Christmas trees have not always been decorated.   In the early 700s, Germany celebrated Christmas by planting fir saplings. This is said to have started when a British monk and missionary, St. Boniface, was preaching a sermon on the Nativity to a tribe of Germanic Druids outside the town of Geismar. The Druids evidently believed that the trees were sacred so to prove to them otherwise, St. Boniface cut one down on the spot.  When it fell,  it crushed every shrub in its path except for one small fir sapling.  Legend has it that Boniface interpreted the fir's survival as a miracle, concluding, "Let this be called the tree of the Christ Child." 

The history of the modern Christmas tree goes back to 16th century Germany.  They decorated them with paper roses, apples, wafers, gilt, and sugar.  In medieval religious plays, the Paradise tree hung with apples.  The decorations could symbolize the Christian hosts. 

In the 17th century, the Christmas tree spread through Germany and Scandinavia. Eventually the tree was extensively decorated, first with candles and candies, then with apples and confections. 

It is believed that Martin Luther was the first to add candles to a tree.  As he walked home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles. 

In England the tradition was made popular by the German Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. The German immigrants brought the Christmas tree to America in 17th century. Public outdoor Christmas trees with electric candles were introduced in Finland in 1906, and in USA (New York) in 1912. 

The first mention of the Christmas tree in America was in 1821, recorded in the diary of Matthew Zahm of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  By 1901, commercial Christmas tree farming had even began--growing trees, then cutting them down and selling them for Christmas.

William Bradford, governor of the Pilgrims, tried to stamp out all "pagan mockery" of the observance of Christmas, and Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event." 

Of course the Christmas tree is still here today, but there seems to be no particular traditional way to decorate.  I've seen trees with popcorn or cranberry strands and ornaments made by the children, to fancy beaded ornaments (such as I have), bows , silk flowers, and ribbons for garland. 

Some buy a keepsake ornament each year.  One girl that Kevin dated said her parents bought her an ornament every year since she was born, so by the time she is on her own, she will have enough ornaments to decorate her own tree. 

And the type of tree matters little.  We have real trees, fir of different varities (I like the lacey look of the... (I'll remember the name later), or pine...or you can go to a department store and pick out an artificial one (they don't shed needles) in blues, greens, silver, etc.  I've seen trees made out of poinsettas and other flowers both silk, real and dried. 

I like to put my tree up early...I wish it was up now, because after all that work, I want to enjoy it as long as possible.  We do have a sort of tradition around here.  When Tammy was born, February 6th, I was staying with my folks before, because of complications, and after, because I'd had a c-section (more popular today for other reasons).  So when we got home late February, our tree was still there.  I try to have it down by late January, but don't always succeed.  And the other decorations?  It seems like I just took the last one down and now it's time to put it back up again.