| The enjoyment of a nice decorated tree during | | | | of solidarity and good will. For example, the city of |
| the Christmas season has been engrained into | | | | Oslo, Norway presents a tree to the citizens of |
| Western culture. A good many of us have fond | | | | London, Great Britain as a gesture of appreciation |
| memories of going out with our parents or other | | | | and friendship for their support of Norwegian |
| loved ones to purchase the tree and decorate it | | | | resistance during World War II. The city of |
| with ornaments, lights, and pine cones. A large | | | | Boston, Massachusetts, United States receives a |
| number of photographs taken at the Christmas | | | | tree from Nova Scotia, Canada in appreciation of |
| season will have the decorated tree as a | | | | the provision of supplies and rescuers when an |
| prominent representation of warmth and good | | | | ammunition ship exploded and destroyed the city |
| spirits. | | | | of Halifax in 1917. |
| Although the concept of having evergreens in the | | | | In recent years, the Christmas tree has been a |
| home around mid- to late-December can be | | | | magnet for criticism among many groups. For |
| traced back to medieval times, the modern | | | | example, non-Christians resent the symbol |
| custom of erecting a tree originated in 16th | | | | because of the focus on Christmas as a religious |
| century Germany. Legend has it that Martin | | | | holiday as opposed to celebrating the season in a |
| Luther (of the Lutheran religion fame) began the | | | | more general way. Also, environmentalists take |
| modern day tradition by bringing a fur tree into | | | | issue with the erecting of Christmas trees |
| his home and decorating it with candles to honor | | | | because of its negative impact on the |
| God and Jesus on Christmas day. Whether or not | | | | environment, both from killing live trees and the |
| Martin Luther did start the tradition in Germany or | | | | manufacture and eventual disposal of artificial |
| it originated some other way, the practice did | | | | trees. |
| slowly catch on with people. By the early 18th | | | | Whatever people's views of erecting and |
| century, the custom of erecting a Christmas tree | | | | decorating evergreen trees at Christmas, it is |
| had spread to towns and other urban areas in | | | | clear that their will be a place for the tradition in |
| Germany and, by the 19th century, had spread | | | | modern day culture. Its usefulness as a symbol |
| throughout Europe, Russia, and even the United | | | | for solidarity and good will is important to societies |
| States. | | | | facing challenging economic and social challenges |
| The Christmas tree has come to represent the | | | | and to families looking to create and maintain a |
| best of human nature and an important symbol | | | | loving bond and commitment. |