A long history
On opening the register of the accounts of the town of Sélestat, the archives of which are carefully preserved in the Archives Municipales, a handwritten reference is made, on page 239, to a tradition that is now established well beyond the town's borders...
"... likewise 4 schillings to the forest guards to watch over the corn from St Thomas' Day".
This is the oldest known written reference to the Christmas Tree in the world.
Thanks to the work of historians with a passion for their native Alsace, its interpretation is crystal clear: if the town of Sélestat had to protect its forest by incurring such an expense, it is to be assumed that decorating a tree (rather than a branch) at this time of year was relatively common and part of custom.
This is confirmed in later writings dated 1546, 1555 and 1557, also carefully preserved in the town's archives.
St Thomas's Day
But let's return for a moment to this mention, which deserves a few explanations ‘... as well as 4 schillings to the forest wardens for watching over the corn from St Thomas's Day’
The may is the tree erected to celebrate an event or to honour someone. And while it's true that Saint Thomas is celebrated today on 3 July, according to the old liturgical arrangements, Saint Thomas was celebrated on 21 December, the shortest day and longest night of the year. Historically, this was the date on which the search for the Christmas tree began. Of course, 21 December is still the date on which the winter solstice begins.
The writings of Balthazar Beck
In his chronicle, Balthazar Beck (1580 - 1641), the cupbearer at Sélestat Town Hall, describes the main customs observed in the ‘Herrenstube’ (common room of the Town Hall) during various festivities and ceremonies, particularly those at Christmas.
He describes the ceremony of the forest guards bringing in the corn, the tree's decoration of apples and communion wafers, and the ritual inviting the children of the magistrates, the town councillors and the municipal employees to shake the Christmas tree and strip it of its decorations and sweets. The year was 1601...
1521: the origins of the Christmas tree
During the festive season, discover the mention of 1521 at the Humanist Library, as well as two more recent ones.
A complementary exhibition at Saint-Georges church
And while the history of Sélestad does not reveal all the developments and anecdotes linked to the decorations and ornamental traditions of the Christmas tree, it does echo them through the exhibition presented during Advent in the nave of Saint-Georges church, entitled ‘Christmas tree decorations since 1521’.
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