Christmas Tree
The city of Riga in Latvia is said to be the home of the first holiday
tree and the same is proudly proclaimed by an octagonal plaque in
the Town Square which reads, “The first New Year’s Tree
in Riga in 1510”, in eight different languages.
For centuries, evergreens have played an important role in Winter
celebrations. Carried into homes and adorned with apples and other
fruits, upon the arrival of the winter solstice, which occurs in
the northern hemisphere between December 21st and 22nd, they were
set up as symbolic idols. Such decorations were intended as food
offerings to the tree and may be where the modern custom of placing
gifts beneath the Christmas tree originated. People believed that
evergreen trees were magical, because even in winter, when all the
other trees and greenery were brown and bare, the evergreen stayed
strong and green.
Some people believe the idea for the tree was invented by St. Boniface
in the 7th century. Saint Boniface, who was an English missionary
and Benedictine monk and was known as the "Apostle of Germany,"
came upon some men about to cut down a huge oak tree to be used
as a stake for a human sacrifice to Thor, one of the Norse Gods.
With a mighty blow from an axe, Saint Boniface felled the massive
oak and, as the tree split apart, a beautiful young fir tree sprang
from its center. Saint Boniface informed the people that this beautiful
evergreen, whose branches pointed toward heaven, was a holy tree,
the tree of the Christ Child, symbolizing the purity of the New
Faith and the promise of eternal life. Saint Boniface then instructed
them to henceforth carry the evergreen from the wilderness, place
it into their homes and surround it with gifts symbolic of love
and kindness.
Another legend holds that Martin Luther, a founder of the Protestant
faith, was walking through the forest one Christmas Eve. As he walked
he was awed by the beauty of millions of stars glimmering through
the branches of the evergreen trees. So taken was he by this beautiful
sight that he cut a small tree and took it home to his family. To
recreate that same starlight beauty he saw in the wood, he placed
candles on all its branches.
German Christians would bring trees into their homes to decorate.
In some areas where evergreen trees were scarce, the families would
build a Christmas pyramid, a simple wooden structure which would
then be adorned with branches and candles. Both setting up and taking
down a Christmas tree are associated with specific dates. In Europe,
when the practice of setting up evergreen trees originated in pagan
times, the practice was associated with the Winter Solstice. Tree
decoration was later adopted into Christian practice after the Church
set December 25 as the birth of Christ, thereby supplanting the
pagan celebration of the solstice.
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In the 1800s, glass ornaments were first made in the Lauscha,
Germany. This cottage industry involved the entire family.
Generally, men did the glassblowing, women did the silvering
and the children helped to paint and finish them. These beautiful
new glass ornaments began to replace edible decorations.
F.W. Woolworth was the first North American retailer to sell
glass ornaments. The story goes that he was not too sure about
this new product line. However, Woolworth changed his mind
by 1890 when he was selling $25 million worth of ornaments
in his five-and-dime stores.
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Prince Albert brought the Christmas Tree to Britain
from Germany and in 1846, the popular Royals, Queen Victoria
and her German Prince were illustrated in the Illustrated London
News. They were standing with their children around a Christmas
Tree. Unlike the previous Royal family, Victoria was very popular
with her subjects, and what was done at Court immediately became
fashionable - not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious
East Coast American Society. The English Christmas Tree had
arrived! |
Traditionally, Christmas trees were not brought in and decorated
until Christmas Eve (24th December), and then removed the day after
twelfth night (6th January). To have a tree up before or after these
dates was even considered bad luck.
The most popular variety of real Christmas trees are: Fraser Fir,
Douglas Fir, White Pine, Scotch pine, noble Fir and Balsam Fir.
Nollaig Shona Duit.
"Oh Christmas Tree"
1. O Christmas tree. O Christmas tree,
Thou tree most fair and lovely.
O Christmas tree. O Christmas tree,
Thou tree most fair and lovely.
The sight of thee at Christmas-tide
Spreads hope and gladness far and wide.
O Christmas tree. O Christmas tree,
Thou tree most fair and lovely.
2. O Christmas tree. O Christmas tree,
Thou hast a wondrous message.
O Christmas tree. O Christmas tree,
Thou hast a wondrous message.
Thou dost proclaim the Savior's birth,
Good will to men and peace on earth.
O Christmas tree. O Christmas tree,
Thou hast a wondrous message.
3. O Christmas tree. O Christmas tree,
You glow with Christmas brightness.
O Christmas tree. O Christmas tree,
We sing with joyful lightness.
The radiance of this happy night,
To all of us gives hope and light,
O Christmas tree. O Christmas tree,
You glow with Christmas brightness.
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