It would be hard to imagine a Christmas without a stunning decorative artificial Christmas tree adorning your home. But just where did this beloved tradition come from?

In this article, we take a look at why Christmas trees have become one of the most important symbols of the festive season and who is responsible for introducing the humble Christmas tree to the British Isles.

Why do we have Christmas trees?

Christmas trees have existed in some form for thousands of years. Both the Ancient Egyptians and Chinese revered conifer trees and would worship them because of how they would stay green and plush all year round. 

They were seen as a unique symbol of eternal life. These civilisations would bring sprigs of the trees indoors and decorate the outside of their homes with colourful garlands and wreaths.

Around the same time, Europeans began to adopt evergreen trees as a symbol of their own Christmas traditions, with Yule trees being particularly popular in Germany. These festive symbols started to be incorporated into Christian celebrations at Christmas time.

However, these trees weren't just popular at Christmas. In Scandinavia, trees were routinely placed in homes or outhouses at New Year in an attempt to scare off the Devil. Not very festive, we'll admit!

Which country popularised the Christmas tree?

Adorning the handy evergreen tree with twinkly Christmas tree lights, glittery ornaments, tinsels and garments can be traced back to Europe. Germany has the biggest claim on the Christmas tree tradition, although Estonia and Latvia have also held on tight to the custom.

So how did Christmas trees become such a popular choice of Christmas decoration in England? The roots of this lie with the British Royals, but perhaps not the person you might first think.

Who introduced the first Christmas tree to the UK?

Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, has been often touted as the reason behind the popularity of the Christmas tree in England.

But, the roots of the tradition go back slightly before he arrived in the British Isles.

Christmas tree beginnings in Germany

By the 18th century, Christmas trees were a huge tradition in Germany, but it didn't take long for this idea to travel to Britain and worldwide.

It is said that the German wife of King George III, Queen Charlotte, began to have adorned trees decorated and placed around her palaces.

The first record of this was in 1800 when Queen Charlotte merrily decorated a tree with candles and sweets in anticipation of a Christmas party at Queen's Lodge in Windsor. As a child living in Germany, it was common for her family to place presents under the Christmas tree, and when she moved to England she continued the festive habit.

However, Christmas trees were still not a known custom outside royal life in England.

While the aristocracy took ideas that they had seen in the royal court and implemented trees into their Christmas celebrations, elsewhere in the country, the phenomenon was still unknown.

In fact, the idea still didn't take off throughout the Georgian period. It took the Victorians to instil many of the traditions we still enjoy to this very day.

Queen Charlotte's granddaughter was Queen Victoria, who famously married her German cousin, Prince Albert.

The Illustrated London News

Traditional Christmas trees became the ultimate vogue statement when an illustration of the newly married couple gathered around a glorious and opulently decorated Christmas tree was published in the Illustrated London News in 1848.

The picture caused a sensation, with Victorian society all too keen to adopt a festive tree of their own just like their royal family. The royal couple were generally extremely well regarded by both the British aristocracy and the wider public.

Because of this, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert would set trends, and the Christmas tree was undoubtedly one of the most popular. If the royal couple had a tree, everyone else wanted one.

Middle-class families began displaying trees

By the 1850s, the Christmas tree was now a firm festive favourite among the middle classes who were keen to emulate what they had seen in the Illustrated London News. While Prince Albert did not introduce the Christmas tree to England as is widely believed, he and his wife did play a huge hand in making the Christmas tree so sought-after.

The couple were delighted by the country's response and actively encouraged the spread of their festive traditions and celebrations. Each year, the Prince would organise for royal Christmas trees from the various royal estates to be gifted throughout the country to barracks, hospitals and schools.

Christmas trees at Windsor Castle

It was at Windsor Castle where Victoria and Albert would spend their Christmas together with their children and their wider family circle.

At Windsor, they had a variety of decorated bushy Christmas trees around the castle and even had one each which they would decorate to their own personal tastes. The rest of the family wasn't left out either. The Queen's mother had one, the children shared another, the royal household was gifted their own, and the servants also received one.

Each tree would be placed on a table surrounded by presents, which were gifted on Christmas Eve as was common in Germany.

The royals used spruce firs from Germany rather than yew trees. These would be lavishly decorated with the first manufactured Christmas tree decorations, also imported from Germany by Prince Albert himself.

It's hard to overestimate how spectacular a Christmas display it was at Windsor Castle during the reign of Queen Victoria. Even chandeliers were taken down and replaced by huge upside down Christmas trees hanging from the ceiling. In 2011, this was replicated for the public in Windsor Castle.

Once the tradition of decorated Christmas trees was introduced to England, it steadfastly remained. Today, almost 10 million Christmas trees are sold throughout the country annually.

Royal modern-day Christmas trees

Even now, Christmas trees are hugely popular among the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II has a stunning tree placed each year in St George's Hall in Windsor Castle, which members of the public can come to admire.

Similar to her great-great-grandfather, the Queen also gifts a series of trees from the royal estate to various locations, such as Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh and St Paul's Cathedral, London as well as a wide variety of schools, public buildings and churches throughout the country.

The royal family have their very own tree at Sandringham House, which they gather around on Christmas Eve to add the finishing decorative touches.

There are even rumours that the Queen's tree is not taken down until as late as February, which is different from the usual tradition of not leaving a Christmas tree up past Twelfth Night if you want to avoid bad luck after the Christmas period.

FAQs

What was a Victorian Christmas like?

The festive season in Victorian Britain was not too dissimilar to the Christmas that many of us enjoy today.

The Victorians transformed Christmas into a family affair, with emphasis placed on children and spending time together. Much like we still do today, an indulgent dinner was followed by parlour games and various other forms of entertainment by children and adults alike. Unlike nowadays, present giving was reserved solely for Christmas Eve.

What other Christmas traditions did the Victorians introduce to the UK?

Not only did the Victorians popularise decorating Christmas trees, but they also gave us several other familiar Christmas customs. These include roasting a festive bird, giving and receiving presents, consuming Christmas pudding, and drinking a glass or two (or three!) of mulled wine.

Which country gifts England a Christmas tree?

The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been gifted to the country by Norway since 1947. It was first bestowed as a sign of gratitude to the United Kingdom for its support throughout the Second World War and some became a tradition, with the tree being erected in early December and displayed until Twelfth Night, the 6th of January.

Decorate your home with a Christmas tree fit for royalty

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