Evolution of the Christmas tree
November in Michigan brings morning frost that causes the grass to turn brown and die. The days are gradually
getting cooler, and the wind blows the orange, red, and yellow leaves off the trees. It looks bleak outside as the
land seems barren and drab, the beauty of Fall begins to fade away. This is the time of year that the evergreen
trees begin to stand out in the bleak landscape, especially on the days that it is snowing. Centuries ago,
Egyptians and Romans would use vibrant evergreen boughs to decorate their homes for celebrations and would
hang wreaths on their front doors. In the 16 th century, Germans began bringing pine trees into their homes to
celebrate Christmas, and lit candles that were attached to the tree branches. The glowing light from the candles
were symbolic of the stars in the sky. It is believed that in the 1700’s, the Germans brought the Christmas tree
tradition with them as they emigrated to the United States. At first, the American people thought it was unusual
to bring a tree inside the house, but by the mid 1800’s, the idea of Christmas trees was becoming more popular.
Perhaps, credit can be given to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert because whatever they did in court, people
around the world wanted to do as well. In 1846, the London News published a drawing of Queen Victoria and
her family standing around a decorated Christmas tree, this published photo prompted many people to adopt
the Christmas tree tradition. Christmas trees have not always been real pine, spruce, Douglas fir, balsam, or
even Cyprus. For people who lived in the city and didn’t have trees on their property to cut down and bring
inside, getting a real tree was an expensive luxury. In the mid 1700’s, Germans would stack wooden blocks to
mimic a tree and candles were added to the display as a more cost-effective decoration. Then later, to minimize
deforestation in Germany, Christmas trees were made using dyed goose feathers. These feather trees became
quite popular in the United States in the early 1900’s, with the feather trees being dye a variety of festive colors.
Then, in 1930, the Addis Brush Company created an artificial Christmas tree from brush bristles. The company
made toilet brushes and used the same technology along with green dye to make the bottle brush Christmas
tree.
By the 1960’s many Americans were obsessed with NASA, rockets, and outer space, so it is no surprise that
everyone wanted a modern space-age Christmas tree. These shiny aluminum trees also known as Pom-Pom and
Silver-Bright Sparkler, were so popular that 150,000 trees were produced in 1964. The artificial trees came in
several shiny colors and sizes, were sleek, elegant, and never lost their needles. Although the trees were fake,
there was a very real possibility of death by electrocution! These trees remained top sellers until the mid-
seventies when traditional trees became popular once again. The 1970’s can also be credited with ceramic
Christmas trees that glowed with colored lights. People flocked to ceramic shops to choose an unpainted bisque
tree and would then apply their choice of colored glaze. The tree was placed in a kiln to be fired and harden the
glaze. Lights were then inserted into holes in the ceramic tree branches, and when the tree was plugged in, the
colors gleamed brightly. These trees remained popular through the 80’s and into the 1990’s. These trees are
regaining popularity today, as many people are wanting to display the brightly lit ceramic trees that remind
them of their childhood.
We cannot forget the actual artificial tree that we know today, made from PVC. The first PVC Christmas trees
came with a tall center trunk and hundreds of branches that had to be individually inserted. Anyone that has put
one of those trees together is very thankful that eventually the artificial trees were modified reducing the
number of pieces, making assembly much faster. Manufactures later created a pre-lit Christmas tree making it
faster and easier than ever to set up the holiday tree. Gone was the struggle of untangling strands of lights and
trying to arrange them just right onto the tree. Today, artificial trees come in many shapes and sizes, and in a
variety of colors. There are tall, short, fat, skinny, tabletop, and even half trees to hang on a wall. Trees are pre-
lit in white or multi-colored, fiberoptic that have changing colors, and even trees with fake snow on them.
