Evergreen plants and trees have always had a special meaning for people in winter. They represent eternal life. Ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows, and many folk believed they would keep away the things that people most often worried about - things like ghosts, evil spirits, witches and illness.
Gradually, sacred tree imagery was absorbed by the Christian church, and Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition. It was in the 16th century that Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.
In Britain, the tradition of decorating churches and homes with evergreens at Christmas was long established, but the custom of decorating an entire small tree came much later. As a child Queen Victoria had been familiar with the Christmas tree tradition; and Prince Albert, the cousin she married, was German. In 1846, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were sketched in the Illustrated London News with their children, standing around a Christmas tree. This had a huge impact on the way Christmas was celebrated in Britain: being very popular royals what was done at court immediately became fashionable, and wealthy British middle-class families immediately followed suit. By the 1890s the fashion had spread overseas to the United States, and large trees were en vogue.
For me, the tree represents a few things. A symbol of the season, it also reminds me that the days will start to get a minute longer a few days after Solstice, around the 25th/26th - hence “the son (Sun) is born”. It is also a symbol of unity - many different belief systems from all across the world hold a festival of light at this time of year.
Growing up, the tree always went up after my mum’s birthday, which is the 14th December. Once the tree was up, the festive season had begun.
Do you have a Yule or Christmas tree? What colour are your decorations? Are your decorations up yet? Do you have any special family traditions?
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