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The
Christmas Tree
A
beautifully
decorated evergreen
tree, with colored
lights ablaze
inspires in many
warm memories of
Christmases long
past. The Christmas
tree has become one
of the most beloved
and well know
holiday symbols.
The tradition of a
holiday tree has
been around since
ancient times and
has played an
important part in
winter celebrations
for many centuries.
Many pagan festivals
used trees when
honoring their gods
and spirits. In
Northern Europe the
Vikings considered
the evergreen a
symbol and reminder
that the darkness
and cold of winter
would end and the
green of spring
would return. The
Druids of ancient
England and France
decorated oak trees
with fruit and
candles to honor
their gods of
harvests. At the
festival Saturnalia
the Romans decorated
trees with trinkets
and candles.
There
have also been many
legends surrounding
the lore of the
Christmas tree. In
one story Saint
Boniface, an English
monk, came upon a
group of pagans who
had gathered around
an oak tree and were
preparing to
sacrifice a child.
To stop the
sacrifice and save
the child, the Saint
flattened the oak
tree with one blow
of his fist. A small
fir sprang up in its
place, which Saint
Boniface told the
pagans was the Tree
of Life and
represented the life
of Christ.
Another
legend tells of
Martin Luther, the
founder of the
Protestant religion,
walking through the
woods late one
night. As it was
clear, many stars
were shining through
the branches of the
trees giving the
impression of
twinkling lights.
Luther was so
inspired by the
beauty of the sight
that he cut down a
small evergreen and
brought it home. He
recreated the stars
by putting candles
on the tree's
branches.
The
use of a Christmas
tree indoors appears
to have begun in
Germany. German
Christians would
bring trees into
their homes to
decorate. In some
areas evergreen
trees were scarce so
the families would
build a Christmas
pyramid, simple
wooden structures
which they decorated
with branches and
candles.
The
tradition of the
Christmas tree
eventually spread
through out Europe.
The English Royalty
help popularize the
tree in England by
decorating the first
Christmas tree at
Windsor Castle in
1841. Prince Albert,
husband of Queen
Victoria, decorated
the first English
Christmas Tree with
candles, candies,
fruits, and
gingerbread.
When
the German
immigrants went to
American they also
brought along their
Christmas trees. In
the 1830's most
Americans still
considered the
Christmas tree an
oddity. One of the
first public
displays of a
Christmas tree was
set up by German
Settlers in
Pennsylvania. At the
time many still
considered the tree
to be a symbol of
pagans and it wasn't
until the late
1800's that
Americans began
accepting the
Christmas tree.
Early Christmas
trees were often
decorated with
apples, nuts,
cookies, colored
popcorn and candles.
The invention of
electricity in the
early 20th century
and use of
electrical Christmas
lights helped spread
the use of the
Christmas tree.
It
is now common in
most communities
through out the US
to feature public
displays of
Christmas trees.
Every year the
President of the
United States lights
the National
Christmas Tree in
Washington and in
New York skaters
spin beneath the
lighted tree of
Rockefeller Center.
Through Europe and
the rest of the
world the Christmas
tree has also become
readily accepted and
adored.
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