The Christmas Tree

How did it all begin? No one really knows, though the custom of having Christmas trees certainly comes from Germany. At one time ‘Adam and Eve Day’ was celebrated on 24 December. They decorated a tree, known as the Paradise Tree, with apples and fruit. And they acted the story of the Garden of Eden and how, in the beginning, the world was spoilt.

A legend links the Christmas tree with St Boniface of Crediton, who left England to bring the good news about Jesus to the tribes of Germany. One dark night he and his monks came upon a group of villagers preparing to sacrifice a boy to their god Odin. They had tied him to an oak tree. Boniface set the boy free and chopped the oak tree down. He pointed instead to an evergreen fir and his followers stepped forward and put their candles on its branches. By its light, the people listened as Boniface told them of the loving God who had brought life and light to the world through his Son.

Some say it was Martin Luther, the great sixteenth-century reformer, who first brought the lighted Christmas tree indoors. As he walked through the forest one night he looked up to see the stars shining through the branches. It was so beautiful he went home to tell his children how the lighted tree was like a picture of Jesus, who left the starry heaven to bring light to earth.

Decorating the Tree

At first, Christmas trees were decorated with things to eat – edible angels, gingerbread men and apples. German glass-blowers may have been the first to make glass ornaments which were not so heavy. At first a little model of baby Jesus was put at the top of the tree. This changed to an angel with gold wings; then to the fairy we see on so many Christmas trees today!

Candles were used to light the tree at first, and there were many bad accidents from fire. In 1895 an American telephone worker, Ralph Morris, thought how good the tiny light bulbs on the switchboard would look on his tree! His inspiration led to the many shapes and colours of electric Christmas tree lights manufactured today.

Special Christmas Trees

Many towns have their own Christmas tree, set up in the square or high street. One of the best-known stands in Trafalgar Square in London.

Every December a magnificent fir tree is shipped over from Oslo in Norway as a present from the people of Norway, in gratitude for the help given to them by Britain in the Second World War.

Since the 1920s there has been a large Christmas tree on the White House lawn in Washington. The President himself switches on the lights.

In New Zealand the Christmas tree is alive and growing. Its Maori name is Pohutakawa, but early settlers called it the Christmas tree because its beautiful red flowers bloom in December. The huge trees grow mostly by lake and sea side and holiday-makers can tread a carpet of its red stamens down to the water’s edge.

The Royal Christmas Tree

It was Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s German husband, who made the Christmas tree popular in Britain. In 1841 he wrote to his father:

‘Today I have two children of my own . . . who . . . are full of happy wonder at the German Christmas tree and its radiant candles.’

In 1848 The Illustrated London News described the royal tree as, ‘About eight feet tall . . . On each branch are arranged a dozen wax tapers . . . Fancy cakes, gilt gingerbread and eggs filled with sweetmeats, are also suspended by variously-coloured ribbons from the branches . . . The tree . . . is, supported at the root by piles of sweets of a larger kind, and by toys and dolls of all descriptions, suited to the . . . ages of . . . Royalty for whose gratification they are displayed.’

Wreaths

The wreaths were created in the same way the Christmas trees were created. For some it symbolizes the strength of life overcoming the forces of winter. Back in ancient Rome, people used decorative wreaths as a sign of victory. Some believe that this is where the hanging of wreaths on doors came from. Since these times, many wreaths have been made. Some are made for crafts, others for purely decoration, and yet others have more deeper meanings. Below are a couple examples.

Types of Wreaths

Advent Wreaths

The origins of the Advent wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light. Christians kept these popular traditions alive, and by the 16th century Catholics and Protestants throughout Germany used these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ, the everlasting Light. From Germany the use of the Advent wreath spread to other parts of the Christian world. Traditionally, the wreath is made of four candles in a circle of evergreens with the fifth candle in the middle. Three candles are violet and the fourth is rose, but four white candles or four violet candles can also be used. Each day at home, the candles are lighted, perhaps before the evening meal – one candle the first week, and then another each succeeding week until December 25th. A short prayer may accompany the lighting of each candle. The last candle is the middle candle. The lighting of this candle takes place on Christmas Eve. It represents Jesus Christ being born.

Decoratory/Craft Wreaths

Wreaths that are made for crafts and decoration have a different purpose than other types of wreaths. Usually they are made for just decoration, like in the same way Christmas lights are used. They usually give a house the finishing look or the finishing touch. They give the house the extra little Christmas feeling. They are usually made out of evergreen leaves which again symbolize life throughout the tough winters.

