Christmas Tree
Christmas trees – the story of a Christmas tradition
When we talk about the history of Christmas trees, there are questions really multiple addresses. First, it is the association of the evergreen tree with Christianity. When and where this has started? Then How did evergreen tree come to be associated with the Christian festival of Christmas? And finally, how this association occurs in our modern tradition of a decorated tree in the holiday season? We will examine each of these issues one by one.
Broadleaved evergreen trees and Christianity:
There is a debate about when and how the first evergreen tree is associated with Christianity. Some Historians tell us that a monk named Boniface happened upon a group of pagans worshiping an oak in the woods (and animals may also show and the sacrifices human there). Boniface was irritated by this, and he cut the oak tree down. According to legend, an evergreen tree is up, where the oak was. Boniface and the pagans believed that this is a sign of Christianity, and, therefore, the Association of the tree foliage continuing with Christianity first start. There is also a debate about where exactly what happened. Some historians claim that he spent in Riga, Latvia. However, others say it happened in Germany, which might make more sense given that Boniface was a German monk.
Evergreen trees and Christmas
Some other historians argue that the monk Boniface actually used the evergreen tree as a teaching tool for preaching the Christian faith to the pagans. It took the form of triangular the tree a symbol of the Christian Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. According to legend, around the 12th century, the Christian people within evergreen trees at Christmas and hung upside down from their ceilings as a symbol of the Christian faith.
Others claim the first recorded reference to Evergreen trees used for Christmas celebrations has been documented by 16th century craft German guilds. This reference tells the story of a decorated tree and which was displayed in the main store of the guild, and that the guildmen of the children were allowed to take small gifts that decorated the tree for the holidays. Still other references give thinking that maybe the guild apprentices have been responsible for decorating the streets in Evergreen Day.
Martin Luther is credited with another person with the association between early evergreen tree and Christmas. As the story goes, Luther was walking on a winter evening, admiring the beauty of twinkling stars in the clear night sky. It was thus inspired to shoot a evergreen tree, bring indoors and try to recreate the effect of starlight by decorating the Christmas tree with candles.
Transition to the modern day Christmas Tree
Traditionally, Germans decorated their Christmas trees with fruit, nuts, small gifts, and other trinkets. Glass ornaments also made their debut in department stores blown glass from Germany. For this reason, our modern tradition of decorated Christmas trees are generally back to a German origin.
There was a time when Christmas trees have been avoided by conservative Christians as idolatry. In Puritan America, Christmas trees were not welcome in the Christmas celebrations. In England, trees decorated and Christmas carols were banned altogether. Fortunately, these days did not last too long. In mid-1800, Queen Victoria England and its royal family were photographed in front of their decorated family Christmas tree and the image appears in the News London. From there, decorated Christmas trees became popular in England and the United States.
The tradition of trees Evergreen Christmas decoration has certainly evolved from the early historical accounts, but one thing remains the same. A Christmas tree beautifully decorated with an inspiring show is still appreciated by all that puts us in the holiday spirit each year.
About the Author
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