Have you ever wondered why we put a tree full of decorations in our homes when these dates arrive? We explain where this tradition comes from
Many of the customs and festivities that we celebrate throughout the year have their origin in religion. Christmas was not going to be less, since it is one of the most important celebrations of Christianity, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Related to this holiday, one of the usual symbols of these dates full of family gatherings is the Christmas tree. A tree, either natural or artificial, adorned with lights and different elements and that is usually presided over by a star.
The origin of the use of the tree as a characteristic element to decorate at Christmas is uncertain, but there are several legends about how it ended up being one of the most symbolic objects of this holiday. Christianity used a strategy to end what it considered pagan holidays and was to associate both objects and dates of other religions to Christian celebrations. So, in the 8th century, according to one of the most widespread legends, a missionary named Boniface was in Germany and cut down a tree consecrated to Thor to which a sacrifice was offered during the winter. The missionary left another tree in exchange, a fir, which began to be worshiped every year as the reason for the birth of Jesus.
There are other legends that differ and put their origin in the middle of the 15th century in Estonia. In Tallinn, there was a tree in the town’s main square and one day a person started dancing around the tree and more people joined in and, after the dances, ended up burning the tree. The fact ended up spreading the custom of lighting trees during Christmas.
This tradition of decorating a tree with various elements has its roots in Spain at the end of the 19th century, when the princess of Russian origin, Sofía Troubetzkoy, married to a Spanish aristocrat, asked to install a decorated fir tree in her house. It is considered that it was in this way that the first Christmas tree arrived in our country.
.