Santa Claus and Gifts

The tradition of exchanging gifts at Christmas not only springs from the gifts given to the Christ Child by the Three Wise Men but has its roots in many of the winter solstice festivals. Saturnalia, the Roman festival was marked by the exchange of gifts, but in Scandinavian countries it was believed that the god Odin visited earth to reward good and punish evil. As Christianity spread Odin was replaced by St Nicholas who would bring gifts to good children. St Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, he was one of the first bishops of the early Christian church and was imprisoned by the Romans because of his faith. He is remembered for his kindness to children and is thus the patron saint of children.

In Holland St Nicholas or Sinterklaas as he is known there, is believed to live in Spain, where he keeps a large red book in which he notes all the good and bad deeds of every child. Each year on December 6 he arrives in Amsterdam by steamship and rides ashore on a great white horse. He is accompanied by servants (or as some versions have it a devil named “Black Peter”), who check whether children have been good before leaving presents for them. That night Sinterklaas rides across Holland and children leave out a pair of shoes filled with food for the horse. In exchange Sinterklaas leaves them gifts or if they have been naughty, a birch rod!

It is from the Dutch Sinterklaas that we take our modern Santa Claus or Father Christmas. In fact it was theologian, Clement Clarke Moore in his poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” who gave Santa Claus a sleigh and team of reindeer named, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (Rudolph joined the team later!). Clement Clarke Moore draws on a Norwegian legend by describing St Nick as a “right jolly elf”, which would explain how he could easily get down chimneys. And it was as recent as the 1860’s that American artists created the image of the modern Santa Claus, into a robust, red-robed, white-bearded figure carrying a sack full of toys.

In Germany it is believed that it is the Christkindl, who brings the children their gifts. Christkindl means Christ Child. On Christmas Eve children in Germany are not allowed in the room where the Christmas tree stands. When at last they are allowed in, of course, they are always too late to catch the Christkindl leaving their gifts.

Italian children receive gifts on January 6 from an old woman named Befana. Legend has it that Befana was an old grandmother who lived in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’s birth. When told by the shepherds about the newborn Christ child the old woman delayed going to visit him and when she finally went to the stable she was too late. Since then every year at Christmas time Befana wanders over the world searching every home for the baby Jesus, and leaves behind gifts in every home in case he is there.

Merry Christmas!

CHRISTMAS

From old English Cristes maesse (Christ’s Mass), older still, Yule, from the Germanic root geol. The traditional Christmas is not a single day but a prolonged period, normally from 24th December to 6th January. This included the New Year, thus increasing the festival value of Christmas.

BIRD'S CHRISTMAS TREE

This is a custom throughout the Scandinavian countries at Christmastime and is in keeping with the general tendency to try to share festivities with all animal and even plant life so that the coming year will be a prosperous one. A sheaf of wheat or some other grain, or even just seeds and bread, is placed on a pole and set up outside where the birds are known to congregate. This is done on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The sight and sound of the outdoor festivity at the bird’s Christmas tree can add greatly to the zest and warmth of the indoor celebration.

YULE LOG

When Yule became Christmas, the yule log was divested of its religious connotations but none of its superstitions. The log must be obtained by the family itself, not bought from someone else. It had to be lighted with a piece of last year’s Yule log. It must burn continuously for the twelve days of Christmas. If your shadow cast by the light of the Yule log fire seemed to be headless, you would die within one year. The log’s ashes could cure ailments and avert lightning.

BLOWING IN THE YULE 

One of the delightfully noisy traditions of Christmas, this custom probably originated in pagan times to ward off evil spirits. It is today found in areas of Germany and the Scandinavian countries. A group of musicians take their instruments to the belfry of the local church and lustily play four Christmas carols, one in each direction of the compass. They finish with a joyful peal of the bells, which announces that Christmas has arrived.

