Christmas Tree

Christmas trees have been associated far back as The Dreams of Joseph a Biblical story. However, there has historically been opposition to the custom of the Christmas tree because of its pagan origins. Thus, Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols and decorated trees. As pastor Henry Schwan of Cleveland, Ohio, decorated in 1851 what was likely the first Christmas tree in an American church, his parishioners condemned the idea as a pagan practice.