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The tradition of the Christmas tree has intriguing roots

An attractive, beautifully decorated Christmas tree is one of the most beloved symbols of the holiday season. But the tradition of the Christmas tree can be traced back to ancient times, when superstitious people hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows to keep evil (witches, elves, fairies, and the like) and illness away.

The Romans used evergreens to decorate their homes and temples as part of their celebration of the winter solstice. The festival of Saturnalia, the pagan feast of Saturn, is god of the harvest. Saturnalia was a time of widespread, customary debauchery (rowdy behavior, public drinking, gluttony, dancing naked) and begging; interestingly enough, by going door to door and singing (caroling) in exchange for food, drink, and gifts. Saturnalia was also a time for exchanging presents and decorating trees. In northern Europe, the Celts and Scandinavians brought evergreen trees into their homes and hung bells and food items from the branches, so the spirits of the trees would be warm and comfortable and, in return, bless the inhabitants of the home.

The tradition of the Christmas tree as we know it may have its origin in the work of a Catholic monk; St. Boniface of Crediton (680-754), a missionary to the Germanic people who, in 725, challenged a group of pagans preparing to sacrifice a child at the base of Thor’s oak; an old and sacred oak tree growing in the town of Geismar, in central Germany. He rebuked the actions of the assembled crowd and cut down their hallowed oak, saying to them, “Here the cross of Christ shall break the hammer of the false god Thor.” Then he instructed them to gather around a small, attractive fir tree growing within the roots of the fallen oak; identifying it as a “sign of an endless life, for its leaves are evergreen,” and calling it “the tree of the Christ child.” In time, the tradition of using an evergreen to celebrate the birth of Jesus spread across Germany.

From the 9th through the 16th centuries, religious plays, known as mystery or miracle plays, were used to teach biblical stories to largely illiterate audiences. Among the most popular was the Paradise Play, which depicted the story of Adam and Eve, as told in Genesis 1:26 through 3:24, and ended with the promise of the coming Savior. The play’s central prop was a large evergreen tree called the Paradise Tree; its branches laden with red apples and, over time, communion wafers. Eventually, the Paradise Tree would be renamed the Christbaum, or Christ Tree and the communion wafers were replaced with pastry and marzipan in the shape of hearts, stars, bells, animals, and angels. (It’s worth noting here that the early church calendars of saints designated Dec. 24 as Adam and Eve’s day.)

The popularity of the Christmas tree in the English-speaking world is widely attributed to Clement Clarke Moore’s 1822 poem, ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’ (which also helped popularize our modern-day Santa Claus), and to Queen Victoria; or more accurately to her husband, Prince Albert, a native of Saxony (now part of Germany), who famously set up an elaborate Christbaum at Windsor Castle in 1841. The royal Christmas tree was decorated with candles and presents were hung from its boughs.

At the same time, German and Dutch immigrants were introducing the customs of Christmas trees and presents to the United States, where, in 1853, President Franklin Pierce became the first American President to bring a Christmas tree into the White House.

One popular Christmas tree legend involves the 16th century German reformer, Martin Luther, founder of the Protestant faith. It’s said that Luther was walking home (by some accounts composing a sermon) when he found himself awestruck by the beauty of the stars shimmering brightly through the evergreens in the forest. In order to recreate the scene for his family, Luther brought a wonderfully-formed fir tree into the main room of his home, and hung carefully-lit candles from its branches.

Whatever legends and traditions we wish to pass on as we decorate trees, wrap gifts, eat, drink, carouse, make merry, and open presents, we would do well to remember that Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and that all of our practices and traditions are, ultimately, reminders of His birth and His love for us.

To all of my readers, whatever your faith (or lack thereof), I wish you peace, joy, love, laughter, contentment, and goodwill.

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