Muskoka is known for many things, but perhaps foremost for the green expanse of its breathtakingly beautiful forests. In fact, it was the lure of evergreen trees, in particular the majestic pine, that led to Muskoka being opened up to settlement a century and a half ago.

Trees are a part of Muskoka’s fabric. And perhaps because they’re all around us, we take them for granted, in particular the central role they play in festivities during the holiday season.

The truth is, while we may hope for a blanket of snow to coat the holiday landscape in a gentle shroud of white, tradition suggests that green is the true colour of Christmas.

A great many of our most enduring Christmas traditions involve greenery. In particular evergreens for festive wreaths, garlands draped over banisters and, of course, the decorated Christmas tree. What is it about evergreens that have made them so indelibly linked to the Christian calendar’s most holy of seasons?

The hanging of evergreen boughs is a tradition that was borrowed by Christians from pagan Celts who inhabited much of Europe centuries ago. Gardeners love evergreens because they keep their colour and shape throughout the winter months. For much the same reason, druids (priests of the Celts) considered evergreens magical symbols of long life and immortality. They cut evergreen boughs and invoked their strength during the winter solstice ceremonies.

Wreaths are one expression of how greenery was incorporated in Christmas tradition. In ancient times, circular garlands woven of flowers or foliage were used to crown winners at the Greek Olympics and to honour military heroes in Rome. Such wreaths denoted honour and victory.

In time, Christians began to make wreaths of holly and evergreen branches during the yuletide season. More than just simple décor, they symbolized the divinity and sacrifice of Jesus by mirroring the crown of thorns he wore during his time of suffering. Because they were made of evergreen boughs, these wreaths also represented the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection and eternal life.

Originally, wreaths were table-top decorations, much like modern-day centrepieces. Only very recently have they begun to appear hanging on doors in a phenomenon probably derived from the custom of a funeral wreath on the door to indicate mourning.

But as popular and symbolic as wreaths are, the most endearing and enduring of all holiday customs is almost certainly the Christmas tree. With perhaps the exception of Santa Claus, it is the most recognizable symbol of the holiday season.

It’s generally accepted that the custom of decorating trees at Christmas comes from Germany. The first Christmas tree on record was raised in a merchant guildhall in 1510 and was adorned with the simplest of decorations. The first tree in a private residence, adorned with apples and foil, was also in Germany, though more than a century later in 1625.

There is considerably more debate about who first lit a Christmas tree, and why. Many suggest this tradition came from Martin Luther, who got the idea while walking through a pine forest one Christmas Eve and being stunned by the beauty of the stars poking through the branches. This experience apparently inspired him to recreate the scene indoors by lighting a tree with candles, representing the heavens from which Christ came.

Others hold that the 8th century English monk St. Boniface beat him to the punch by almost a millennium.

Whichever belief is actually true, the custom of lighting and decorating trees at Christmas rapidly took hold in Protestant countries during the 17th and 18th centuries. The custom came to North America with the early settlers, though on this side of the Atlantic Christmas trees were originally raised in public squares — thus our tradition of community tree-lighting ceremonies.

The first indoor family tree in North America was raised in 1781 in Sorel, Quebec. Lady Friederike von Riedesel, homesick for Germany, insisted a tree be erected inside and decorated in the manner of her native country. Similarly, the German-born Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s beloved husband) is generally credited with spreading the tradition into British homes.

At first trees were typically placed on a table in the parlour instead of standing on the floor as today, so there was far less emphasis on size.

Displaying it in the parlour was a logical decision. The parlour was a formal room used for family gatherings and entertaining guests, so people would be more apt to see and enjoy the tree there. In some cases, in fact, and especially in the earlier decades of the 19th century, the parlour would be the only room dressed up for the holidays.

During the Victorian era, the tree was far more symbolic of the religious origins of the holiday than it is today. It would only be set up and decorated on Christmas Eve, in honour of the birth of the Christ Child, and would then be taken down on January 6, the 12th day of Christmas.

Initially, decorations were very simple, predominantly consisting of fruit, nuts and pinecones. A few homemade crafts, small toys, hand-stitched dolls and children’s mittens would add a personal touch. Candles shone from among branches laced with strings of berries and popcorn.

The final, and undoubtedly most important decoration was the star placed on top. It represented the Christmas Star that led the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem, and served to remind everyone of the true reason for the season.

Later on, when both people and communities were more settled, decorations became increasingly elaborate and fancy. Families would add a new ornament or two every year, creating heirlooms that remained cherished through generations.

Different cultures favour different varieties of evergreen, whether it is for boughs and garlands or for the Christmas tree itself. Germans have traditionally opted for cedar, because of its fragrance. Norwegians prefer pine and spruce, and the British likewise prefer spruce. In the U.S., balsam fir and Scotch pine compete for prominence. Here in Canada, the most popular varieties for our yuletide needs are balsam fir, Fraser fir and Scotch pine.

But regardless of the preferred variety, the evergreen represents one of the most enduring and endearing of all yuletide symbols. So take a walk in Muskoka’s ample forests this Christmas and reflect on the meaning and symbolism behind some of our ancient traditions. You may just feel closer to the history of the season.