Winter Tree Traditions: Exploring the History of Festive Evergreens
At WL West, we love to celebrate the beauty of timber throughout the year. We take pride in crafting sustainably sourced timber products and celebrating the incredible history of wood. If you're as passionate about timber as we are, explore our range of oak beams, hardwood flooring, and other premium timber products.
The festive season, however, offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the rich history, significance and traditions associated with trees at this time of year. From ancient pagan rituals to the modern Christmas tree, trees have held a special place in human winter celebrations for years and years.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the fascinating history of some iconic winter trees;
The sacred role of trees in Winter traditions
Evergreen trees: A symbol of eternal life
Yew trees: Guardians of the spirit
Holly & Mistletoe: Timeless Christmas icons
Image by Getty from Unsplash
The sacred role of trees in Winter traditions
Trees have been long considered sacred symbols and linked with worship for thousands of years. For just as long, they have provided us with essential resources such as fuel, food and shelter.
Across cultures, some trees are believed to symbolise faith, offer protection and keep secrets, making them central to winter traditions and celebrations.
Evergreen trees: A symbol of eternal life
Before the advent of Christianity, evergreen branches were hung in people’s homes, symbolising protection against evil and bringing good fortune as well as the promise of renewal. The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, celebrated in mid-December, honoured the god of agriculture with traditions like wreaths, candles, feasting and gift-giving - many of these customs later being woven into Christmas celebrations.
Evergreens, like Greenheart, have long been celebrated for their durability and vibrant colour throughout winter. At WL West, we understand the value of evergreen wood, which is often used for outdoor timber cladding and garden projects thanks to its natural resilience.
Image by Wyxina Tresse from Unsplash
Yew trees: Guardians of the spirit
Yew trees have played a significant role in pagan festivities and traditions for hundreds of years, with the tree being believed to ward off evil. Their slow-burning logs provided light and warmth for winter gatherings, allowing people to celebrate without the need to frequently stoke the fire. Yews planted in churchyards were seen as guardians of the spirit, thought to protect the souls of the departed as they pass over. Their blood-red berries were steeped in folklore too, thought to be the result of a dean man’s blood absorbed by its roots.
Yew wood's beauty, density and strength have made it a staple for crafting furniture. If you're interested in sourcing yew, visit our online shop or get in touch with our team.
Yew sawn timber from WL West
Holly & Mistletoe: Timeless Christmas icons
Holly and Mistletoe are widely displayed in homes and churches around the world during the festive season. Holly, called “Christ-thorn” in medieval England, was used in churches during Christmas to represent the crown of thorns worn by Jesus Christ. Its sharp leaves and bright red berries were also hung as wreaths, believed to protect homes from witches.
Mistletoe, a parasitic plant that survives off of a host tree, also holds symbolic significance as well. Held in regard as an aphrodisiac, but not to be eaten, rather be touched or stood under for a kiss, has remained a festive favourite for kisses under its branches. Despite church attempts to ban mistletoe, eventually, it became customary to hang it in doorways as a charm for fertility and remains a cherished holiday tradition to this day.
Image by Donna McL from Unsplash
Fir trees: From Christian symbol to global tradition
Fir trees gained prominence in Christian tradition thanks to St Boniface, who was the first person to use them to replace other pagan symbols that celebrated the birth of Christ during the 8th century. In the early 700s, he travelled from England to Germany to convert people from paganism to Christianity. The “Thunder Oak” in Geismar held sacred significance for the pagans, so as a symbolic act, St. Boniface cut down the oak on Christmas Eve and then used a small fir tree from behind the fallen oak to symbolise Christian holiness.
The evergreen leaves of the fir tree symbolised eternal life, a connection further popularised in the 1500s when decorated fir trees became a festive household staple throughout Germany, eventually spreading through Europe and beyond over the centuries.
The trees were adorned with fruits, nuts and pastries to represent “The Tree of Knowledge” from the Garden of Eden. Later on, medieval customs introduced paper roses to decorate the trees as a symbol of the Virgin Mary. Martin Luther, a 16th-century protestant reformer, is credited with introducing lighted candles to Christmas trees. Said to be inspired by the twinkling starlit sky through evergreen trees on a walk home one evening.
By the mid-19th century, the tradition reached Great Britain, with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert featured in the “Illustrated London News” standing with their children around a decorated Christmas tree - check out the image below! The Queen’s popularity with her people made the trees instantly fashionable.
While fir trees are iconic for the festive season, their softwood is also highly versatile. We stock native Douglas Fir which has the highest strength rating of a softwood, good durability and density, making it ideal for structural beams to flooring and external cladding.
Christmas at Windsor Castle, by the Illustrated London News
Modern Christmas trees
The Christmas tree as we know it today is most commonly the Norwegian Spruce, a white softwood pine tree, typically characterised by branches that extend downward in a triangular shape. They have retained their timeless charm, still serving as the centrepiece of holiday celebrations worldwide, continuing thousands of years of tree-centric tradition, symbolism as well as the joy they bring!
At WL West, spruce is one of our favourite materials for shakes and shingles, giving the exterior of your property character and charm.
Wishing You a Merry Christmas from WL West
As the year comes to a close, our team at WL West will be taking a well-deserved break to celebrate the season. We'll be closed from Monday 23 December 2024 to Friday 3 January 2025. We’ll be back and ready to assist you on Monday 6 January 2025.
We wish you and your family a lovely festive holiday filled with warmth, cheer and happiness for the new year ahead!
