O Tannebaum

For many families the holidays begin with the selection and decoration of a Christmas tree.

The warm glow of a lit Christmas tree is an enduring holiday symbol.

So where do Christmas trees come from?

1000 years ago St. Boniface came across an oak tree after converting German people to Christianity. After cutting down the tree, a young fir sprung up from the roots of the oak.

Seen as a sign of Christian faith the 16th century marked the first time that fir trees were brought indoors at Christmas.

• Picking the perfect tree for your family
• Keeping your tree fresh
• Creating the designer tree
• Read more about the history of the Christmas tree