Did Protestant reformer Martin Luther invent Christmas trees?

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CHRISTIAN HISTORY
By Edwin and Jennifer Woodruff Tait
TongRo Images/Thinkstock
The evergreen tree was an ancient symbol of life in the midst of winter. Romans decorated their houses with evergreen branches during the New Year, and ancient inhabitants of northern Europe cut evergreen trees and planted them in boxes inside their houses in wintertime. Legend credits the Protestant reformer Martin Luther with inventing the Christmas tree.... Like trees, gifts came "inside" the family around the time of Luther, as the custom of giving gifts to friends and family members developed in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. [More]

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