People have been bringing evergreen boughs and trees into their homes and for over 1,000 years. Before Christianity, this was usually done in recognition of the winter solstice.  On the darkest day of the year, greenery reminded people that the sun would begin its return and plants would again bloom.

The tradition of Christmas trees is traced back to Germany in the 1500s. Instead of trees, some used pieces of wood to create a pyramid and decorated it with evergreens.

There is a story that Martin Luther was walking outside one wintery evening and saw the stars twinkling in the sky, and this gave him the idea to add candles to the tree.

In colonial America, Christmas decorations were looked down upon as a pagan influence on a sacred holiday. That tradition remained strong until waves German and Irish immigrants loosened that austere grip on the holiday in the early 1800s.  German immigrants in Pennsylvania were looked down on for erecting community Christmas trees  as early as 1750.

Outside of Germany, trees were not popular until the 1800s.  A picture was circulated in 1846 of the very popular Queen Victoria of England standing with her husband and children around a lighted Christmas tree.  People thought that if the queen had a tree, everyone should!  Christmas trees became popular in both England and America because of Queen Victoria.

Before World War I, most American trees were decorated with homemade ornaments - strings of berries or brightly dyed popcorn, apples, candies, and cookies.  Angels were made from corn cobs, chicken feathers, and other everyday materials.  Homemade stars topped the trees.  With the coming of electricity candles were replaced by electric lights, and people gradually began to buy most of their ornaments rather than making them.

Today Christmas trees are one of the most important symbols of the Christmas season.