When did decorating a tree become a Christmas tradition?

CuriousNugget: When did decorating a tree become a Christmas tradition?
…and why do families actually have “Christmas trees” on Christmas?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Mackenzie
Before Christmas.

Decorating evergreens and bringing evergreens in to decorate with were part of Winter Solstice holiday traditions.

The Winter Solstice marked the return of the light, usually the birth of a Sun God, and evergreens were a symbol of eternal life.

Answer by mg
It’s an ancient tradition going back to the ancient Norse people who celebrated Yule. The Norsemen brought in evergreen trees because they are some of the only ones that survive winter. so they represented the persistence of life in death and throughout the dark times of winter. But the Celts also use to decorate their temples with evergreen branches and mistletoe and stuff like that.

Answer by Emma
There are many traditions and symbols that we associate with Christmas including the Christmas tree, leaving cookies out for Santa Claus, and sending Christmas cards and Christmas presents. If you’re like most, you observe all of the traditions which are sacred to your family without a thought about where they originated or why they became so popular in the first place.

The origins of the Christmas tree actually predate Christ and the history of Christianity by thousands of years. The tree finds its beginning during the time of the Druids, a society made up of sorcerers, prophets and priests. During the time of the Druid winter solstice, which fell on December 21, the Druid priests decorated outdoor trees with apples and lit candles to show their appreciation to their god Odin. The candles represented the eternal light of their sun god Balter. Christians later adopted the practice widely and decorated their fir trees with apples to represent Adam and Eve’s gall from grace.

The Origins of Christmas Tradition – https://www.ornament-shop.net/origins-of-christmas-traditions.htm