The Christmas tree, between tradition and modernity
It may seem surprising, but the first decorated Christmas tree in Romania only dates back to 1866.
Roxana Vasile, 25.12.2024, 14:00
It may seem surprising, but the first decorated Christmas tree in Romania only dates back to 1866, in passing one of the important years in Romania’s history, because then a new era began, marked by the one who would later become their king – Carol I Less than eight months after the arrival of the Prussian Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, the royal palace in Bucharest hosted, in December 1866, the first Christmas tree in Romania decorated for Christmas with spectacular decorations brought from the sovereign’s native country.
The custom of decorating the Christmas tree, specific to the Germans, imported to Romania through the Royal House, enjoyed people’s appreciation and spread throughout the country, at first imitated by the urban elites, then taken over in the countryside.
But why a fir tree and not another tree? Because the Romanians already gave it much older meanings which will be reviewed next by one of the most important ethnological researchers in Romania, university professor Doina Ișfănoni: ʺLet’s not forget that the fir tree is a sacred tree for Romanians. It is, if you will, the tree of life that connects Heaven and Earth. It is the tree that, starting from birth to burial, accompanies human life, being decorated in different ways according to the age stages. At birth, a fir sapling is chosen, and it’s either left in the forest or transferred closer to the family’s home. The tree is, somehow, a kind of barometer of the child’s evolution. As the tree grows, so will the child grow, will grow tall, handsome and, of course, believing in ageless youth – just as the tree never changes its green color. Then the wedding fir tree is also decorated with colorful papers, ribbons, bells on top. So is the funeral fir tree. It is adorned, in the case of unmarried young people, with black tassels, a headscarf (usually worn by local girls) and a bell which jingles when the wind blows, and which is said to be the husband or wife of the deceased. So, for Romanians the fir tree has a very complex connotation.ʺ
The fir tree also has a Christian significance as this tree was also adopted by Romanians as a central element of the Nativity celebration. Its Christian connotations are enhanced by the choice of specific ornaments. Doina Ișfănoni lists them again: ʺFor example, the little lights, the candles that were put in the tree, giving it that magical aspect, refer to the symbolism of the candle, which is the substitute of Jesus. The wax is the body, the flame is the spirit. Also, the apples that were hung in the Christmas tree were not only simple ornaments. Red apples were preferred, indeed, to be as visible as possible, and they refer to the original sin of Eve with the famous apple and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Heaven. Walnuts are also hung in the fir tree, covered in tinfoil, because they also represent, if you will, a particle of light, a light that is reflected in the interior space and thus gives an extra glow. The nut is also a symbol in the context of the winter solstice and of the Christian customs. Because the walnut is the fruit that endures over time and is the expression of fruitfulness, of wealth, of the passage of time that does not affect it. And from a Christian point of view, since the walnut has the sign of the cross at its core, it adds to the symbolism of the Christmas tree as a celebration of the Savior’s birth. The entire walnut kernel has the shape of a human brain which translates into enlightenment. It is the moment when we all know that, during the winter holidays and especially at Christmas time, through the birth of the Savior, each of us has the promise of a rebirth. It is the moment when the three sisters – Hope, Love and Faith – get together giving humans extra strength, extra energy and extra hope. Of course, on top of the Christmas tree is an angel or a star that led the Magi to Bethlehem, where the Savior was born, in the manger.ʺ
Unfortunately, the ethnologist researcher Doina Ișfănoni says, many of us nowadays lose sight of the many connotations of the fir tree, which, from a symbol, is transformed into a simple decoration: ʺIf you ask what the Christmas tree means to Romanians, people will give very different answers, and you will find that none of them will refer to the cosmic tree, none of them will talk about its decorations as a syncretic fusion between Christianity and pre-Christianity. The role of specialists is to bring to people’s attention the meaning of the fir tree, of traditions, to explain that every gesture has a meaning, a value, a motivation, nothing is senseless. ʺ
We also talked to Doina Ișfănoni about plastic fir trees which in many cases replace the natural ones: ʺPeople replaced the live fir tree with the plastic tree. It’s a blasphemy, in my view, because you don’t bring death into the house, you bring life into the house, you need life and vitality. Artificial trees have no value. This is just my opinion, others may have other opinions. As regards tradition, I for one, I’m trying as much as possible to bring back to people’s consciousness its value and importance. ʺ
The fir tree is the element that brings together the family and relatives, who, at Christmas, gather around it, give and receive gifts, then sit down at the table full of special dishes, some prepared only at this time of the year. But not before receiving the carolers, which announce the birth of Jesus.
At least in the rural area of Romania, the ancient traditions are still preserved for the celebration of the Nativity and strictly observed. That’s why Romania still counts among the pampered countries of South-Eastern Europe, says university professor Doina Işfănoni: the cultural behaviors that go back in history make us say that, for us, Christmas continues to be that step towards the sacred, which opens on the eve of December 25 and ends on January 6, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. (LS)
