The Christmas Tree

The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany, it became popular beyond Germany in the second half of the 19th century.  Although predecessors can be traced to possibly the 16th century.  A Christmas tree is usually an evergreen conifer such as spruce, pine or fir.  The artificial Christmas tree is made to resemble a real tree and is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).  Christmas trees were originally decorated with apples, nuts or dates.  Candles were added in the 18th century.  Electricity and lights followed.  The use of evergreen trees, wreaths and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Hebrews.