Christmas tree 2014: what is its history?

Christmas trees : history , symbolism , culture

DDecember is a month full of magic and Holiday, as the Immaculate Conception and the long-awaited Christmas, the most felt and solemnized holiday throughout Italy and , almost certainly , around the world. It is getting closer , therefore , the time to decorate the Christmas tree , with the will , as every year , to renew a bit , but without discarding all the Christmas decorations from previous years. But then we discover together what the trends this year are , with fashion colors and original decorations.A very chic and sophisticated combination is given by the turquoise and gold : a theme of " frozen " , which refers to the concept of ice and cold , muffled by the warm tones of gold. In addition , the combination powder pink and silver , is a viable trendy alternative to dress the Christmas tree in 2014.

These nuances , perfect in every area, from the classic to more modern , can possibly be combined with red and green detailsTo realize the suggested decorations in a simple and elegant way and with a strong visual impact , is sufficient to buy some glass or transparent PVC balls and add in lovely ribbons in your favourite shades. Transparent balls, also allow to diversify the decorations from year to year , adapting to all colors and integrating with any style. But how much do we really know on Christmas tree ? What is its symbolic significance ?It is certainly one of the most followed traditions and its origins date back to ancient times. As a symbol of life , it was widespread in all cultures , even before the birth of Christianity . The tree shape appears in various customs and pagan rituals. It is present , for example ,in the Canaan (ancient religion (today's Palestine ) , which recognized a religious role to the trees, the Bible reminds us , referring to the " oaks of Mamre " and sacred groves placed on top of certain heights ; while , in the famous Nordic saga of the Nibelungs , it is said that at the center of the earth there is a large ash. Druids , the ancient priests of the Celts , noting that the fir trees were always green even in winter , considered them a symbol of long life and began to honor them during the feast of the winter solstice. Among people of pagan central and northern Europe it is thought that the celebration of winter solstice also foresaw the burning of a tree , in a sort of rite and illuminating in winter night that was beginning to regress.

However, for a long time the Christmas tree tradition was typical of the north areas of the Rhine : the Catholics considered it , in fact , a Protestant tradition and it is only after the Congress of Vienna that the custom spread on a large scale. In Vienna the Christmas tree appeared in 1816 , at the behest of Princess Henrietta von Nassau - Weilburg , and in France in 1840 , introduced by the Duchess of Orleans . In Italy the first to decorate a Christmas tree was Queen Margherita , in the second half of the nineteenth century , at the Quirinale and her fashion spread rapidly across the country.