Artificial trees were invented in the 1880's in a bid to try and stop some of the damage being caused to real trees due to people lopping the tip off large trees, thus preventing the trees from growing any further. It got so bad in Germany that laws had to be brought in to prevent people having more than one tree.

　　Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, is credited with being responsible for introducing the custom of the Christmas tree to the British public by decorating the first English Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1841 using candles, sweets, fruit and gingerbread.

　　The popularity of the Christmas tree grew in Britain during the first half of the 20th century, with trees becoming bigger and more elaborately decorated with bells, baubles and tinsel. However, the onset of the Second World War resulted in a ban on cutting down trees for decoration and people resorted to having small, artificial tabletop trees bearing home made decorations. These were often taken down into the air raid shelters when the sirens sounded to provide a bit of Christmas cheer!

　　This all changed following the war, and large trees were erected in many public places to celebrate Christmas. The most famous of these is the tree in Trafalgar Square, London which is an annual gift from the Norwegian government to give thanks for the help they received from Britain during the war.

　　圣诞树的意义

　　因为松树是四季常青的，这常青的树就象征了信仰基督的基督徒被赋予的永恒生命。尖尖的树梢指向天国。点缀在树顶的星星代表着指引智者到伯利恒寻访耶酥的那颗特殊的星。星星的光芒意指带给世人光明的耶酥基督。树下的礼物代表着上帝通过他唯一的儿子带给世人的礼物：希望，爱，欢乐以及和平。

　　近代圣诞树起源于德国，后来逐步在世界范围内流行起来，成为圣诞节庆祝中最有名的传统之一。通常人们在圣诞前后把一棵常绿植物如松树弄进屋里或者在户外，并用圣诞灯和彩色的装饰物装饰。并把一个天使或星星放在树的顶上。圣诞树（Christmas tree）是用灯烛和装饰品把枞树或洋松装点起来的常青树，作为圣诞节庆祝活动的一部分。