Are Green Artificial Christmas Trees Pagan?

What are the origins of the Christmas tree?

For those who are on social media or out and about during the Christmas season, they may hear many people stating that having green artificial Christmas trees is actually a Pagan belief. There is no reason for those who believe in the Christian version of Christmas to have green artificial Christmas trees in their home. Furthermore, there are even those who go so far as to say that many people are living a pagan life if they do have Christmas trees in their homes.

Things bring to question, are green artificial Christmas trees really pagan? And even if they are, does it mean the same thing today as it did back then?

Today, the use of green artificial Christmas trees is solely associated with Christmas. Thus, if you have one of these set up in your home or office, you are not alone! With this being said, the use of evergreen types of trees that are year-round has been something that has been celebrated in cultures for hundreds of years. The use of actual Christmas trees can be seen as a pagan tradition that started as early as the fourth century C.E. The idea was that many European pagans would use trees and branches and decorate these with elements to bring color and light into their homes during the dull winter.

The evolution of the Christmas tree

However, pagans were not the only ones to do this. This was also done by Romans to celebrate and honor their God Saturn.

Because many pagans used Christmas trees in their homes, the first settlers were not too keen on the idea of having trees in their homes, as they believed it was a pagan tradition. However, this soon changed! But, how did it change?

There are several stories that speak to how Christmas trees came to be found in the homes of the settlers. One theory that is widely held as the reason for the use of green artificial Christmas trees in today’s society goes back to the 8th century. It was believed that an English monk saw an evergreen being used as a pagan ritual. In anger, he cut this down. It was believed that when the tree fell, this turned into a declaration of Christianity and was seen as a symbol of the Holy Trinity.

Going green with real Christmas trees

Fast forward to today, and you will find that many Christians are using green artificial Christmas trees in their homes and even in churches. It has slowly lost the pagan connection and taken on the sign of Christianity.

The moral of this story is that no, the Christmas tree is no longer seen as pagan in the eyes of most people. Now, we have people who spend all year trying to decide how to decorate their green artificial Christmas trees to ensure they are bringing spirit and light into their home during the holidays…as it should be! So, how will you decorate your tree this year for Christmas? With all the themes out there, you are sure to find something that speaks to your personality and style.