The first written mention of the Christmas tree was in Alsace. In 1521, a municipal decree allowed young fir-trees to be cut down on the occasion of the feast of the nativity. From Alsace, the custom seems to have spread quickly to Germany through merchants who had come to take part in the Strasbourg Fair. It then extended to eastern and northern Europe as well as the United States.

It is said that the first Christmas tree in Paris was put up in the Tuileries Palace, in 1837, by the German Princess Helen of Mecklendurg, wife of the Duke of Orleans. However, the tradition did not become established in France until the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and the immigration of Alsatians to France.

The tradition of Christmas trees is thus fairly recent as it only became widespread in the 19th century, but it is, in fact, the adaptation and extension of the very ancient custom of tree-worshipping.

The fir-tree, which remains green right in the deep mid-winter, symbolizes the continuity of life when nature appears dead. It represents the promise of the rebirth of the other trees and of all plant life. The candles put on the tree forecast the flowers of spring and the real or artificial fruit, which was hung there originally and was later replaced by multicoloured baubles and ornaments, recall the harvests to come. So, beneath the Christian celebration of Jesus's birth, lie ancient beliefs.

In the 4th century, the Western Church chose the date of 25th December to celebrate the birth of Christ in order to replace the pagan ceremonies of the winter solstice which fell at approximately that time.

In the Roman Empire, the feast of the Unvanquished Sun, which was honoured in the form of a new-born baby, fell on that day. The sun was considered as unvanquished since, after being threatened by ever-increasing darkness, it escaped death and was born again. This joy in light in the winter darkness is also celebrated by the candles shining on the tree.

At the time of Ancient Rome, Saturnalia was celebrated in the days preceding the solstice. In a carnival atmosphere, the crowd, wearing garlands and head-dresses made of leaves, paraded through the streets by candlelight. People exchanged gifts and Virgil speaks of a tree covered in toys as a tradition at these celebrations.

According to an alphabet calendar of trees, which had probably come down from Ancient Greece, the Druids started the year at the time of the winter solstice. It began on the day of the spruce and the letter A. Among certain peoples of England, Gaul and Germania, the night of 24th, which has become the night of the nativity, was "mothers' night".

In Greece, the spruce was the tree of Artemis, goddess of the moon and of wildlife, and protector of women who called upon her to facilitate childbirth, as, right after her birth, she helped her mother to deliver her twin brother Apollo, who was soon to be identified with the sun.

The custom of Saint-Barbe's branches has practically died out in France. On 4th December, Saint-Barbe (or Barbara)'s day, thin, freshly-cut branches of fruit-trees have to be put in a vase of water, if one wants them to flower for Christmas day. Seeds of wheat or lentils can also be put to germinate in a wet saucer and these will provide a clump of greenery on the Christmas dinner table.

Christmas is the feast of birth, of hope and of childhood. It is the feast of light in the darkness. Merry Christmas!