Pennsylvania by 1747 . Records show that many Pennsylvania Germans displayed Christmas trees in their homes by the 1830s . However , Christmas trees were not fully accepted by most Americans , even as late as the 1840s ,
pyramid of wood and decorated it with evergreens .
It is believed that Martin Luther was the first to use lighted candles on his tree . The story is that as he walked home one winter evening in the 1500s , he was inspired by the beauty and brilliance of stars shining through the evergreens along his route . Wanting to share that vision with his family , he added candles to an evergreen tree that he brought inside his home .
Two other German customs of the 1500s add more background to the development of our modern Christmas tree . At Christmastime , many Germans decorated a fir tree with apples and called it the “ Paradise Tree ,” representing the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden . The wooden pyramid ( mentioned above ), decorated with glass balls and tinsel and a candle on top , became the “ Christmas Light ,” symbolizing Christ , the Light of the World .
Germans brought the idea of Christmas trees to North America in the 1600s . Community Christmas trees were found in German settlements in
Photo by Hert Niks on Unsplash
New England
Christmas was sacred to the Puritans of New England . William Bradford , elected in 1621 to be the second governor of Plymouth Colony ( and served as governor for more than 30 years ), condemned the “ pagan mockery ” and “ frivolity ” regarding the observance of the holiday . Decorated trees and any joyous acknowledgement of Christmas were considered heathen and were against the law by 1659 .
In the 1800s , German and Irish immigrants caused Christmas customs in New England to become more festive by challenging the stern ideas of Puritanism .
Europe
In 1848 , the Illustrated London News showed an excellent rendition of Queen Victoria , Prince Albert ( he was German , you will recall ) and their children standing around a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle . Because of Queen Victoria ’ s great popularity , Europeans and Americans emulated her and embraced Christmas trees . While European Christmas trees tended to be only about four feet tall , American ones were , and still are , known to touch the ceiling .
Early tree decorations were homemade , such as honeycomb candles , clove-studded oranges , bright red apples , gingerbread cookies , candies , paper chains and cut paper ornaments , ribbons , and dyed popcorn strung with nuts and berries . In the 1870s , German Christmas ornaments made of blown glass and decorations made from tinsel , cast lead , beads and other materials were being shipped to America .
Electricity
Electricity changed everything . In 1882 , Thomas Edison ’ s friend and partner , Edward H . Johnson , developed the very first string of electric Christmas tree lights . It consisted of 80 red , white and blue light bulbs . He wound this hand-wired creation around the Christmas tree he had in his home . But it took several years before electrified
70 Winter 2023 Thomasville Scene