Spotlight: O Christmas Trees, O Christmas Trees!

Tis the season to rock around the Christmas tree! Grab a peppermint hot chocolate and get cozy - we’re about to dive into the world of the beloved and adorned Christmas tree family —

SO, WHERE DOES IT ALL BEGIN?

This singular question is extremely loaded. Where does such an internationally celebrated phenomenon such as Christmas trees hold their roots? Well, there’s no direct answer. There are multiple documented threads beginning in Rome, Egypt, and Germany. Even prior to the Christmas tree movement, evergreens held significance throughout colder months when the earth lacked life and vibrancy. Throughout winter, ancient peoples would hang up fronds on doors and windows (hello wreaths!) as a joyful notion. Many early uses of evergreens are connected to gods, good fortune, and the supernatural; these traditions extended to northern Europe and beyond.

So, when did the entire tree become the star of the show? 16th century Germany is when and where trees entered the home and were adorned with decorations. It is believed that Martin Luther was enamored by the backdrop of twinkling stars amongst the evergreens. This inspired him to put candles on the trees to recreate that exact scene in his own home!

But who brought it to America? In the 19th century Christmas trees became a tradition amongst the Pennsylvania German community. In 1846, it was Queen Victoria, with her vast influence, that solidified it as a novelty item within the home. As a result, the Christmas tree that we know and love today was adopted into American society.

ROCKIN’ AROUD THE CHRISTMAS TREES

As any other tree, they come in families. There are many varieties of Christmas trees, but we’re going to run though some of the more popular ones which lie within the spruce, fir and pine groupings.

Blue Spruce — native to Colorado, this has been a long time favorite by many for its classic shape and hardy, fragrant needles
Douglas Fir — the Oregon state tree is much fuller in shape and known for its deep, dark color and potent smell
Balsam Fir — it shares a similar shape to the Blue Spruce, but it holds its own as the most fragrant of all Christmas trees
Noble Fir — blue, green, sturdy and a native PNW tree… what’s not to love?
Scotch Pine — from the Scottish Highlands, this pine is dense, vibrant in color and grows into the perfect cone-like shape

decorating the tree

A mix of German and American decorating traditions began to merge together as the Christmas tree grew in popularity. Trees were decorated with natural, German-inspired elements such as oranges, nuts, apples and cookies. Handmade American ornaments were also added, in addition to popcorn garlands wrapping the entire tree. Once electricity was introduced, lights replaced those homemade garlands and trees began to glow and twinkle in the ways we know and love today!

MORE INTERESTING FACTS

We can’t talk about Christmas trees without mentioning the iconic Rockefeller Christmas tree in NYC! Talk about a classic tradition. Although this may seem like a modern celebration, the first Rockefeller tree dates back to 1931, but it wasn’t what you think. It was a humble, bare tree that was placed amidst a construction zone. It became a tradition for the next couple of years and eventually, lights were added and it basically never stopped!
These trees typically take 6-8 years to be fully grown, which means it is a labor of love for farmers all around.
Christmas trees are grown nationally within every state - even in Hawaii!
The tallest Christmas tree is said to be in Ferndale, California and reaches an impressive 160 feet!