There is a widely held belief that the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree stems from the introduction of one into England by Prince Albert, but truth to tell the idea of a Christmas tree goes way back to the eighth century.
An old German legend tells how a Spruce Fir became the first Christmas tree.
A very holy man called Saint Boniface was sent from England to Germany to tell the pagans there about Jesus. One cold frosty night he was walking through the woods when he came upon a group of pagan worshippers. This was the special night when they made offerings to their pagan god, and they were about to make a human sacrifice! A little boy was being led forward and he was about to be tied to an oak tree as a human sacrifice. When Saint Boniface saw this he was incensed and grabbed a woodcutters axe and felled the oak tree. As it fell to the ground it left a little fir tree growing where its roots had been.
The saint turned to the assembled pagans and shouted “From this night this shall be your holy emblem,(pointing to the fir tree). It is the wood of peace, from which your houses are built. It is the sign of eternal life, for its leaves are green. It points to Heaven and shall henceforth be called the Tree of the Christ Child!”
A very holy man called Saint Boniface was sent from England to Germany to tell the pagans there about Jesus. One cold frosty night he was walking through the woods when he came upon a group of pagan worshippers. This was the special night when they made offerings to their pagan god, and they were about to make a human sacrifice! A little boy was being led forward and he was about to be tied to an oak tree as a human sacrifice. When Saint Boniface saw this he was incensed and grabbed a woodcutters axe and felled the oak tree. As it fell to the ground it left a little fir tree growing where its roots had been.
The saint turned to the assembled pagans and shouted “From this night this shall be your holy emblem,(pointing to the fir tree). It is the wood of peace, from which your houses are built. It is the sign of eternal life, for its leaves are green. It points to Heaven and shall henceforth be called the Tree of the Christ Child!”
ORNAMENTS & DECORATIONS
Today, at Christmas time we decorate our homes and workplaces with colourful streamers, balls, crackers, snowmen, stars, angels and ornaments made from all sorts of brightly coloured materials.
This wasn’t always the case. For hundreds of years pagans used the only available decorating material and that was evergreens. Christians took over the idea of using evergreens, but added a Christian meaning to the evergreens. (Holly reminded them of the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus, the red berries were a reminder of the drops of blood shed by Jesus when he had the crown of thorns forced on to his head. Mistletoe was the sign of love etc.)
Today, at Christmas time we decorate our homes and workplaces with colourful streamers, balls, crackers, snowmen, stars, angels and ornaments made from all sorts of brightly coloured materials.
This wasn’t always the case. For hundreds of years pagans used the only available decorating material and that was evergreens. Christians took over the idea of using evergreens, but added a Christian meaning to the evergreens. (Holly reminded them of the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus, the red berries were a reminder of the drops of blood shed by Jesus when he had the crown of thorns forced on to his head. Mistletoe was the sign of love etc.)
When the Italians first made their Christmas Cribs strips of coloured cloth or paper were used to make them more attractive. In a similar way people eventually began decorating the evergreens with coloured ribbons.
From these traditions grew an industry which specialised in producing Christmas decorations, streamers, glass baubles, ribbons, crackers, stars, angels, snowmen, Santa Clauses etc.
From these traditions grew an industry which specialised in producing Christmas decorations, streamers, glass baubles, ribbons, crackers, stars, angels, snowmen, Santa Clauses etc.
GIFTS
Did you know that in most countries gifts ARE NOT given on Christmas Day, but on New Years Day! This harks back to the Romans tradition of giving presents at New Year. When they conquered another country, their traditions became part of that country’s culture
It is only in English and German speaking countries that the tradition of giving presents has been brought forward to Christmas Day. The idea of giving presents on Christmas Day was as a reminder of the gifts the Wise Men brought for Jesus
It is only in English and German speaking countries that the tradition of giving presents has been brought forward to Christmas Day. The idea of giving presents on Christmas Day was as a reminder of the gifts the Wise Men brought for Jesus
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