Elden Ring fans consider the Tree of Erd to be a “Christmas tree”

Reddit user Independent-Design17 proposed a fascinating connection between Elden Ring's Erdtree and the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda. While a surface-level resemblance is evident, particularly with the game's smaller Erdtrees, deeper thematic similarities have captivated fans.

In Elden Ring lore, the Erdtree guides the souls of the departed, explaining the catacombs at its base. Intriguingly, Nuytsia floribunda holds similar spiritual significance in Aboriginal Australian culture. Its blossoming branches are seen as representing the souls of the deceased, and its vibrant hues are linked to the sunset, the believed destination of spirits.

Further fueling this comparison is Nuytsia's semi-parasitic nature; it draws sustenance from neighboring plants. This echoes a popular fan theory suggesting the Erdtree is parasitic, having overtaken the roots of a primordial Great Tree, the original source of life. However, game text referencing a "Great Tree" has been identified as a translation inaccuracy; the intended reference was to the Erdtree's own extensive root system.

Ultimately, whether these striking parallels to Nuytsia floribunda were deliberate or coincidental remains a mystery known only to FromSoftware.