Christmas Tree In America History

The victorian tree was decorated with toys and small gifts candles candies popcorn strings and fancy cakes hung from the branches by ribbons and by paper chains.

Christmas tree in america history. As the 19th century progressed. Taken to north america by german settlers as early as the 17th century christmas trees were the height of fashion by the 19th century. The custom was developed in medieval livonia present day estonia and latvia and in early modern germany where protestant germans brought decorated trees into their homes.

New england puritans believed christmas was sacred and celebrating the holiday with decorations was considered a mockery of faith. Christmas trees decorated trees date back to germany in the middle ages with german and other european settlers popularizing christmas trees in america by the early 19th century. The christmas tree of queen victoria and prince albert became known in america in the late 1840s and in the 1850s reports of christmas trees began appearing in american newspapers.

A christmas tree is a decorated tree usually an evergreen conifer such as a spruce pine or fir or an artificial tree of similar appearance associated with the celebration of christmas originating in northern europe. The story of christmas trees in america usually takes us down the path of hessian soldiers who showcased christmas trees to george washington s troops during his famous christmas trek across the delaware. Historians explain that christmas trees found their popularity in pennsylvania over the ensuing 60 years in america as german settlers made them a permanent part of the american christmas tradition.

The christmas tree lot was born. Christmas wasn t even a federal holiday until 1870. Typically you ll see what s called a tree in a tub that is decorated with whimsies like gold stars cornucopia and surrounded by a few toys says cathcart.

However the christmas tree tradition wasn t widely adopted in the united states until much later. Five years later president franklin pierce erected the first christmas tree in the white house.