A couple of days ago Ellen and I drove over the mountain to visit Dollywood with another ‘advanced-state-of-maturity’ couple . . . a common retired old duffer activity when they’re not curled up on the couch in the evening watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy (I’m talking about the other members of our entourage).
Snapped these pictures of some of the literally hundreds of Christmas trees and other countless decorations and lights of Dollywood‘s incredible festive Christmas displays . . . eye candy on steroids!
Got me to a-thinkin’ about the origin of the Christmas tree. Since the 24 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica no longer adorn my bookshelf (got tired for waiting for Antique Road Show to visit Knoxville), I did some high tech Googleing.
Several Christmas tree legends have been passed down through the centuries. Connections to ancient traditions such as Egyptian and Roman customs, early Christian practices, and Victorian nostalgia exist. However, most scholars point to Germany as being the origin of the Christmas tree (as a bonified kraut I’m inclined to break out in a chorus O Tannebaum!)
One of the earliest stories relating back to Germany is about Saint Boniface. In 722, he encountered some pagans who were about to sacrifice a child at the base of a huge oak tree. He cut down the tree to prevent the sacrifice and a Fir tree grew up at the base of the oak. He then told everyone that this lovely evergreen, with its branches pointing to heaven, was a holy tree – the tree of the Christ child, and a symbol of His promise of eternal life.
In the 1840s and 50s, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized the Christmas tree in England. Prince Albert decorated a tree and ever since that time, the English, because of their love for their Queen, copied her Christmas customs including the Christmas tree and ornaments. An engraving of the Royal Family celebrating Christmas at Windsor was published in 1848 and their German traditions were copied and adapted.
Another story about the origin of the Christmas tree says that late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope that spring would soon come.
Another legend that has not been proved is that Martin Luther is responsible for the origin of the Christmas tree. This story says that one Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through the snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of the snow glistened trees. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moon light. When he got home, he set up a small fir tree and shared the story with his children. He decorated the Christmas tree with small candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ’s birth.
Research into customs of various cultures shows that greenery was often brought into homes at the time of the winter solstice. It symbolized life in the midst of death in many cultures. The Romans were known to deck their homes with evergreens during of Kalends of January 15. Living trees were also brought into homes during the old Germany feast of Yule, which originally was a two month feast beginning in November. The Yule tree was planted in a tub and brought into the home. But there is no evidence that the Christmas tree is a direct descendent of the Yule tree. Evidence does point to the Paradise tree however. This story goes back to the 11th century religious plays. One of the most popular was the Paradise Play. The play depicted the story of the creation of Adam and Eve, their sin, and their banishment from Paradise. The only prop on the stage was the Paradise tree, a fir tree adorned with apples. The play would end with the promise of the coming Savior and His Incarnation. The people had grown so accustomed to the Paradise tree, that they began putting their own Paradise tree up in their homes on December 24.
Legends, hold an unknown mystique that captivates our imaginations. Whatever Christmas Tree legend you may subscribe to, for Christians it reminds us of the birth of Jesus that history has proven was no legend, but fact.
Thirty-three years after the Christ of Christmas chose to exchange heaven’s glory for a stable’s manger, He chose to be the sole ‘decoration’ of unimaginable Love that hung on another tree . . . no legend . . . just an incomparable Christmas gift for you, for me, forever proclaiming . . . “You’re worth dying for” – Jesus.
All the best for a Blessed and Merry Christmas.
Abba's Art 