. However, it wasn't until the 19th century that the Christmas tree gained widespread popularity in England and the United States. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's illustration with a Christmas tree in the Illustrated London News in 1848 further fueled the tradition's acceptance.
Early American puritans actually banned Christmas in some parts of what is now New England. The Mid Atlantic States, which were settled by many Catholics and members of the Church of England carried on with many of the same Yuletide festivities that included feasting and decorating with evergreens. What we would consider a traditional Christmas tree in the United States is credited to German immigrants in the 19th century, with the first recorded tree appearing in the 1830s. The 1850s saw widespread acceptance, and Godey's Lady's Book played a pivotal role in popularizing the tradition with a depiction of the British royal family celebrating around a Christmas tree.
Neopagans and Christmas Tree
Within neopaganism, the adoption of Christmas trees varies. For some, the evergreen tree symbolizes nature, renewal, and the enduring spirit of life. Neopagans often incorporate unique decorations that hold spiritual significance, aligning with their individual beliefs and practices. Some neopagans celebrate with a Yule Tree or Celebration Tree as part of their Winter Solstice celebrations.
The history of Christmas trees is a tale of cultural fusion and adaptation, with roots reaching deep into the past. As this beloved tradition continues to evolve, neopagans contribute their unique perspectives, adding layers of meaning and symbolism to winter solstice celebrations. The Evergreen Tree, whether it is called a Christmas tree, Yule Tree or something else all together, remains a symbol of hope, connection, and the enduring spirit of the season.
References and Recommended Reading*
The Battle for Christmas by Stephen Nissenbaum
The Book of Holidays Around the World by Alice van Straalen
History of Christmas Trees from History Channel
How the Vikings gave us Christmas from History Channel
Keeping Christmas: Yuletide Traditions in Norway and the New Land by Kathleen Stokker
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year by Judy Ann Nock
**In the process of creating this blog post, I utilized ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. ChatGPT provided assistance in generating content and refining ideas.
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6 Ways to Celebrate Yule as an Introvert
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As we approach the Winter Solstice, Yule and Christmas, I thought I’d share some easy celebration ideas for introverts. Because even though I love this time of year, as I get older I am also kind of over it. It’s no secret that the holidays can feel really lonely for many people, while others (like me) just feel general overwhelm by everything we are supposed to be doing. So here are six ways I celebrate the season that bring me joy, without the added helping of stress and burnout.
Refresh My Space
I feel like this is my go-to advice for any time of the year. But I stand by it. Cleaning your space and giving it a mini-makeover can help signal positive changes and a shift in energy. If you are like me and the thought of doing a deep clean right now is totally overwhelming, focus on tidying up the space you will be in the most during the holiday season. For me this is my kitchen and my living room. I gave each room a decent clean i.e: I vacuumed, did a quick declutter and cleaned out the refrigerator. That’s it. No baseboards were cleaned, no floors were mopped, no windows were washed. Then I set out some holiday decorations on a few shelves, strung some lights and put up our Christmas tree. I didn’t worry about any other parts of the house. Some years I do go all out and decorate the whole house, but if I am not feeling it, I don’t force myself. Keeping it super simple allows me to enjoy the process without it feeling like a chore.
2. Journal on Reflections and Hopes
Journaling is another go-to advice that works any time of the year. Yule and the Winter Solstice signal the turn of the Wheel of the Year toward springtime and is a good time to both reflect and look forward. I like to make myself a cup of hot black tea and get cozy in my favorite chair and just write whatever comes to mind. Sometimes I will start with a theme, like what I want to do or be in the coming year. But I always keep it loose. To make this feel extra special, I use these pretty journals all year long.
3. Create Gifts for Loved Ones
I am not really an arts and crafts kind of person, but I do enjoy making small batches of gifts during the holidays. I always try to keep my gift ideas simple to make. In the past I’ve made homemade soaps, candles, candies, air-dry clay ornaments and jarred baking mixes. I will set aside an afternoon and work on gifts while re-watching a favorite holiday movie (this year it is The Family Stone). If making gifts feels like too much, consider mailing out a handwritten letter in a holiday card to your closest friends and family. I love getting notes from my friends and family and enjoy displaying the cards during the holiday season.
4. Get Outside
Another simple way I celebrate Yule is to take a walk in nature. The winter woods next to my house are quiet and beautiful this time of year. If you don’t have access to groomed winter trails, just walking through a downtown area or city park decorated for the holiday season can be a nice break in the day. Cold fresh air always makes me feel better.
5. Enjoy Some Seasonal Treats
One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the food, especially the treats you really only have during this time of year. I keep a small container of eggnog and chocolate candies on hand, for a festive treat after dinner during the work week. I also keep a stash of ribbon candy in my kitchen. Literally no one else eats this but me. It reminds of my grandparents house, which is one of my favorite memories.
6. Give Yourself Something You Would Have Loved as a Child
This is something I’ve only recently started doing, in part because I finally have the budget to treat myself. As someone who grew up with a lot of trauma, I tend to ignore my own needs and put others first. So this year I am going to give myself specific gifts that are just for fun and enjoyment and allow me to explore a new side to my creativity. What would your inner child enjoy this year?
The holiday season can be a bit of mixed bag for many people. The pressure to do.all.the.things can really dampen the holiday spirit. So, whether you are celebrating solo or with others, I hope that you have a wonderful Yule and are able to take some time for yourself.
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The Season of Imbolc and the Goddess Brigid
Here in Maine we are expecting our first big snow storm in a few days and the winter air is full with anticipation. I’ll spend some time later today filling the woodbox on my back porch, emptying the ashes from the woodstove and checking my pantry to see if I should pick up any groceries before the snow descends.
Winter storms in Maine are not that big a deal. It’s just part of living here. But I do find comfort in preparing ahead of time. There is a wonderful sense of hominess and security when I top off the woodbox or have a bucket of ash ready to spread on slippery steps. Unlike summer, when the days are long and hot and the work in the garden seems to never end, the cadence of winter is more my natural pace. A burst of energy to get things done, with a promise of hot tea and rest by the fire when I am finished.
Snowstorms aside, I’ve been thinking about springtime and what I’d like to accomplish this year, both in my gardens and in other areas of my life. For this is the season of Imbolc, when we can plot and plan, as well as pause and rest. To celebrate, this week I’m sharing a post about the History of Imbolc and the Goddess Brigid.
Along with the free Mabon House Imbolc Celebration Guide in the Members Library, this week’s free printable is a new word art print that I created to remind myself that ebb and flow, change and constancy, are all part of life’s balance.
