who started the tradition of the christmas tree

The tradition of the Christmas tree dates back to ancient times. The practice of decorating evergreen trees can be traced back to pre-Christian Europe, where the people would cut down trees and bring them indoors to celebrate the winter solstice. As the years went by, the tradition evolved into a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and became known as the Christmas tree. In the 16th century, Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, introduced the custom of decorating the tree with candles, which became a popular part of the Christmas tree tradition. Today, the Christmas tree is an iconic symbol of the holiday season.