There are many tales about the origins of the Christmas tree. However, the Tannenbaum as we know it has its roots in Germany and has of course grown all across the world.
The concept of having living plants inside homes began with the northern European Vikings, to the Romans and Ancient Egyptians, just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season. Ancient people hung evergreens such as pine, spruce, and fir trees over their doors and windows during the winter. This was a reminder of summer when the plants would return and in some cases it was believed that evergreens would keep witches, ghosts, illness, and evil spirits away.
On his walk home one night, German theologian Martin Luther (1483-1546) admired how the Sterne twinkled and sparkled through the forest trees. He envisioned the Sterne as Lichter from Heaven guiding him home through the dark forest, like how the Star of Bethlehem led the Three Wise Men to the stable of the feeling inspired, he took a small Tannenbaum home and dekorierte it with Kerzen recapturing the scene for his family. Soon the concept spread throughout the community and Martin Luther is believed to be the inspiration behind Kerzen decorating the Tannenbaum as a way to remember the story of Weihnachten.
Later on, Germans introduced the Weihnachtsbaum to my home country in America. In the 18thcentury German settlers in Pennsylvania and Ohio put up the first American Weihnachtsbaum. After some time this trend grew in the States with variations on the traditional German custom.
In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert were sketched in a picture with their children standing around a Weihnachtsbaum. With the power of the Royals celebrity the Weihnachtsbaum had a transatlantic spread and people from all over desired to have such a Weihnachtsbaum. This tradition remains and with no surprise, the man behind the Christmas choice was none other than her German husband who longed for having a reminder of his home during the Weihnachtssaison.
There’s even more history behind the traditional Weihnachtsschmuck, and we will go deeper into that another time. Hope you can enjoy seeing some of the beautiful Weihnachtsbaum sparkling through the city!
“O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie grün sind deine Blätter! Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.”
Der Weihnachtsbaum – Christmas tree (lit: Christmas tree)
Der Tannenbaum – Fir tree
Der Weihnachtsschmuck – Christmas decorations
Die Glaskugel/Baumkugel – Bauble (glass ball/’tree ball’)
Die Kerze – Candle
Die elektrische Kerzen – Electric candles/fairy lights
Die Lichter – Lights
Der Kranz – Wreath
Der Stern – Star
dekorieren – to decorate
