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Trees of Christmas Past: A Brief History of Holiday Tree Traditions
University Outreach Publication
The farther we march into a technological, silicon-and-plastic future, the more important simple tradition become. Many family or cultural traditions help us maintain contact with our pasts and perspective for our future. Since the beginning, humans have been emotionally and economically tied with forests and trees. During holidays, trees play an important part in our social and private traditions.
A tree is part of many people's holiday season. Cutting your own tree, selecting one at the local lot, or bringing in a living tree are all part of modern family traditions. To many, the beginning of the holiday season is decorating a tree. The aroma, beauty, and special adventure of having a tree is sensed by all in the home.
Having a tree for the Christmas-time holidays is a relatively new tradition in America. Christmas trees have not always been associated with the winter holidays across the world. The roots (no pun intended) of tree use can be traced back before the birth of Jesus Christ to early Egyptians who would bring palms indoor as symbols of eternal life. Ancient Jewish religious feasts used decorations made of tree boughs.
(FOR97-218) December 1997
Kim D. Coder
1997
University of Georgia School of Forest Resources
Athens, GA
2
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Aesthetics, Children and Youth, Communications, Marketing, Perceptions/Values/Attitudes, Social and Cultural Impacts
International
Christmas trees, Culture and trees, Holiday trees, Tree traditions, Trees and culture
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