It was Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 – February 18, 1546) who is credited with first decorating a tree at Christmas. The story goes that he was walking through the woods one Christmas Eve and saw a fir tree with the stars shining through it. He was so moved by its beauty that he uprooted one and brought it home, fixing candles to the branches to signify the stars as heaven brought down to earth.

In the UK, the first Christmas tree is credited to a German Princes Lieven, who had one put up in 1892, a good 10 years before Prince Albert. He and Victoria made them popular, but previously they had been almost exclusively a German tradition.

Others credit St Boniface of Crediton who, in his attempt to convert Germany to Christianity in the 8th Century, cut down a sacred Oak tree. A fir tree miraculously sprang up in its place and Boniface adopted this as the symbol for the new faith. Combine this with the German tradition of putting a fruit tree branch indoors in water to force it into flowering during the season, and the legend told by a 10th Century geographer that on Christmas Eve at midnight, all the trees in the forest bear flowers and fruit, and you've got yourself a brilliant excuse for dressing a tree with flowers, fruit and lights. Princess Lieven's tree was decorated with paper roses, apples, gold foil and sweets.

We've gone over to electric lights these days because our homes, being warmer and less plant friendly, dry the trees out so much that real candles become a fire hazard.

Whether it's a pagan tree worship, a Saturnalian tribute or a Christian holy day, have a blessed Solstice... and although I bat for the other team, I'll be lighting a few candles, just in case!

LTS