The History of the Christmas Tree

Long before Christmas, people celebrated the winter solstice. Evergreens symbolized enduring life, with Romans adorning homes with laurel and Saturnalia participants gifting greenery.

The modern Christmas tree tradition began in 16th century Germany, where devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes, often with simple candles for lighting.

England's Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized the Christmas tree in the 1840s. A published image of their decorated tree made the practice fashionable across Britain and America.

Edward Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison, introduced the first string of electric Christmas lights in 1882, dramatically reducing the risk of fire from candles on trees.

Originally, fruits and nuts were hung on Christmas trees. By the late 1800s, German glassblowers in Lauscha began producing the first glass ornaments, resembling fruits and nuts.

Tinsel was created in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1610. Made from shredded silver, it was designed to mimic ice and sparkled when it reflected candlelight.

During World War II, the U.S. banned German ornament imports, leading to the American glass ornament industry's expansion. Corning used machine-blown glass techniques, producing thousands per minute.

Before electric lights, Christmas trees lit with candles often caused devastating house fires, leading to many tragic incidents during the holiday season.