Vintage looking trees are popular once again, making it easier than ever to find the perfect tree. Whether you
choose to pick out a fresh Christmas tree from a tree farm, the corner lot in town, or an artificial tree from the
store, we wish you very Merry Christmas! Evolution of the Christmas tree
November in Michigan brings morning frost that causes the grass to turn brown and die. The days are gradually
getting cooler, and the wind blows the orange, red, and yellow leaves off the trees. It looks bleak outside as the
land seems barren and drab, the beauty of Fall begins to fade away. This is the time of year that the evergreen
trees begin to stand out in the bleak landscape, especially on the days that it is snowing. Centuries ago,
Egyptians and Romans would use vibrant evergreen boughs to decorate their homes for celebrations and would
hang wreaths on their front doors. In the 16 th century, Germans began bringing pine trees into their homes to
celebrate Christmas, and lit candles that were attached to the tree branches. The glowing light from the candles
were symbolic of the stars in the sky. It is believed that in the 1700’s, the Germans brought the Christmas tree
tradition with them as they emigrated to the United States. At first, the American people thought it was unusual
to bring a tree inside the house, but by the mid 1800’s, the idea of Christmas trees was becoming more popular.
Perhaps, credit can be given to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert because whatever they did in court, people
around the world wanted to do as well. In 1846, the London News published a drawing of Queen Victoria and
her family standing around a decorated Christmas tree, this published photo prompted many people to adopt
the Christmas tree tradition. Christmas trees have not always been real pine, spruce, Douglas fir, balsam, or
even Cyprus. For people who lived in the city and didn’t have trees on their property to cut down and bring
inside, getting a real tree was an expensive luxury. In the mid 1700’s, Germans would stack wooden blocks to
mimic a tree and candles were added to the display as a more cost-effective decoration. Then later, to minimize
deforestation in Germany, Christmas trees were made using dyed goose feathers. These feather trees became
quite popular in the United States in the early 1900’s, with the feather trees being dye a variety of festive colors.
Then, in 1930, the Addis Brush Company created an artificial Christmas tree from brush bristles. The company
made toilet brushes and used the same technology along with green dye to make the bottle brush Christmas
tree.
By the 1960’s many Americans were obsessed with NASA, rockets, and outer space, so it is no surprise that
everyone wanted a modern space-age Christmas tree. These shiny aluminum trees also known as Pom-Pom and
Silver-Bright Sparkler, were so popular that 150,000 trees were produced in 1964. The artificial trees came in
several shiny colors and sizes, were sleek, elegant, and never lost their needles. Although the trees were fake,
there was a very real possibility of death by electrocution! These trees remained top sellers until the mid-
seventies when traditional trees became popular once again. The 1970’s can also be credited with ceramic
Christmas trees that glowed with colored lights. People flocked to ceramic shops to choose an unpainted bisque
tree and would then apply their choice of colored glaze. The tree was placed in a kiln to be fired and harden the
glaze. Lights were then inserted into holes in the ceramic tree branches, and when the tree was plugged in, the
colors gleamed brightly. These trees remained popular through the 80’s and into the 1990’s. These trees are
regaining popularity today, as many people are wanting to display the brightly lit ceramic trees that remind
them of their childhood.
We cannot forget the actual artificial tree that we know today, made from PVC. The first PVC Christmas trees
came with a tall center trunk and hundreds of branches that had to be individually inserted. Anyone that has put
one of those trees together is very thankful that eventually the artificial trees were modified reducing the
number of pieces, making assembly much faster. Manufactures later created a pre-lit Christmas tree making it
faster and easier than ever to set up the holiday tree. Gone was the struggle of untangling strands of lights and
trying to arrange them just right onto the tree. Today, artificial trees come in many shapes and sizes, and in a
variety of colors. There are tall, short, fat, skinny, tabletop, and even half trees to hang on a wall. Trees are pre-
lit in white or multi-colored, fiberoptic that have changing colors, and even trees with fake snow on them.
Vintage looking trees are popular once again, making it easier than ever to find the perfect tree. Whether you
choose to pick out a fresh Christmas tree from a tree farm, the corner lot in town, or an artificial tree from the
store, we wish you very Merry Christmas!
