Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree

Over the next few weeks, Christmas trees will be welcomed into many American homes. The time honored tradition of decorating with an evergreen goes way back.

The tradition of decorating with trees and various evergreens in winter started long before the introduction of Christmas.

Before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Ancient people would hang evergreen boughs over doors and windows.

Ancient people would often mark the occasion of the winter solstice in ways that involved evergreens. The evergreens symbolized everlasting life and reminded them off all the green plants that would grow again when longer days and warmer weather returned.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition in the 16th century and shortly thereafter someone decided to add lighted candles.

The earliest record of a Christmas tree on display in America was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania. Some accounts say the trees had been up in the Pennsylvania German settler’s homes as early as 1747. However, into the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols by some and not accepted by most Americans.

An interesting side note - in 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued into the 19th century.

The Christmas tree’s popularity took a leap forward in 1846. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were sketched in the illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Victoria was very popular with her subjects and set fashion trends, not only in Britain, but on the East Coast of America.

An American tradition started taking shape that now features Christmas trees in around 80 percent of homes and most town squares all across the country.

Today, Christmas trees come in a variety of shapes, sizes, styles and colors. Not all are green or even alive. The number of both live and fake Christmas trees purchased each year in America is staggering. According to statista.com, in 2014 26.3 million real trees and 13.9 million fake trees were purchased throughout the United States. Those numbers do not include homemade trees. With just a little research you can learn how to make a tree from wood, paper, antlers, wire or any number of other things.

This year as you make Christmas tree decisions, among other holiday plans and preparations, make it your main goal to celebrate the season. Focus on your desired outcome and worry less about what others may be doing that seems different to you.

Just as no two decorated trees are going to be the same, no two people are the same. Celebrate your similarities instead of bickering over any differences.

In fact, let’s go crazy and celebrate our differences as well, rather than letting them tear us apart.