One of the earliest recorded accounts of cutting down a Christmas tree comes from December 20, 1821, when Matthew Zahn of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, wrote about his family selecting an evergreen for Christmas. While this was not the beginning of the tradition, it reflects a long history that stretches back to ancient winter celebrations in Egypt and Rome, medieval Paradise trees, and German candlelit evergreens brought to America in the 1800s. Christmas trees grew in popularity through German settlers, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s influence, and later American traditions such as the White House tree and Rockefeller Center display. Over time, candles gave way to electric lights, handmade decorations to glass ornaments, and the Christmas tree became a cherished symbol of family, light, and remembrance of the Savior’s birth.

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