Did you know evergreen trees were essential for survival and spiritual practices long before they became holiday decor? Evergreen trees have played a crucial role in the history of Native Americans and early settlers, providing everything from shelter, windscreen, and sustenance to spiritual significance. These resilient trees are also subtly linked to Thanksgiving traditions, symbolizing life, protection, and gratitude. Let’s Explore their rich legacy and connection to Thanksgiving traditions.
What Are the Uses of Evergreen Trees by Native Americans and Early Settlers?
Evergreen trees were vital to both Native Americans and early settlers. Native Americans used evergreens for shelter, ceremonies, medicine, and food. They brewed tea from pine needles for respiratory health, and cedar branches insulated homes. Early settlers adopted these practices, using evergreens for privacy, windbreaks, and winter decorations during harvest celebrations like Thanksgiving.
Evergreens tree uses in Native American Life
Shelter and Protection
Evergreen trees, with their dense year-round foliage, provided insulation and protection. Tribes used cedar and pine trees to construct weather-resistant shelters like lean-tos and wigwams. These natural materials were effective against wind, snow, and rain. They used tree resin for gluing and waterproofing their homes, jugs, and baskets.
Medicine and Healing
Evergreens served as natural pharmacies:
- Pine needles: High in vitamin C, these were brewed into tea to prevent scurvy and treat colds.
- Resin(Pitch): Used as a topical antiseptic for cuts and burns and to remove unwanted hair. They also used it to prevent sunburn. Imagine using resin at the beach vs today’s modern sunscreen lotions. They ingested the resin to treat digestive and infectious issues and many other ailments.
- Bark and roots: Ground into powders or poultices for pain relief and inflammation.
- Buds: Used for burns and earaches.
- Branches, cones, twigs, and needles: These are used to make infusions or to boil to treat many of the same ailments as the resin.
Not all tribes had the same beliefs, so the use of evergreens for medicinal and healing purposes varied. For example, the Okanagan-Colville tribe of B.C. considered the juniper cones poisonous, so they used them on bullets or arrowheads to kill more quickly. But, they also made a drink from the cones and drank it in the sweathouse.
Food and Nutrition
Pine nuts (Pinyon – Pinus edulis and Pinus monophylla), harvested from cones, were a nutritious and versatile food source. During famines, some tribes used the inner bark to make flour, ensuring sustenance even in difficult seasons. Also, they chewed pitch like gum. Today, pine nuts have become a common ingredient in New Mexico cuisine.
The Douglas Fir branches were used as a seasoning in barbequing bear meat. They ate the Ponderosa Pines’ inner sweet bark as a raw snack, baked into cakes, and used in the cooking of various other dishes. All-natural cooking without all the preservatives we see today as we stroll down the grocery store aisles.
Hygiene
Native Americians used Evergreen needles as deodorant and perfumes. Also, they burned twigs to trim their hair. Some tribes used resin and needles to control dandruff. They peeled the tops off the Douglas Fir for mouth freshener and chewed it. Imagine using rotten wood as diapers as the Native Americans did. Ouch! Native Americans were very resourceful and didn’t waste anything they harvested or hunted!
Spiritual and Cultural Role
For Native Americans, evergreen trees symbolized longevity, protection, and the cyclical nature of life. Cedar, juniper, and pine branches were integral to purification rituals, while evergreen wreaths were crafted as offerings to nature. Native Americans named the American Arborvitae the “Tree of Life,” also known as white cedar. The “Tree of Life” is one of the most important ceremonial trees, associated with prayer, healing, dreams, and protection against disease.
Early Settler Uses of Evergreen Trees
Shelter and Practical Use
Settlers built homes and fences from evergreen logs, oak, and walnut. They used pine and cedar branches for insulation and to line the walls and floors of cabins. These practices ensured survival during harsh winters, with some of these practices adopted by the Native Americans. As more settlers came from Europe, they began planting sugar maple, red oak, catalpa, and American elm trees. They eventually converted from evergreens to white oak and black walnut for home construction.
Windbreaks and Privacy
Evergreen trees were planted around homes, settlements, and fields to protect crops and livestock from strong winds and predators. They also served as natural privacy screens and were strategically placed to direct visual focus on homes or gardens, a part of early landscape design. Hollies, red cedars, arborvitaes, and privot were common choices for evergreens in the 1800s. In George William Johnson’s 1847 book ” A Dictionary of Modern Gardening,” he stated, “Evergreens are better than deciduous hedges, and more especially the holly.” Throughout American history, the arborvitate has been a preferred tree for windscreen and privacy long before it was exported to other countries in the 1550s. Fast forward to today, the Green Giant Arborvitae and Nellie Stevens holly trees are the preferred evergreens for privacy and windscreen in Maryland, Washington, DC, and northern Virginia.
