Editors note: This article previously ran on Dec. 19, 2007.

The Christmas tree, as we know it today, developed from many rich legends dating back to the 7th century.

The Christmas tree’s historical account begins when a Benedictine monk from England called St. Boniface (680-754) went to Germany to teach the Word of God.

Boniface came across a group of pagans that were worshipping an oak tree. To convince the idolaters that the oak tree was not sacred he cut it down. When the oak tree fell, it crushed every tree in its path except for one small balsam fir tree.

Legend has it that Boniface saw the fir’s survival as a miracle and said, “Let this be called the tree of the Christ Child.”

From then on fir saplings were planted during the Christmas season and called “Christ trees.”

Expanding on the legend, it is believed Boniface used the naturally occurring geometric “cross-shape” of the balsam fir twigs to describe the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, some of the confused converts soon worshipped the fir tree as they had previously worshipped the oak tree. Yet, over the next 400 years, the converts developed an understanding of the Christmas tree as a symbol of Christianity, a living symbol of God’s eternal love. The Christmas trees eventually made their way inside homes where they were hung, upside down, from ceilings.

The tradition of adding lights to the Christmas tree is believed to have come from the Protestant reformer, Martin Luther (1483-1546). Luther was walking home one winter evening and was awed by the twinkling stars he saw through the cross-shaped balsam fir twigs. To recapture the beauty of the twinkling lights shining through the twigs, Luther erected a fir tree in his living room and attached tapered candles to the branches. He used the indoor twinkling tree to teach his children that Christ is the true light of the world.

The Christmas tree custom spread from Germany to Finland through Norway and Denmark. By the early part of the 18th century, the Christmas tree had become an established tradition throughout Europe. In 1840, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of England sanctioned the tradition by displaying their own richly decorated Christmas tree at Windsor Castle.

Soon thereafter, other wealthy English families followed suit, using all kinds of extravagant items as decorations.

In Charles Dickens’ 1850’s short story, “A Christmas Tree,” he wrote, “that pretty German toy, a Christmas Tree. It was . . . [lit] by a multitude of little tapers; and everywhere sparkled and glittered with bright objects.”

Dickens continued, there were dolls, small musical instruments, miniature French tables, chairs and clocks as if in preparation for some fairy house. There was “real fruit made artificially dazzling with gold leaf . . . there was everything, and more.”

Even though Europeans had been decorating trees for some time the custom spread slowly in America because the Puritans considered the tree a pagan practice. Records indicate a pastor in Cleveland, Ohio, named Henry Schwan, was reprimanded by his parishioners in 1851 because he had a Christmas tree in his church.

Christmas trees slowly gained prominence in the United States in the late 19th century when German immigrants in Pennsylvania began erecting and decorating trees. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison put up the first Christmas tree in the White House. By 1900, one in five American families had a Christmas tree in their home and 20 years later the custom was even more common.

In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge held the first Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the White House lawn.

As Christmas trees gained popularity so too did glass ornaments. Throughout the 19th century, Europeans were making ornaments with thousands of different molds. These Christmas ornaments were eventually introduced in the United States in 1880 by the pioneer of the five and dime stores, Frank W. Woolworth (1852 -1919). He purchased $25 worth of blown-glass ornaments from a German importer and sold all of them within two days at his Lancaster, Pa., store.

In 1882, businessman Edward H. Johnson (1846-1917) lit up the first Christmas tree in New York City with dozens of small light bulbs. By 1890, Johnson had created the first string of electric Christmas lights for consumers. Ten years later, at the turn of the century, department stores across the country were using the new Christmas lights to decorate their trees.

Whether you decorate your tree with expensive blown-glass ornaments or paper cutout snowflakes the Christmas tree remains a living symbol of God’s eternal love for all creation. The twinkling Christmas lights continue to be associated with the birth of Christ and the hope of a joyful New Year.

It should be noted, however, a few Christian groups regard Christmas trees as drawing near idolatry and strictly avoid them.