who started christmas trees

The tradition of decorating trees for the holidays is believed to have originated in Germany during the 16th century. German Christians would bring evergreen trees into their homes to symbolize the eternal life of Jesus Christ. Over time, the tradition spread across Europe and eventually to North America. The first recorded use of an evergreen tree as a Christmas decoration in the United States was in 1841, when Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, set up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle. Since then, the tradition of decorating Christmas trees has become a beloved and widely celebrated part of the holiday season.