Christmas trees

The pagan cultures decorated their homes with greenery as part of the solstice celebrations in anticipation of the approaching spring. Evergreen trees were believed to possess special abilities because they stayed green even on the darkest and coldest days. During Saturnalia, the Romans also adorned their temples with fir trees and metal shavings. Even the Greeks were known to decorate trees in memory of their gods. It's interesting to note that the first trees introduced into paganism were hung upside down from the ceiling.

The tradition of decorating trees dates back to Northern Europe, where Germanic pagans decorated evergreen trees with candles and dried fruit to worship the god Woden. In Germany in the 1500s, the custom was incorporated into the Christian religion. They used candy, lights, and toys to adorn their house trees.