Gardener’s Corner

Each year, when the weather gets colder and December approaches, many Americans who celebrate Christmas will get together to decorate a Christmas tree. But why in the world do we decorate these (often artificial) fir trees in the first place?

It turns out, the meaning behind Christmas trees as holiday decor goes back further than you might realize.

Ancient Egyptians and Romans

Both the ancient Egyptians and Romans saw the bright hue of evergreen plants as a way to give warmth and hope to people during the winter, according to History.com. Ancient people would mark the winter solstice (the shortest day and longest night of the year, which typically falls on December 21 or December 22) by using evergreen boughs. These plants served as a sunny reminder that other greens would grow again once spring and summer returned. People in some countries believed evergreens stood for everlasting life and even had the ability to ward off evil spirits and illnesses—another reason for the tradition of hanging evergreen boughs above doorways and inside homes.

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