Harriet Martineau and the Follen Family Christmas Tree During
the holiday season of 1835 Harriet Martineau visited the
household of Charles and Eliza Follen. She recorded a
celebration which has been often hailed as the introduction of
the Christmas tree into America. Follen, a Unitarian minister,
was an immigrant from Germany, where Christmas trees had long
been in use. Here is Martineau's record of the event, from
Retrospect of Western Travel, vol. 2 (1838), pp. 178-179 (the
Follen's are not mentioned by name; the only named character is
their young son, Charley): I was present at the introduction
into the new country of the spectacle of the German Christmas-
tree. My little friend Charley and three companions had been
long preparing for this pretty show. The cook had broken her
eggs carefully in the middle for some weeks past, that Charley
might have the shells for cups; and these cups were gilded and
coloured very prettily. I rather think it was, generally
speaking, a secret out of the house; but I knew wh