The history of the Christmas Tree

Crews in Idaho cutting down a tree in the Payette National Forest in 2016. The tree would eventually travel across the nation to become the Official National Christmas Tree on the grounds of the U.S. Capital

Germany is credited with giving us the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it, today; but cultures and customs all over the world have been celebrating life and new beginnings - even everlasting life - with displays and decorations of evergreens and boughs long before the advent of Christianity.

Here in Idaho, and all of the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice falls on December 21st this year. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year. In many ancient cultures and civilizations there were celebrations of the coming warmth and eventual return of summer.

Evergreen boughs would remind the Romans of the orchards and green plants that would grow, once more. The Egyptians would fill their homes with green palm rushes, which signified the triumph of life over death. In Northern Europe evergreens were a symbol of everlasting life. But, most 19th century Americans found Christmas trees strange and peculiar things.

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