The practice of decorating a home with pine boughs predates the more modern idea of the Christmas tree by centuries. By the 1600s, the Protestant population of Germany embraced the idea of bringing a tree into the home and decorating it, setting in motion the development of a grand Western tradition that has spread beyond Europe and North America, and fuels an entire industry of tree farms and the manufacture of artificial trees. If you’re celebrating Christmas today, we wish you a merry one.
Happy holidays!
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Exploring the wilder side of New York
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Terraced rice fields, Yuanyang County, China
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World Wildlife Day
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Kings Mountain, Chugach Mountains, Alaska
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Menton, France
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Giving Tuesday
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A water loch-ed castle
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Happy International Beaver Day!
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Wartburg Castle overlooking Thuringian Forest in Germany
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Juvenile sunbittern displaying at nest, Ecuador
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Burchells zebras for International Zebra Day
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Scotts Bluff National Monument, Gering, Nebraska
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National Park Week: Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
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World Bamboo Day
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World Space Week begins
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The eloquence of elephants
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International Women s Day
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Groundhog Day
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Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii
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National Park Week: Everglades National Park
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A day of death and rebirth
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Happy Thanksgiving!
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Carl Sagan Day
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International Museum Day
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A rest stop for the birds
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Frankenstein Friday
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Summer solstice
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Almond trees in full bloom, California
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Listening to the sea
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A peek at an explosive peak
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

