Where does the tradition of Christmas trees and their decorations come from?
The Christmas Tree Tradition Prior to the advent of Christianity ancient peoples also decorated with evergreen foliage. Just as today, plants and trees that remained green during winter held special meaning for the ancients. The shortest day of the year is known as the winter solstice. Many ancient peoples believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs being reminiscent of the plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return. ~ In ancient Egypt, Ra the sun god was believed to have begun recovery from illness at the solstice. In celebration of this transition, Egyptians decorated their homes with green palm rushes, symbolizing the triumph of life over death. ~ Early Romans celebrated Saturn, their god of agriculture, during the solstice. The feast, known as Saturnalia, celebrated th
