The History of the Christmas Tree by Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives The Christmas tree has a long history as an integral part of the Christmas season, and harkens back to ancient cultures when the Winter Solstice marked warmer and brighter days ahead. Evergreen boughs, because they retained their colour all year round, were displayed as a symbol of the days ahead. Egyptian and Roman cultures similarly celebrated the Winter Solstice. However, today’s Christmas tree tradition is traced to sixteenth-century Germany where Christians began to bring evergreen trees into their homes and decorate them. It is believed Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformation leader, was the first to add candles. Settlers from Ireland and Germany brought the tradition to North America. The tradition expanded greatly when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, with their family, were shown, in an 1848 popular newspaper, standing around a Christmas tree. Homemade decoration items adorned the tree including cookies, garlands of popcorn, berries, nuts etc. As technology progressed brightly-coloured ornaments and lights soon be- came a staple.
Oh Tannenbaum – an old German carol O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your branches green delight us! O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your branches green delight us! They’re green when summer days are bright, They’re green when winter snow is white. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your branches green delight us!
2019.0068 Christmas 1915
In Christmas celebrations now, the tradition of the family Christmas tree prevails. It may be artificial or real. It may be a tradition of choosing the perfect tree and cutting it down, or just dragging out a box and assembling it. The ornaments may be coloured glass bulbs and artificial lights, or it may be decorated with hand-made treasures of children and special mementos. Whatever a family chooses, the Christmas tree is a special part of the festivities of the season. Come visit the Middlesex Centre Archives and explore the collections for more traditions.
Page 10 KKD Villager December 2024 Page 10 Ilderton and Area Villager • December 2024 Conservation is a word associated with the present day as people buy potted Christmas trees, decorate the tree for the season and then replant the tree in the yard to grow to maturity. This is not a new phenomenon. The Colin Prior family of Delaware engaged in this practice. With the help of the children, Norma and Sid, the family took a shovel, not an axe, to retrieve their Christmas tree. The selected tree was dug out, roots and all, and placed in a pail of loam soil. This sturdy system held the tree firmly straight and kept it moist and looking green. Once Christmas festivities were complete, the tree, pail and all, were placed in the basement and planted somewhere in the yard the next Spring. Some trees served as the family Christmas tree for several years in a row. Imagine the beauty of that multi-treed lot over the years! Through the years, the trip to the family woodlot to chop down the best tree possible, became a family tradition. Now tree lots in towns are found where trees are trucked in from Christmas tree farms or families may visit the tree farm, choose and cut down a tree. The tree was left outside a few days to make sure loose needles dropped before bringing it indoors to a focal place in the home, and then placed in a bucket or stand of water and sometimes sand. The tree was then trimmed. With the advent of artificial trees, the requirement of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve or days before disappeared. “Real” trees can dry out and cause fires with heat from electric lights and candles of early times. Artificial trees can be put up weeks or months before Christmas.
To advertise here please contact Tami@villagerpublications.com To advertise here, please contact Tami@villagerpublications.com A Christmas party held for returned World War I servicemen at the Queen Alexandra Sanatorium in the township. The Red Cross and Ladies Auxiliary entertained the soldiers. Anna Shaw-Wood is in the front row, left and Louise Lightbourn, in the front row, right. Photos are from the Middlesex Centre Archives Collections
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