when did christmas trees begin

The tradition of decorating Christmas trees has its roots in the medieval era. In 15th century Germany, people would bring evergreen trees into their homes and decorate them with candles to represent the light of God. The practice eventually spread throughout Europe and was popularized by Queen Charlotte of England in the 18th century. Queen Charlotte was known for her lavish Christmas parties, and she would often decorate a large pine tree with candles and ornaments. The tradition was brought to America by German immigrants in the 19th century, and the custom of decorating Christmas trees has been part of American culture ever since.