Why are evergreens used at Christmas?

Smithsonian Gardens describes winter displays of evergreen trees, boughs and garlands as symbols of everlasting life and as reminders of the growth of spring.

How were Christmas trees lit before electric lights?

With real flames. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History records that lighting a tree in the 1800s meant burning candles, with families clipping candle holders and small glass jars containing candles onto the branches, and keeping buckets of water at the base of the tree to water it and to douse any fires.

When was the first electrically lit Christmas tree?

The first electrically lit Christmas tree we know of belonged to Edward Johnson of New York City in 1882. Its 60 red, white and blue bulbs were used to advertise Thomas Edison's lighting system, according to the National Museum of American History.

What Christmas tree image appeared in Godey's Lady's Book in 1850?

A print from the Illustrated London News showing Queen Victoria and her family around a candlelit Christmas tree. The National Museum of American History records that it was revamped for an American audience and featured in the popular Godey's Lady's Book in 1850.

Are modern Christmas tree lights safer?

The National Museum of American History notes that electrically lit trees were somewhat safer than candles, though some early sets ran very hot and caused fires, while newer LED lights run cool and virtually eliminate the threat of fire if used properly.

Christmas history

Who Started the Christmas Tree Tradition?

A traditional decorated Christmas tree in a warm cozy living room with antique glass ornaments, red ribbons, a star on top and a glowing fireplace beside it

Quick answer

The honest answer is that no single person started it. Smithsonian Gardens notes that common historical accounts trace the custom back to ancient cultures that displayed evergreen trees, boughs and garlands in winter as symbols of everlasting life. What is far better documented is the later part of the story: candlelit trees in the 1800s, a royal Christmas tree image republished for American readers in 1850, and the first electrically lit tree in 1882.

Why there is no single inventor

Search for the origin of the Christmas tree and you will find confident answers naming a country, a city and sometimes a decade. We do not repeat them, because the sources we trust do not support that level of precision. Smithsonian Gardens summarises the position plainly: as far as common historical accounts are concerned, the story starts with the customs of ancient Egyptian, Chinese, Scandinavian and other cultures that displayed evergreen trees, boughs and garlands during the winter.

Smithsonian Gardens describes those displays as symbols of everlasting life and as reminders of the growth of spring. The sources used on this page do not name a single originator, place or date for the decorated indoor tree, so this page does not name one either.

The candle era: beautiful and genuinely dangerous

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History records that in the 1800s, lighting a tree actually involved burning candles. Families added candle holders and small glass jars containing candles onto the branches of the tree. In the 1800s and early 1900s, many households clipped metal candle holders directly to the branches, and the museum holds examples of them in its collections.

Trees illuminated by candlelight are pretty but quite dangerous. Families kept buckets of water at the base of the tree, both to water the freshly cut base and to douse any fires before they spread. It is worth holding onto that detail the next time a string of lights feels unromantic: the alternative was an open flame on a drying conifer in a wooden-floored room.

1850: a royal Christmas tree image republished for American readers

A print from the Illustrated London News showing Queen Victoria and her family gathered around a candlelit Christmas tree was revamped for the United States and featured in the popular Godey's Lady's Book in 1850, as the National Museum of American History describes.

1882: the first electrically lit Christmas tree

Then electric lights were invented. The first electrically lit Christmas tree we know of belonged to Edward Johnson of New York City in 1882. Its 60 red, white and blue bulbs were used by advertisers to promote Thomas Edison's lighting system, according to the National Museum of American History.

Electrically lit trees were somewhat safer than candles, but not all light sets were well made, and some ran very hot and caused fires. The museum notes that newer LED lights run cool and virtually eliminate the threat of fire if used properly.

Other holiday lighting recorded by the museum

The National Museum of American History describes several other forms of holiday lighting alongside the tree: Advent candles, the crown of candles worn during St Lucia celebrations, molded candles that were common home decorations throughout the 1900s, and electric bubble lights designed to look like candles.

Sources used on this page

Historical claims above are limited to these two Smithsonian sources. Where they stop, this page stops.

For how the tree and the wider season are kept today, our Christmas traditions around the world comparison and the country-by-country Christmas in hub both work from separately sourced records, and Christmas decorating ideas covers the practical side of putting a tree up now.

Frequently asked questions

Who started the Christmas tree tradition?: No single person can be credited. Smithsonian Gardens notes that common historical accounts trace the custom back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, Scandinavian and other cultures that displayed evergreen trees, boughs and garlands during winter, as symbols of everlasting life and reminders of the growth of spring. Later stages of the story are better documented than any single origin.
Why are evergreens used at Christmas?: Smithsonian Gardens describes winter displays of evergreen trees, boughs and garlands as symbols of everlasting life and as reminders of the growth of spring.
How were Christmas trees lit before electric lights?: With real flames. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History records that lighting a tree in the 1800s meant burning candles, with families clipping candle holders and small glass jars containing candles onto the branches, and keeping buckets of water at the base of the tree to water it and to douse any fires.
When was the first electrically lit Christmas tree?: The first electrically lit Christmas tree we know of belonged to Edward Johnson of New York City in 1882. Its 60 red, white and blue bulbs were used to advertise Thomas Edison's lighting system, according to the National Museum of American History.
What Christmas tree image appeared in Godey's Lady's Book in 1850?: A print from the Illustrated London News showing Queen Victoria and her family around a candlelit Christmas tree. The National Museum of American History records that it was revamped for an American audience and featured in the popular Godey's Lady's Book in 1850.
Are modern Christmas tree lights safer?: The National Museum of American History notes that electrically lit trees were somewhat safer than candles, though some early sets ran very hot and caused fires, while newer LED lights run cool and virtually eliminate the threat of fire if used properly.