Though many people don't know it, and even more never think about it, the Christmas tree actually predates Christianity by many centuries.

Nordic and Celtic traditions both used trees extensively in winter solstice festivals, predominantly evergreen trees though not always. The pagan festival of Yule, which lasted for 13 days encompassing what later was written into song as the "Twelve Days of Christmas", featured a tree as a rally point. Usually growing in the middle of the community or in a ceremonial place, red, green, blue, and gold ribbons were tied onto the boughs of the tree. The community would gather around the tree, holding hands and singing joyous songs to celebrate the new year and the passing of the old ones. Presents were often exchanged among friends and family members.

Held by the powerful sway of pagan beliefs, the early Church "Christianized" the tree sometime between the 15th and 17th centuries, though documentation on the exact date is scanty and conflicting. Still, there is very little doubt that what we consider the Christmas tree was around far longer than it has actually been a "Christmas" tree.

Many Christians become upset by this, yet they should not be. In the first place, it should be pointed out that when one culture or belief system blends with another, which has happened with Christian and many other long existing religions, those different beliefs and celebrations are also absorbed. In the second, it might be remembered that Jesus was born in the early spring, most likely April, rather than in winter, in December. There were very few evergreen trees in the area of Jesus' birth, and trees, such as olives and figs that grew in that area would have been completely to totally barren in either winter or early spring. Denying the truth does nothing to help, and accepting it does not undermine in any way, the religion.

Still, though there are records of the use of trees in pagan winter festivals that are well documented, far too many people choose to ignore those and only accept more contemporary sources of information that tend to support their beliefs. In order to understand the real origins of the Christmas tree, we must look at all the information, and not simply pick that which supports what we wish was true. Such is the same with all true knowledge.

Learn more about this author, Rex Trulove.
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