Whats the origin of decorating a Christmas tree with lights or candles?
The origins are German. In the sixteenth century John Calvin objected to observing the Christian calendar — which includes Christmas and Easter — because he felt such celebrations promoted irreligious frivolity. It was in this same century that Germany, by contrast, was establishing Christmas tree decorating as we know it today, launching the modern history of the Christmas tree. But in England the Puritans, influenced by Calvin, forbade the observance of Christmas (see “The Christian Calendar: A Complete Guide to the Seasons of the Christian Year,” Cowie and Gummer). And it wasn’t until the mid-nineteenth century, at the instigation of Prince Albert, that Christmas tree decorating achieved its present status in England. Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scar
