December 18, 2003

 

Fir Trees and Christmas Traditions

By Ron Smith, Horticulturist
NDSU Extension Service

The fir tree has long been associated with Christmas. The Balsam fir, Abies balsamea, and the Fraser fir, Abies fraseri, are easily decorated, highly scented trees tied to some of the earliest traditions of Christmas.

About 1000 years ago in Germany St. Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, cut down an oak tree that was being worshiped by a group of pagans. To his amazement, a young fir tree sprang up from the roots of the oak, and St. Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith.

Our Christmas tree was not always tied to Christian events. The pagan priests known as Druids used evergreens in winter solstice rituals. It wasn't until about 1,500 when legend has it that Martin Luther was strolling through snow-covered woods and came upon a beautiful group of small evergreens whose branches were all dusted with snow. So touched by this simple beauty, Martin Luther brought a small fir tree indoors and decorated it with candles for himself and his children to enjoy.

It’s very likely the Christmas tree tradition arrived with the Hessian troops during the American Revolution or with immigrants from Germany who settled in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The tradition was slow to catch on; the Puritans banned Christmas in New England; in 1851 a Cleveland minister almost lost his job because he allowed a tree in his church; schools stayed open in Boston on Christmas Day through 1870, and even expelled students who decided to stay home that day.

The idea of Christmas trees in the home on a wide scale basis began in New York City in 1851. By 1900 one in five homes in America had a Christmas tree, and some 20 years later the custom was essentially universal.

Today the fir is not the only tree used to celebrate Christmas. In fact, more Scotch pines are sold than fir trees because they drop fewer needles once inside. Douglas fir (not a true fir) comprises the next biggest share of the market, followed closely by the fir species, white pine, and even some spruce. Some families shun the natural tree altogether to save on the mess and slight imperfections of live trees and go for the artificial counterpart.

Perhaps the most touching story of the natural tree comes from World War I when some German troops situated opposite British forces opted to erect Christmas trees adorned with lit candles along the trenches of the Western Front. The German troops then began singing carols and the British followed suit with carols of their own. Pretty soon the "Tommy" troops were hollering greetings to "Fritz" troops opposite them and the Germans returned the greetings. Cigars and whisky were then exchanged between the trenches and the guns in that particular sector remained silent -- at least for that one night.

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Source: Ron Smith, (701) 231-8161, ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu