В западной культуре образ ёлки известен, прежде всего, как один из главных символов Рождества, поэтому и называется она Рождественское дерево.

What is the reason for a Christmas tree? The History of Christmas Trees. The evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come. Where the Christmas tree has born The Christmas tree was born. Another legend says that in the early 16th century, people in Germany combined two customs that had been practiced in different countries around the globe...