Fortson's Handbooks for the Holidays

Of all the traditions that define the holiday season, none is more iconic than the Christmas tree. From a simple pine decorated with care to a towering spruce aglow with a thousand lights, it is a centerpiece of our holiday celebrations, a familiar and unchanging symbol that welcomes us home each winter. For many, the sight of a decorated evergreen instantly evokes childhood memories of glittering ornaments and family gatherings, making its annual return feel both timeless and profoundly personal.

Yet, beyond this comforting familiarity lies a history as ancient and mysterious as the winter solstice itself. Long before the first carol was sung or the first nativity play performed, evergreen trees held a special, often sacred, meaning for cultures around the world. In the darkest days of winter, when other plants withered and died, the evergreen's steadfast color was a potent symbol of life, hope, and rebirth. Ancient Egyptians filled their homes with green palms to honor the sun god Ra, and Celtic priests, the Druids, decorated their temples with evergreen boughs to ward off evil spirits. The Romans likewise adorned their temples during the winter festival of Saturnalia.

The Christmas tree we know today is not a modern invention but the culmination of these and other ancient beliefs, layered over with centuries of folklore and new meaning. This book will explore the tree's complete journey, from its life as a pagan symbol for enduring vitality to its eventual Christian adaptation and commercial transformation into a global icon. It is a story of enduring tradition, powerful symbolism, and a surprising evolution that reveals how a simple tree became an everlasting centerpiece of our most cherished holiday.