Oh Christmas Tree! Why people started putting trees in their houses

Once upon a time, humans cut down trees so they could build their dwellings and make room for cities. And shortly after, manydecided to bring them back into their living rooms every year.

"What a weird idea! Bring one into your house? Why ever would you do that?" pondered Vancouver tree guy David Traceyon CBC's North by Northwest.

While Tracey says it remains ironic that many people continue to decorate grand fir trees in their living room, he says the trees, in and of themselves, are fascinating.

In fact, they're native to B.C., and in the wild, they can grow over 90 metres tall.

But where exactly did the strange Christmas Tree tradition come from? Tracey says there's no concrete origin story although a fewhave surfaced over the years.

1. Martin Luther's love for Jesus

Tracey says sometrace the act back to famous German theologianand Protestant Christian reformerMartin Luther.

"Some people say Martin Luther did this in the late 1400s that he was walking on a snowy eve somewhere thinking about the baby Jesus, and saw a beautiful fir tree (but it could have been a spruce)."

By this account, Luther was taken aback by the beauty of the tree, and brought it indoors as an expression of his love for Christ.

Tracey says there is little historical basis for this explanation, especially since there are records of old Latvian guidelines for decorated trees in the home, writtenseveral decades before Luther was born.

2. Ancient Roman Saturnalia

But going back even further, Tracey says there used to be an ancient Roman festival called Saturnalia that was quite similar to our modern holiday celebrations.

"This was a time around mid-December where the days were at their shortest," said Tracey.

The celebration was meant to mark thetransition to the new season of growth and life, originating as a farmers festival that celebratedthe beginning of a new season.

The festivities were headlined by gift-giving and large banquets. In fact, they would even bring living plants and greenery indoors as part of the celebrations.

"Does it remind you of anything?" asked Tracey.

3. A First Nations tradition

But when trying to pinpoint the cultural cues for bringing trees indoors, Tracey says you don't have to look too far away from home.

"It's been aFirst Nations custom for a long time to bring in delightful smelling boughs of trees like grand fir, like red cedar, to decorate around the home."

Tracey says the scent of the grand fir, along with its several medicinal properties, have made it a desirable tree in Indigenous cultures for centuries.

"It's not just a tree that looks good it's a medicine chest."

With files from CBC's North by Norhtwest

To listen to the full interview, click on the audio labelled: Oh Christmas Tree! Why people started putting trees in their houses