The history of Christmas trees is a story of changing customs, tree styles, and light. A tree made from feathers looks very different from a tree lit with electric bulbs. Yet both have a place in that story.
This guide follows the evolution of Christmas trees, from early customs to public displays and modern styles. It also looks at what they can mean for hotels, shops, cities, and other shared spaces.
Early Evergreen Traditions and Christmas Customs
People used evergreen plants in winter long before the decorated Christmas tree. Smithsonian Gardens describes them as signs of lasting life and the return of spring.
These customs set the scene. They do not prove a direct link to one first Christmas tree.
By the early 1600s, decorated trees were part of Christmas customs in Germany. They held candles, paper flowers, and sweets. The Royal Collection Trust describes this practice. That account does not name one inventor of the Christmas tree.
How Christmas Trees Spread to Britain and America
Queen Charlotte brought the tree custom from Germany to Britain in the late 1700s. Later, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert helped it become more widely known. They helped spread the custom, but they did not bring it to Britain first.
An image helped bring the custom to more people. In 1848, the Illustrated London News showed the royal family beside their decorated tree.
German immigrants brought the custom to the United States. The royal image also reached American readers through newspapers and magazines, as Smithsonian Gardens explains. The tree spread through both people and print, not one event.
How Christmas Tree Decorations and Lighting Changed
From Handmade Decorations to Glass Ornaments
Paper flowers and sweets were part of early tree displays. Later glass ornaments brought new finishes. One German example in the Smithsonian's collection dates from 1870 to 1900. It has a red finish over silvered glass, with a small metal loop for hanging.
A dated object like this lets us see what changed. It shows a made-to-keep ornament rather than an edible treat.
For a new design, explore commercial Christmas ornaments. Draw ideas from the past, then check that the chosen pieces and mounts suit the site.
From Candles to Electric Christmas Tree Lights
In 1880, Thomas Edison displayed electric light strands outside his Menlo Park laboratory. In 1882, his associate Edward H. Johnson put a string of electric lights on a Christmas tree. The Library of Congress records 80 red, white, and blue bulbs on Johnson's rotating tree.
The change took time. Electric lights cost a great deal, and many people did not trust them. Candles did not vanish as soon as electric lights arrived.
Candle displays belong in this history, not in a modern tree plan. Do not recreate open-flame tree lighting.
History of Artificial Christmas Trees: Feathers to Aluminum
Feather Trees in the Nineteenth Century
The Smithsonian's collection holds a tree made from goose feathers dyed green. It has seven layers of branches on a wooden support, set in a painted red pot. The museum dates it to the nineteenth century.
This feather tree shows that makers had found ways to copy an evergreen long before today's plastic trees. It is one surviving example, not a claim to be the first.
Aluminum Christmas Trees and a Different Holiday Look
Aluminum Specialty made aluminum trees for the 1959 holiday season. The firm used the Evergleam name in 1960. It also sold color wheels and stands that turned the trees.
These trees did not try to look just like green firs. Their metal finish was part of the appeal. The Wisconsin Historical Museum tells the story of this change in holiday design.
From Private Celebrations to Public Tree Displays
The National Christmas Tree, 1923
On Christmas Eve in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit the first National Christmas Tree. It stood on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. The National Park Service describes the event and the local groups who helped make it happen.
Rockefeller Center, 1931 and 1933
Workers at Rockefeller Center pooled money for a tree in 1931. They put it at the site where they were building the center. The tree became a yearly tradition in 1933, according to the center's history.
These are two well-recorded public tree traditions. Neither is presented here as the first public tree anywhere.
For a property team today, one lesson is to plan the tree as a place to gather, not just an object to dress. Use the shopping mall Christmas display planning guide to explore that task.
