History of the Christmas tree

The Christmas tree is a staple of the holidays, though the customs we associate with it came from many different times and places. On the winter solstice, the Vikings had a holiday known as Yule where they would bring an evergreen tree into their homes, as a symbolic reminder that life endures, even during the darkest and coldest times.
The Romans also celebrated the solstice with the 25th of December being the birthday of Mithra, goddess of the sun. When Christianity began to overtake the Empire, the customs of pagan communities were integrated into the religion, as to not cause disagreement. As the Bible does not mention the exact birth date of Christ, the birth date of Mithra was appropriated as the day of the Nativity. The evergreen custom of Yule was also included, with trees being decorated with apples to symbolize Eden. Eventually, these apples would be replaced with the spherical ornaments we know today.
That is the origin of the Christmas tree. Though they came from many different cultures and people, these holidays all celebrated the meanings associated with the modern holiday: The celebration of community, family and brotherhood with all of our fellow men.