Ancient European tribes used the decorated evergreen as part of their mid-winter celebrations long before it became an integral part of the Christmas season. German immigrants in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania brought the tradition of a decorated Christmas tree with them when they settled in their new homeland in 1747.

These first trees were actually a wooden frame in the shape of a pyramid which they covered with evergreen branches and decorated with candles and apples. The practice of decorating a freshly cut small tree did not become well-known until publicity was given to the Christmas tree set up by Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert in 1848.

Since vast forests covered much of the United States, cutting down a large Christmas tree became a popular tradition. By 1900, many Americans had become concerned about the numbers of trees being cut down. In fact, President Theodore Roosevelt, a conservationist, refused to have a cut tree in the White House. Artificial trees, such as the “feather tree” found their way into concerned citizens’ homes. As the 20th century progressed, new materials, like aluminum and plastic, were adapted into the shape of trees. Today, with the concern over global warming, artificial trees that can be used year after year have become one of the “green” ways to celebrate the holiday.

Pyramids
The first recorded Christmas trees in America were decorated for children in a Moravian church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in Christmas Day in 1747. These were not real trees, but the European style of covering a wooden frame in the shape of a pyramid with evergreen branches. The pyramids were decorated with apples and candles.

Upside Down Tree
Upside down trees were popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Germany and Austria. The tips of large evergreen trees were cut off and hung upside down in the corner of the living room, often decorated with strips of red paper, apples and gilded nuts. Immigrants brought this tradition with them and hung trees upside down in their new American homes.

White Trees
During the 1880s, American Victorian trees were overly decorated. Some decorators suggested an alternative to these gaudy trees. The new style was a “flocked” white tree that was supposed to look like snow, making the tree more natural. The Decorator and Furnisher in December 1883 recommended the method of sprinkling the tree all over with water, shaking off the excess and then dredging it with flour. In minutes, the flour hardened, creating a white tree. White trees, better known as “flocked”, are still popular today in the 21st century.

Cotton Batting
Cotton batting, originally produced for use in quilts, was adapted as “snow” on the branches and around the Christmas tree in the early 1900s. Soon after, thrifty German farmers in Pennsylvania found an additional use for the material. Instead of discarding the family Christmas tree, they stripped the needles from the evergreen and wrapped cotton batting around the branches and the trunk. While the needles were used to stuff mattresses and pillows, the wrapped tree would be brought down from the attic year after year and decorated for the holiday season.

Umbrella Tree
Americans, often out of necessity, have adapted and found alternatives to evergreen Christmas trees. Author Robert Brenner in his book Christmas Through the Decades recorded the story of one poor southern African American family. Brenner states that the family, “...unable to obtain a live tree, turned to their creative powers in 1907 and fashioned the frame of an old umbrella into the shape of a tree. Covered with strings of cranberries and apples, candy sticks and cookies suspended from strings, this tree definitely was unusual. But its focal point in their Christmas celebration was just as precious as a live fir could have been.”

Feather Tree
Feather trees made of wood, wire and painted goose feathers were one of the many substitutes for a cut Christmas tree. The use of feather trees was supported by President Theodore Roosevelt, an ardent conservationist, who officially banned freshly-cut Christmas trees in the White House during his two terms in office. Other Americans who were also concerned about the number of evergreens being cut down selected artificial trees as alternatives. In 1912, department stores, such as Marshall Fields, sold feather trees in four different sizes. Prices ranged from 40 cents a dozen for 10 inch trees to $4.00 a dozen for 31½ inch trees. Feather trees were sparsely decorated with delicate ornaments that would not overpower the tree.

Non-Evergreen Trees
Early German immigrants in America continued the tradition of having a Christmas tree in their homes. Many settlers found themselves in regions of the country that did not have evergreens. Alternatives were found such as decorating saplings, branches, and even tumbleweeds. These makeshift Christmas trees were decorated with candles, cookies, sweets, ribbons, paper and nuts.

Plastic Trees
Radical changes in Christmas decorations occurred during the 1950s. The new direction for artificial trees and ornaments was plastic. Plastic trees were available in all sizes and colors, often coordinating with the decor of the home. While glass still held the lead in ornament sales, plastic became popular because it did not break easily. By 1950, Americans were spending in excess of 100 million dollars on ornaments, with plastics quickly gaining to 45 million dollars in sales.

Aluminum Trees
The most dazzling artificial tree was the aluminum tree introduced in America in the 1960s. The first aluminum trees were actually produced in the late 1950s but did not become popular until the next decade. These trees were usually trimmed with one color ornaments which were enhanced with additional color provided by a rotating color wheel. Although aluminum trees became quite the rage, they were shunned by many who thought it was unorthodox to have such a non-traditional tree.

New Lighting
Spun glass fibers first appeared in the 1890s and were used in Christmas ornaments as the tails of birds and animals. By the 1970s, glass fibers were used for telecommunication because of their ability to transmit light. The optical effect of these fibers has been adapted for decorative purposes, utilizing internal color wheels creating unusual artificial trees, Other new technologies in lighting have also been adapted for Christmas decorations. LED (Light- emitting Diode) lights with their bright, almost neon effects are the new fad in Christmas tree lights.

Spiral Trees
Each year, manufacturers introduce new products for Christmas. Sales of Christmas decorations have become a billion dollar industry in the United States alone. Inflatable, balloon- like figures decorate the lawns of homes and non -traditional shapes, such as white spiral trees, are currently popular.

World’s Largest Glass Christmas Ornament   
At the glass studio at Wheaton Arts in December, 2006, glass artist Deborah Czeresko attempted to make the world’s largest glass Christmas ornament. Along with her team of Skitch Manion, Slate Grove, Sam Geer, Coerte Voorhees, Jason Harding, Andrew Kettering, and Ben Sharp, Deborah produced several large ornaments. This ball is 22 inches in diameter and was not the largest. The group successfully blew an ornament 26 inches in diameter. This year, Deborah will attempt to break her own record.

WheatonArts is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through December 31. Open Labor Day. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission rates: $10.00 Adults, $9.00 Senior Citizens and $7.00 Students. Children five and under are free. For more information, call 1-800-998-4552 or 856-825-6800, or visit www.wheatonarts.org.

WheatonArts strives to make exhibits, events and programs accessible to all visitors. Call for details.