Christmas Tree NP article

Ah, the Christmas tree. That most noble holiday tradition...or is it? Where did this strange custom of putting lights, ornaments, and popcorn on a tree come from? Every year millions of people participate in this practice, most without question, never really knowing what they're actually doing. So let's clear up the confusion!
Well, everyone knows the Christmas tree is all about Christmas, right? Today, yes, the Christmas tree is all about Christmas...hence the name; but it hasn't necessarily been that way forever. This mysterious tree actually has its roots pre-Christian Rome and Britain, where it was used for different festivals. This is why some people today refuse to have Christmas trees in their house...they believe that they shouldn't be associated with the Christ.
Christmas trees more like we know, with decorations and such, actually originated in northern Germany in the 1500's. This tradition spread throughout Germany, and by the nineteenth century had become a general custom. The nineteenth cenury marked the Christmas tree's foray into other European counries, as well.
These early Christmas trees are certainly not quite like the trees we decorate today, I'm pretty sure most people can't eat all of the ornaments off of their trees. Looking back at the earliest trees, though, you'll see that they were decorated with an assortment of apples, nuts, dates, pretzels, and other various and assundry snacks. After these types of adornments for trees were abandoned, different decorations such as candles, paper and sugar ornaments, and string dressings were used.
These days, the Christmas tree is a well-known and respected part of the Christmas holiday. For many Americans, Christmas just isn't Chistmas without the tree. So this holiday season, are you going green?