Oh Christmas Tree! Why people started putting trees in their houses
Grand fir trees are native to the Pacific Northwest — but they land in living rooms all over the world
Once upon a time, humans cut down trees so they could build their dwellings and make room for cities. And shortly after, many decided to bring them back into their living rooms every year.
"What a weird idea! Bring one into your house? Why ever would you do that?" pondered Vancouver tree guy David Tracey on CBC's North by Northwest.
While Tracey says it remains ironic that many people continue to decorate grand fir trees in their living room, he says the trees, in and of themselves, are fascinating.
In fact, they're native to B.C., and in the wild, they can grow over 90 metres tall.
But where exactly did the strange Christmas Tree tradition come from? Tracey says there's no concrete origin story — although a few have surfaced over the years.
1. Martin Luther's love for Jesus
Tracey says some trace the act back to famous German theologian and Protestant Christian reformer Martin Luther.
"Some people say Martin Luther did this in the late 1400s — that he was walking on a snowy eve somewhere thinking about the baby Jesus, and saw a beautiful fir tree (but it could have been a spruce)."
By this account, Luther was taken aback by the beauty of the tree, and brought it indoors as an expression of his love for Christ.
Tracey says there is little historical basis for this explanation, especially since there are records of old Latvian guidelines for decorated trees in the home, written several decades before Luther was born.
2. Ancient Roman Saturnalia
But going back even further, Tracey says there used to be an ancient Roman festival called Saturnalia that was quite similar to our modern holiday celebrations.
"This was a time around mid-December where the days were at their shortest," said Tracey.
The celebration was meant to mark the transition to the new season of growth and life, originating as a farmers festival that celebrated the beginning of a new season.
The festivities were headlined by gift-giving and large banquets. In fact, they would even bring living plants and greenery indoors as part of the celebrations.
"Does it remind you of anything?" asked Tracey.
3. A First Nations tradition
But when trying to pinpoint the cultural cues for bringing trees indoors, Tracey says you don't have to look too far away from home.
"It's been a First Nations custom for a long time to bring in delightful smelling boughs of trees like grand fir, like red cedar, to decorate around the home."
Tracey says the scent of the grand fir, along with its several medicinal properties, have made it a desirable tree in Indigenous cultures for centuries.
"It's not just a tree that looks good — it's a medicine chest."
With files from CBC's North by Norhtwest
To listen to the full interview, click on the audio labelled: Oh Christmas Tree! Why people started putting trees in their houses