CANDLE 

Light was an important part of the pagan midwinter festivities, since this was the time when the sun ceased to wane and began to grow stronger and brighter. In imitation candles and bonfires helped to drive away the forces of cold and darkness. Wax tapers were given as gifts at the Roman festival of Saturnalia. To the Christian community, the lighting of candles took on the additional symbolic significance of Jesus as the Light of the World. Christmas candles are made in all shapes, colors and sizes and are very often scented as balsam and evergreen. The beautiful idea of Christmas candles shining from windows is a custom still practiced in Europe. In Sweden, St. Lucy appears wearing a crown of candles. In Victorian England, tradesmen made annual gifts of candles to their loyal customers. In many parts of the world, the Advent candles reflect the dawning season and remind us of the coming Light. The addition of lighted candles to the paradise tree marked the birth of our most beloved Christmas tree. The Christmas candle, with its brightness, sacredness and sense of well being, is an indispensable part of the Christmas season.

CANDLEMAS 

This is the celebration of the ritual purification of Mary, which, as required by Jewish law, took place forty days after the birth of her child. Candlemas is February 2. The first celebration took place in the late seventh or early eighth centuries. The custom of blessing the candles that were carried in processions gave the day its popular name of Candlemas. In many countries, Candlemas has been looked upon as the end of the Christmas season. This was the day when the decorations would be taken down and stored for another year. The Christmas plants would be burned, with the remnants of the Yule log and the ashes spread over the gardens to ensure a good harvest. The Yule log for the next year would be chosen then. Candlemas was also a good day for weather forecasting. If it was a sunny day, there would be forty more days of cold and snow. This belief has carried into American folklore tradition as Groundhog Day, February 2.

 CANDY CANE

A candymaker in Indiana, U.S.A., wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church and firmness of the promises of God. The candymaker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the “Good Shepherd” with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep have gone astray. Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the bloodshed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known as a Candy Cane - a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who “have eyes to see and ears to hear.”

 CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The Catholic Church valued music greatly and it is no wonder that the early Christmas songs date from the 4th century (the earliest known is Jesus refulsit omnium by St.Hilary of Poitiers). The Mediaeval Christmas music followed the Gregorian tradition. In Renaissance Italy there emerged a lighter and more joyous kind of Christmas songs, more like the true carols (from the French word caroler, meaning to dance in a ring). These songs continued to be religious and in Latin, though. In Protestant countries the tradition, as everything Christmas-related, intensified.

Luther wrote and composed his song “From Heaven above I come to You”. Music by Handel and Mendelssohn was adapted and used as Christmas carols. The old Finnish/Swedish collection Piae Cantiones was translated and published in English in the mid - 19th century. The most famous of all, “Silent Night” (Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) was written by the Austrian parish priest Joseph Mohr and composed by Franz Gruber, church organist, in 1818. In the 19th century and later many popular songs were written by composers (e.g. Adam, Sibelius). The themes of songs surpassed religion and the totality of Christmas paraphernalia found its way to carol music.

 TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. etc.

In the middle ages, religious holidays were virtually the only holidays, so everyone was eager to extend such celebrations as long as possible. Christmas in particular was extended from a one day event to 12 days from Christmas Day to the Epiphany. In wealthy castles, a gift on each of the 12 days was quite common. This made “The Twelve Days of Christmas” a very popular song in anticipation of the gifts to come. It is not certain how old this carol is, but it probably dates back as far as the 16th century.

POINSETTIA

In Mexican legend, a small boy knelt at the altar of his village church on Christmas Eve. He had nothing to offer Christ Child on his birthday because he had no money, but his prayers were sincere and a miracle gave him the present that could be bought by no one; the first Flower of the Holy Night sprang up at his feet in brilliant red and green homage to the holy birth. Thus was born the flower we know as the Poinsettia. Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett was the American ambassador to Mexico from 1825 to 1829. His keen interest in botany made him very interested in the Flower of the Holy Night and he brought it back to his home in South Carolina. It became very popular as a Christmas plant and was named after him.

EISTEDDFOD

In Wales at Christmastime, a Christmas poem is designated each year to be set to music. Choirs all over the country vie for the honor of having their music chosen to be the official Christmas carol. These choirs come together in the marketplaces of every size town and village to sing their version as well as the official carols from many years past. This combination carol sing and contest is called an eisteddfod. There is also a National Eisteddfod, held every year since 1860, which determines the final selection and also has contests in drama, prose and poetry. The custom of choosing a national carol was begun in the tenth century.

 PYRAMID

Before the Christmas tree, the Christmas pyramid was the most important decoration in Germany and much of northern Europe. It was a wooden framework in the shape of a pyramid, decorated with greenery and ornaments. Gifts or food could be placed on its shelves. As the tree became more popular the functions of the pyramid were shifted to the tree.