The Origin of the Christmas Tree and Other Holiday Plants

One of the biggest joys of Christmas is finding a Christmas tree, decorating it, and piling presents underneath. Filling the house with sprigs of holly and ivy, hanging the mistletoe, and stealing a kiss bring a sense of joy and hope. That was the purpose in ancient times during the long, dreary winter days.

The Christmas Tree
The origins of the Christmas tree began over 1000 years ago. One story has it that St. Boniface was traveling through Germany converting the pagans to Christianity when he came upon a group worshipping the oak tree. In his anger, he cut down the oak tree and in its place a young fir tree took root. St. Boniface took it as a sign of the Christian faith. Another story has it that a monk used the fir tree to describe the Holy Trinity, (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). The newly converted Christians began to revere the fir tree as God's Tree.

Using greenery has long been a custom in ancient times. The Romans celebrated a winter solstice called Saturnalia in honor of the god Saturnus. As the god of agriculture, the Romans decorated their homes with greens and lights. They even exchanged gifts. They saw the evergreens as a symbol of life and a sign that spring would return.

In the fourth century, the Roman Church decided that Christmas should be celebrated on December 25th.
Some of the pagan celebrations were carried over into the Christmas celebrations. Many say that the modern Christmas tree was brought indoors by a German monk, Martin Luther, who brought a tree indoors and decorated it with candles as an example of an evergreen tree covered with snow and lit by the stars that he had seen coming home. In 1841, Prince Albert married Queen Victoria and brought the German tradition of the Christmas tree to England with him. From there it spread throughout the world.

Mistletoe
This green plant grows in neither earth nor water but in the tops of trees, a parasite. The ancient druids used this plant as a symbol of eternal life. It was used to hang over doorways to ward off evil and bring happiness, health, and good luck. Kissing under the mistletoe began with the Scandinavian goddess Frigga and her son Balder. Balder was shot of an arrow made of mistletoe. Frigga's tears saved her son and Frigga ordered that mistletoe not be used to harm anyone again. She made it the symbol of love and kissed anyone standing under it.

Holly
This favorite evergreen staple of Christmas started in ancient times also. Ancient Druids believed that their sun god favored the holly. They brought it indoors to give the spirits shelter from the winter weather. Later, Europeans believed holly to be a good luck charm against bad weather. Early Christians took up the giving of holly leaves as gifts from the celebration of the Roman Saturnalia. They associated the holly wreaths with Jesus' crown of thorns, the red berries his blood, and the wood of the holly with the cross on which he was crucified.

Ivy
Ivy is possibly one of the most well known of Christmas plants besides the Christmas tree. Again, the significance of ivy is based on pagan celebrations. Ivy was a symbol of everlasting life. It is a hardy vine that clings to smooth walls even in the harshest weather. It is also a symbol of hope and of spring returning to the world.

Poinsettia
As legend would have it, a poor Mexican boy had nothing to give the Christ Child on Christmas. He prayed earnestly and a plant grew at his feet in Christmas colors red and green. The plant is called the Flower of the Holy Night. It is now named after Joel Roberts Poinsett who imported it from Mexico in 1828.

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