History of Christmas Trees: A Short Timeline
These dates summarize the examples above. They are selected milestones, not a complete list of firsts.
| Date or period | Documented example |
|---|---|
| Early 1600s | Decorated evergreen-tree customs in Germany. |
| Nineteenth century | The Victorian feather tree held by Smithsonian Gardens. |
| 1848 | The royal family Christmas-tree illustration appears in the Illustrated London News. |
| 1882 | Edward H. Johnson lights a Christmas tree with electric bulbs. |
| 1923 | The first National Christmas Tree lighting takes place in Washington, D.C. |
| 1931 and 1933 | Rockefeller Center's workers' tree precedes its annual tradition. |
| 1959 and 1960 | Aluminum Specialty produces aluminum trees, then adopts the Evergleam name. |
The Modern Christmas Tree Industry Offers More Choices
The natural-tree trade grew too. As more people lived in cities, growers supplied trees to those buyers. Smithsonian Gardens links this change to the growth of tree farms.
Today, you can compare green trees, snow-like flocked finishes, decorated trees, and large frame designs. See the St Nicks commercial Christmas tree collection for examples. Check the exact model; not every tree includes lights or ornaments.
For styling choices, use the modern Christmas tree ideas guide. It focuses on shape, palette, finishes, and placement rather than repeating the history.
What Modern Lighting Technology Changed
LED holiday lights use less power than incandescent versions. The Department of Energy explains this change. Compare the selected lights and the hours they will run. Do not assume every display will save the same amount.
Pre-lit means lights are already fitted. It does not always mean LED. Trees can have LED or incandescent lights, as UL's scope for modular trees reflects. Pre-decorated means an ornament theme is included. Check both parts of the product description.
Some systems let the team set light schedules or color scenes. The effects depend on the lights, power, and controls. Plan for setup, testing, and care. Ask what the chosen system can do.
Real, Living, and Artificial Trees Need Different End-of-Season Plans
Natural-Cut Trees
Ask which local services accept the tree. Penn State Extension describes uses such as mulch and compost. Remove all decor first and check the rules for flocked trees. Flocking can make recycling harder.
Use its tree-recycling guide to plan, then check with the service that will take your tree.
Rooted Living Trees
A tree with roots may be planted after display. Its chances depend on the species, climate, care, and time spent indoors. A cut tree does not offer the same choice.
Penn State's living-tree guide calls for only a short stay indoors for a field-dug tree with a wrapped root ball. Seek advice on the tree and planting site before buying.
Artificial Trees
For an artificial tree, plan checks, approved repairs, and packing. Arrange storage through the property or a separate provider. When the tree can no longer be used, ask the maker and local waste service what to do with its parts.
Do not assume one tree type is always greener. Compare specific products and state the basis for the comparison. Include transport, use, care, and what happens after the season. Keep records of what is repaired or reused.
What Comes Next for Christmas Trees?
New materials, simpler repairs, and more light effects are possible next steps, not firm forecasts. The past gives us many tree styles, not a reason to think one must replace them all.
For a shared space, start with the role of the tree. You can choose a classic look and a modern light system. Find the right fit for the site, then plan how the team will set it up and care for it.
Christmas Tree History FAQs
Did Prince Albert Introduce Christmas Trees to Britain?
No. Queen Charlotte brought the custom earlier. Victoria and Albert helped spread it. The famous image of their family and tree appeared in 1848.
When Did Electric Christmas Tree Lights Appear?
The Library of Congress credits Edward H. Johnson's electric tree-light string to 1882. Edison's outdoor light display at his laboratory was a separate event in 1880.
Were the First Artificial Trees Made From Plastic?
No. A tree made from green-dyed goose feathers is in the Smithsonian's collection. It dates to the nineteenth century. It shows that artificial trees predate modern plastic ones.
Bring the Tradition Into Your Commercial Space
Send the St Nicks Sales Team your site photos, display space measurements, preferred look, location, and required date.
Ask about suitable trees and lights, current lead times, and what the proposed order or service includes. Let the past inspire the look. Use the site and product details to plan the work.
Discuss Your Commercial Tree Display
Updated October 2026
By St. Nick's Christmas Lighting & Decor — La Palma, CA
Commercial holiday lighting and décor supplier since 1998
