The History and Origins of the Christmas Tree

The 1860’s English tree had become more innovative than the plain and delicate trees of earlier decades. Small toys were now hung on the branches, but still most gifts were placed on the table under the tree.

By the 1870s, glass ornaments were being imported into Britain from Lausccha, in

Thringia. It became a symbol of one’s station in life to have glass ornaments on the tree, the more one had, the more affluent one’s lifestyle. However, there were still many home-made items on family trees. The most popular adornment for the top of the tree was the nation’s flag. Sometimes there were flags of the Empire and even flags of the allied countries. Trees had suddenly become very patriotic.

It wasn’t until around 1880 that glass ornaments began being imported into America, where they were sold through stores such as F. W. Woolworth.

High Victorian Trees

The High Victorian tree of the 1890s was as high as the ceiling, and laden with glitter and tinsel and toys so over-done that the tree itself was barely visible. Even the “middle classes” managed to over-decorate their less expensive trees. Everything that could possibly go on a tree went onto it and people let their imaginations run wild. And not only the ornaments, but the tree itself became a status symbol. The larger the tree, the more affluent the family which owned it.

By 1900 trees with a theme were in style. A color scheme set in ribbons or balls, a topical idea such as an Oriental tree, or an Egyptian tree were some of the things tried. Sadly, they were to be the last of the great Christmas trees for some time.

The British and American Trees in the 20th Century

After Queen Victoria died in 1901, the nation went into a prolonged period of mourning and large, elegant trees, although they still remained popular in households, were not really evident publicly again until the nostalgia of the Dickensian fashion of the 1930s.

At this time, while many families and communities still had large tinsel strewn trees, many opted for the more convenient table top tree. These were available in a variety of sizes, and the artificial tree, particularly the goose feather tree, became popular at this time as well. These were originally created in the 1880s in Germany, to combat the loss of fir trees during Christmas.

In America, the Addis Brush Company designed the first brush trees, using the same machinery which made their toilet brushes! Imagine what a conversation piece this must have been.

In the 1930s with the second-coming of the Dickensian era, Christmas trees became large and real again, and were elaborately decorated with many bells, balls and tinsels, and with a beautiful golden-haired angel at the top. But wartime England put a damper on Christmas celebrations throughout the land, causing many people to again cut back on their tree decorating and even the size of the trees themselves, which became small tabletop trees with home-made decorations.

Postwar Britain saw a revival of nostalgia again. People desperately needed the security of Christmas with its message of joy and peace to all so comforting in a changing world. Trees were as large as people could afford and real trees over artificial became the favorites once more. In South Wales, where real trees were difficult to find in the rural areas, holly bushes were used instead and decorated just like a real Christmas tree.

The mid-1960s saw another change with modernist ideas taking over. Silver aluminum trees were imported from America. The silver pine tree of the 1950s had a comeback and was designed to have a revolving light under it, with colored gelatine windows, which allowed the light to shine in different shades as it revolved under the tree. Absolutely no decorations for this tree!

America returned to Victorian nostalgia in the 1970s, and a decade later Britain followed their example.

Real Christmas trees were still popular, but artificial trees had found their niche too. People simple preferred the convenience of an artificial tree which didn’t limit them in size, and eliminated the mess of dropped needles.

In the last decade of the 20th century, artificial trees maintained their popularity and became more natural-looking. Another welcome feature was the all in one package tree, already assembled and decorated, for those people too busy to shop for and then decorate a tree for themselves.

As the new millennium approached, it became clear, however, that real Christmas trees were making a comeback and, with their aura of nostalgia, would always have a place in people’s hearts.