Medicinal and Nutritional Value
Early settlers adopted many of the Native American uses for evergreens. Pine needle tea, for instance, became a staple remedy for scurvy. Pine nuts provide a reliable source of protein and calories.
Symbolic and Festive Use
The use of evergreen trees by settlers was a part of harvest and winter celebrations. Settlers decorated their homes with evergreen branches. These decorations symbolized hope and gratitude, particularly during Thanksgiving gatherings, which then carried over into Christmas.symbolism of evergreens in history,
Evergreens and Thanksgiving: A Shared Legacy
Thanksgiving reflects themes of gratitude, unity, and resilience—values deeply tied to evergreen trees’ role in the lives of Native Americans and settlers. The Pilgrims’ survival during their first winters was made possible through knowledge shared by Native Americans, including the use of evergreens for essential needs and protection. Native Americans and early settlers made the most of the resources around them, leaving little to waste. As symbols of life and protection, evergreens became part of early Thanksgiving celebrations, often adorning homes and tables as a tribute to nature’s gifts.
While we do not know exactly what was served at the first Thanksgiving or early celebrations, we can speculate based on what was available at the time. Surprisingly, many historians believe that the birds brought to feast on by the Wampanoag and Pilgrims were more likely ducks and geese versus wild turkeys. Pine nuts, evergreen tea from the needles, juniper berries, and pimento (allspice), are presumed to have been a part of the seven-day feast.
Modern Thanksgiving and Evergreens
Today, evergreens are a familiar sight at Thanksgiving and winter celebrations, from allspice to tea and centerpieces to garlands. Evergreen decorations pay homage to the historical significance of evergreens, connecting modern festivities to their storied past. Using live evergreens in holiday decor is also a great way to reconnect with nature and bring fresh pine fragrances into your home. Explore some DIY evergreen decorations for Thanksgiving this year!
FAQ: Evergreen Trees and Their Legacy
1. How did Native Americans use evergreen trees?
Native Americans relied on evergreen trees for shelter, hygiene, medicine, and food. They used cedar and pine branches to insulate their homes, pine needles to brew tea for respiratory issues, and resin as an antiseptic.
2. How were evergreen trees used by settlers?
Settlers initially used evergreens for building homes, creating windbreaks, and providing insulation. They also utilized evergreens for privacy and adopted medicinal practices similar to the Native Americans.
3. How are evergreen trees connected to Thanksgiving?
Evergreens symbolize resilience and unity, key themes of Thanksgiving. Native Americans and settlers used evergreens in harvest celebrations, with branches often decorating homes during Thanksgiving gatherings.
4. Why are evergreens considered a symbol of life and hope?
Evergreens stay vibrant year-round, even in harsh winters, symbolizing endurance and life. This made them a powerful emblem in Native American rituals and settlers’ traditions.
5. How can I incorporate evergreens into modern Thanksgiving decor?
You can use evergreen wreaths, garlands, or centerpieces for Thanksgiving evergreen decorations. These decorations honor their historical importance while adding a natural, festive touch. Don’t forget the apple and pumpkin pies, which include allspice and other wonderful spices!
6. What was the first American tree shipped to Europe?
Jacques Cartier is responsible for shipping the first American tree, the American arbor-vitae, to Europe, where it was planted in Paris sometime before 1550. Jacques found the arbor-vitae along the St. Lawrence River.
Evergreens as Timeless Symbols
Evergreen trees are more than just beautiful plants; they are a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of Native Americans and early settlers. Their legacy lives on in modern Thanksgiving traditions, serving as symbols of life, gratitude, and unity. Evergreen trees for privacy screening and windbreaks are an integral part of American landscape design history that evolved from agricultural practices and continues today. As you celebrate Thanksgiving, consider incorporating evergreens into your decor and seasonings to connect with this enduring symbolism of evergreens in history. What are your Thanksgiving traditions involving the use of evergreen trees?
For more insights into the historical uses of evergreens, explore resources at USDA Forest Service, Native American Ethnobotany by Daniel E. Moerman, and Native Languages of the Americas.
