The tradition of decorating a tree at Christmas time has its roots in Germany. The first recorded use of an evergreen tree as a Christmas decoration was in the early 16th century, when Martin Luther, a German monk, is said to have brought home a small evergreen tree and decorated it with candles to represent the stars. The tradition quickly spread throughout Germany and Europe, and eventually made its way to the United States, where it was popularized by German immigrants. Today, the Christmas tree is a staple of the holiday season, with millions of trees being sold and decorated every year.