It's a local custom that became a worldwide tradition. Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO The Christmas tree tradition as we know it today has a long and varied history. It is believed to have roots in ancient cultures, where trees were decorated as part of celebrations. In the 1500s and 1600s, the Christmas tree became a Germanic custom, with fir trees being a popular choice. In the 1840s, the practice of having a Christmas tree in the home became more widespread, thanks in part to the influence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who were both of German descent. The Christmas tree also gained popularity in the United States during this time due to a large influx of German immigrants. The tradition was further popularized through the mass media, such as The Illustrated London News, and the publication of Christmas cards and books like Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Today, Christmas trees can be found in homes around the world and can even be spotted from satellite images of Christmas tree farms. Check out the book where the Christmas tree illustration appeared in America: https://archive.org/details/godeysladysbook22phil/page/262/mode/2up?q=%22christmas+tree%22 Here’s a short narrative about President Roosevelt’s “banning” of Christmas trees: https://foresthistory.org/president-bans-christmas-tree/ You can actually read all of Queen Victoria’s journals online, though it requires a British IP address or academic credentials: http://qvj.chadwyck.com/marketing.do Make sure you never miss behind-the-scenes content in the Vox Video newsletter, sign up here: http://vox.com/video-newsletter Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com/ Support Vox's reporting with a one-time or recurring contribution: http://vox.com/contribute-now Shop the Vox merch store: http://vox.com/store Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE Follow Vox on Facebook: http://facebook.com/vox Follow Vox on Twitter: http://twitter.com/voxdotcom Follow Vox on TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@voxdotcom