Origins of the Christmas Tree
What would Christmas be without a Christmas tree? The present day-tradition, now an integral component of the festive season, originated from a combination of various old customs. The ancient Romans and Germanic peoples used to have evergreen plants in their houses in winter. In honour o Saturn, the god of fertility, the Romans decorated their houses with mistletoe, ivy, laurel and fruits. The Germanic peoples used fir twigs to ward off evil spirits. Decorated trees were used in the Middle Ages at various festivities. The Christmas tree was also originally a festive decoration of this nature, which gradually assumed increasing importance, over the years, gold- painted nuts, biscuits and sweets replaced or supplemented apples and pears. Hanging Christmas trees Decorated Christmas trees were used in the 16th century, particularly in city guilds and associations and then, after the Thirty Years War, in the houses of wealthy citizens, but without candles, which did ...