Christmas Trees

The Christmas tree is part of a long tradition that evergreen trees represent the continuous nature of life, even in the cold of winter. The Germans were among the earliest Christians to adopt the use of decorated trees.

The History of Christmas Trees

Saint Boniface, who lived around 600-700 AD near the town of Geismar, Germany, cut down an old oak tree which was presumed to be the symbol of the Norse god, Thor, to better establish the Christian church in that area. Boniface found a little fir tree growing in the roots of that old oak, and thought that it must represent Christianity, as it survived while Thor's oak tree died. The tradition of using a Christmas tree to represent one's Christian beliefs became popular, but was not then associated with Christmas.

Jump ahead to the 16th century. Martin Luther, being aware of this old tale about the fir tree, began the Protestant tradition of using the fir tree to symbolize the Nativity, just to mark it as a different symbol than what the Roman Catholics were using. This usage became very popular among Christians, and continues in some areas of the world. In the US, we continue the tradition, but have mostly forgotten the meaning. Traditionally, there is a star placed on the tip-top of the Christmas tree to remind people of the birth star of Jesus.

The sparkly Christmas tree lights continue the tradition of the star.

The presents that we give to each other symbolize the birthday of Jesus, in the same way that we celebrate each other's birthdays with gifts.

Benjamin Harrison was the first to bring a cut tree into the White House to decorate for Christmas.

Franklin Pierce was the first president to have a Christmas tree while he was President. He had a tree on the White House lawn decorated for Christmas.

It depends upon the variety and type of Christmas tree.

Popular Christmas trees include the following varieties and number of years

in the field to reach a mature average Christmas tree height of six to seven feet tall:

Fir Trees = Five to Ten years depending on type

Types include: Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir (White Fir),

Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Grand Fir, Noble Fir

Pine Trees = Six to Eight years depending on type

Types include: Scotch Pine, Virginia Pine, White Pine

Spruce Trees = Seven to Ten years depending on type

Types include: Colorado Blue Spruce , Norway Spruce, White Spruce

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights During the medieval period[citation needed], special candles were often lit at Christmas, symbolic of Jesus role as the light of the world.[citation needed] The phenomena of the Christingle is also closely related.[citation needed] The illuminated Christmas tree, which is considered by many[citation needed] to be the start of the development of modern Christmas lighting traditions, is commonly associated with Martin Luther, and became part of a European Christmas from his time. The illuminated Christmas tree became established in the United Kingdom during Queen Victoria's reign, and through emigration spread to North America and Australia. Until the development of inexpensive electrical power in the mid nineteenth century, miniature candles were commonly (and in some cultures still are) used. First Christmas tree with electric lights, in the home of Edward H. Johnson in New York City - December 22, 1882.

The first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree was the creation of Edward H. Johnson, an associate of inventor Thomas Edison. While he was vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, a predecessor of today's Con Edison electric utility, he had Christmas tree light bulbs especially made for him. He proudly displayed his Christmas tree, which was hand-wired with 80 red, white and blue electric incandescent light bulbs the size of walnuts, on December 22, 1882 at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Local newspapers ignored the story, seeing it as a publicity stunt. However, it was published by a Detroit newspaper reporter, and Johnson has become widely regarded as the Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights. By 1900, businesses started stringing up Christmas lights behind their windows.[1] Christmas lights were too expensive for the average person; as such, electric Christmas lights did not become the majority replacement for candles until 1930.[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights During the medieval period[citation needed], special candles were often lit at Christmas, symbolic of Jesus role as the light of the world.[citation needed] The phenomena of the Christingle is also closely related.[citation needed] The illuminated Christmas tree, which is considered by many[citation needed] to be the start of the development of modern Christmas lighting traditions, is commonly associated with Martin Luther, and became part of a European Christmas from his time. The illuminated Christmas tree became established in the United Kingdom during Queen Victoria's reign, and through emigration spread to North America and Australia. Until the development of inexpensive electrical power in the mid nineteenth century, miniature candles were commonly (and in some cultures still are) used. First Christmas tree with electric lights, in the home of Edward H. Johnson in New York City - December 22, 1882.

The first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree was the creation of Edward H. Johnson, an associate of inventor Thomas Edison. While he was vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, a predecessor of today's Con Edison electric utility, he had Christmas tree light bulbs especially made for him. He proudly displayed his Christmas tree, which was hand-wired with 80 red, white and blue electric incandescent light bulbs the size of walnuts, on December 22, 1882 at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Local newspapers ignored the story, seeing it as a publicity stunt. However, it was published by a Detroit newspaper reporter, and Johnson has become widely regarded as the Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights. By 1900, businesses started stringing up Christmas lights behind their windows.[1] Christmas lights were too expensive for the average person; as such, electric Christmas lights did not become the majority replacement for candles until 1930.[2]