The history of the Christmas tree traces back to the symbolic use of evergreens in ancient Egypt and Rome, continuing with the German tradition of candlelit Christmas trees first brought to America in the 1800s. As HISTORY pointed out, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special place in people’s hearts in the winter long before Christianity. Similar to the way we decorate our homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, our ancestors hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. There was a common belief in many places that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year take place during December 21 or December 22 and are known as the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came because it had fallen sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that the sun god would start feeling better again. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the life that would flourish again when the sun god was strong and summer would return.