Three different theories trace the Christmas tree back to the 1400s or 1500s. Two others go even further back.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was first displayed in New York City in 1931. See how the evergreens have transformed over the years and which traditions have stood the test of time.

Christmas trees—and conifers in general—have made some surprising cameos throughout U.S. history, author Trent Preszler reveals in his book Evergreen

The wreck of the Rouse Simmons now lies within the boundaries of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, listed on the National Register of Historic Places — a final resting place for Captain Santa and his crew, and an enduring symbol of the risks sailors once took to bring Christmas to Chicago.

Our culture has lost something special with the rise of the artificial tree and the fall of so many Christmas tree farms, Cornell University economics Professor Trent Preszler points out in his new book “Evergreen.”

If you look into the history of practically anything, it's complex. The early Christians celebrated the incarnation of God, from the annunciation to his resurrection, on a variety of feast days. They also celebrated the changes in season, along with other members of their community, on days like the spring and winter solstices.

On December 22, 1882, a new kind of holiday magic flickered to life, forever changing how we celebrate Christmas. That day, Edward H. Johnson, an inventor

In 1917, Huntington Taylor, manager of the Edward Rutledge Lumber Mill, started the tradition by having a tall tree erected at Fourth and Sherman. On Christmas Eve that same year, the base of the tree became home to another tradition — a caroling program performed by groups of students from the city’s schools and churches.

From the classic silver to green and gold, from 2-footers to a towering 14-footer, these trees have been adding sparkle to the holidays for decades.