Free images of Decorated Christmas Trees 

Note on large files:  Very large files may be bigger than your screen.  
Right click on any portion of the image showing and chose "save as". 

What is the origin and meaning of the Christmas Tree?

Many fanciful stories about the origin of the Christmas tree can be found on the internet.  Which is correct? Dr. Richard P. Bucher writes for Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and did much research on the topic.  

According to Dr. Bucher, scholarly consensus states that the Christmas tree originated in Germany.  The earliest record of an evergreen tree being used and decorated for Christmas is 1521.  A resident of Strasbourg writes in 1605 that "At Christmas they set up fir trees in the parlors at Strasborg and hang thereon roses cut of many-coloured paper, apples, wafers, gold-foil, sweets..."  

It is assumed that the popularity of the Christmas tree grew and trees were first used in America around 1700 when the first wave of German immigration settled in western Pennsylvania.  Dr. Bucher found that the first Christmas tree in England was in 1841 when the husband of Queen Victoria set up a tree in Windsor Castle.

According to Dr. Bucher, evergreens have since the ancient times been a symbol of rebirth.  Greenery was brought into homes to symbolize life.  Living trees were brought in during the old German feast of Yule beginning in November.  No evidence can be found, however, that our Christmas tree was a descendent of the Yule tree.

Dr. Bucher's research brings evidence that our Christmas tree was more likely a descendent of the "Paradise" tree that was used in plays performed in churches.  The Paradise play depicts the story of Adam and Eve.  The only prop that was used with a Paradise tree adorned with apples. Because immoral behaviour crept into these plays, the Church forbade the plays in the 1500th century.  People, however, put up their own Paradise trees on December 24th during the feast day of Adam and Eve.  The tree symbolized both sin and a tree of life.  The belief is that the trees were decorated with apples, homemade wafers representing the fruit of life and later candy and sweets.  

Another custom in Germany since the late Middle Ages was the placing of small candles upon a wooden pyramid on December 24th.  The candles represented Christ as the light of the world.  

It would appear, that our present Christmas trees are descendants of both the Paradise tree and Christmas light pyramids.

Thank you to Dr. Bucher.  You may read his original article here.

_____________________________________________________________

Other unsubstantiated stories include a belief is that the needles of spruce trees point toward heaven and symbolize man's connection with the Lord.  Christmas tree species are typically evergreens that further signify abundant life throughout the year.

In addition to being decorated with candles, trees long ago were also decorated with cookies, nuts, sugar ornaments and later small toys.  Glass ornaments became popular later and have now been replaced with plastic decorations, ribbons, garlands and tinsel. Since there were no Christmas tree stands, trees in the olden days were erected with wood planks.   An elderly friend of mine from Europe recalls how their tree was hung from a rafter at her family farm.   Her father, being afraid that the children would knock over the tree and the lit candles, hung it from the rafters.  Apparently many people in Europe thought the same way at the time and many trees hung from rafters.

Xmas Tree Decor - 6

Medium - 640 x 480  Right click on above image and chose "save as".

Large - 3456 x 4608  -  Now only available via email request.

Xmas Tree Decor - 5

Medium - 640 x 480  Right click on above image and chose "save as".

Large - 3456 x 4608  -  Now only available via email request.

Xmas Tree Decor - 4

Medium - 640 x 480  Right click on above image and chose "save as".

Large - 4608 x 3456  -  Now only available via email request.

Xmas Tree Decor - 3

Medium - 640 x 480  Right click on above image and chose "save as".

Large - 3456 x 4608  -  Now only available via email request.

Xmas Tree Decor - 2

Medium - 640 x 480  Right click on above image and chose "save as".

Large - 3281 x 4463  -  Now only available via email request.

Xmas Tree Decor - 1

Medium - 640 x 480  Right click on above image and chose "save as".

Large - 4608 x 3456  - Now only available via email request.

Christmas Tree png1  Note:  This is a png file!

Medium - 362 x 640  Right click on above image and chose "save as".

Large - 1878 x 3321  -  Now only available via email request.

Xmas Tree - 1
This is a jpg image of tree on white background.

Medium - 640 x 480  Right click on above image and chose "save as".

Large - 1226 x 1607  -  Now only available via email request.