The Christmas tree, a beloved festive staple, has royal origins that many aren't aware of. As Queen Victoria played a key role in popularising this festive decoration during her reign.
According to Texas A&M university, the origins of the Christmas tree stretch back to ancient civilisations, where the evergreen tree - now known as the Christmas tree - symbolised light during the darkest time of the year.
In the early 19th century, the German Christmas carol "O Tannenbaum" by Ernst Anschütz honoured the evergreen tree’s enduring presence through the long, dark winter.
Although Christmas is a Christian holiday, the solstice was still celebrated across Europe with evergreen trees, particularly by German Protestants. However according to Texas A&M University, English Puritans opposed the tradition, citing its lack of Biblical origins.
The Royal Family in Scotland
Many believe the first decorated Christmas tree resembling today's tradition emerged in 16th-century Germany, however Martin Luther is credited with adorning trees with candles during the 1500s.
Queen Victoria's German heritage helped shape Christmas traditions in the English-speaking world.
Her husband Prince Albert, who was also German, sent Christmas trees to schools and army forts during the Christmas season.
However, the tradition gained widespread popularity after an 1848 etching made it public.
The famous etching of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children, celebrating Christmas around a evergreen tree decorated with candles and ornaments.
The illustration was published in the Illustrated London News in December 1848, and according to the BBC, the royal family continued the tradition annually, bringing the tree into Windsor Castle on Christmas Eve.
Soon enough the tradition was popularised around the UK as families would bring their own trees home and decorate them with candles, ornaments and treats.
Decorating Christmas trees became a widespread trend, which was no surprise due to Queen Victoria's popularity as a monarch, who many believed to be a trendsetter.
The tradition echoed into literature, when Charles Dickens wrote the short story A Christmas Tree about decorating the now famous tradition of decorating the tree in 1950.
The tradition extended to public displays of Christmas trees, which became popular in the 20th century and continue to this day.
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King Charles continues to carry on the tradition started by his ancestors as Windsor Castle showcases a 20-foot-high Christmas tree decorated with thousands of twinkling lights.
In 2023, the King announced that the tree would be replanted to be reuse for next Christmas.
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