Germany introduced the tradition of the modern Christmas tree.

Origins

Modern Christmas trees originated in Central Europe, particularly Germany, during the 16th century among German Lutherans. Records show the first documented use in the Cathedral of Strasbourg in 1539, linked to Protestant reformer Martin Bucer. The tradition is often associated with Martin Luther adding candles to mimic starlight on evergreens.

Early Records

Earlier claims exist in nearby Baltic regions, such as Tallinn, Estonia (1441), and Riga, Latvia (1510), where merchants' guilds erected trees in town squares, decorated them, and burned them in celebrations. Despite these, the indoor decorated Christmas tree as widely known today developed and spread from Germany.

Global Spread

German settlers brought the custom to America in the 1800s, while Prince Albert popularized it in England. It reached France in 1840 via the Duchess d'Orléans.