Christmas Tree Tradition In America

The family brings home natural or artificial evergreen tree and decorates it with tinsel garland baubles lights or anything that suits their taste.

Christmas tree tradition in america. Traditionally christmas trees were not brought in and decorated until christmas eve 24 december citation needed or in the traditions celebrating christmas eve rather than the first day of christmas 23 december and then removed the day after twelfth night 5 january. Taken to north america by german settlers as early as the 17th century christmas trees were the height of fashion by the 19th century. These evergreen trees may be natural or artificial and are decorated with all types of baubles lights tinsel garland and ornaments to suit each family or organization s particular taste.

The electricity lobby pushed for the first national christmas tree. It wasn t until the 1820s that christmas began gaining popularity in america and the country s first christmas tree reportedly was displayed in the 1830s. This and other efforts helped make christmas trees popular in the united states by the 1870s.

The christmas tree s popularity spread with the help of the influential magazine godey s lady s book which in 1850 published the 1848 illustration of the british royals though the depiction of the family was altered to appear american. A decorated tree is usually one of the first decorative signs that the christmas holiday season has arrived. 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.

An early account tells of a christmas tree set up by american soldiers at fort dearborn illinois the site of chicago in 1804. The christmas tree is put up and decorated in every part of the world and the united states is no different. Most other early accounts in the united states were among the german settlers in eastern pennsylvania.

In the olden times americans would use popcorn garlands to decorate their christmas tree. The custom of the christmas tree was introduced in the united states during the war of independence by hessian troops. After a rich history christmas trees both real and artificial have become the centerpiece of the season and the classic christmas tradition that doesn t appear to be going anywhere anytime.

A newspaper report described an interesting festival a christmas tree which was viewed in concord massachusetts on christmas eve 1853.