O Christmas Tree

"O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches..."

The Christmas tree, with its lovely branches, is one of the most visible symbols of Christmas. In most western countries is is the predominant decoration or tradition next to the creche. There are varied ideas of when and where the use of an evergreen tree indoors, decorated to celebrate Christmas came about.  

Trees, especially evergreens, have long been a symbol of everlasting life and rebirth in cultures around the world even in ancient times.  The use of that symbol into the Christian traditions continued.  In the 8th century, St. Boniface was a missionary to the area now known as Germany. In an attempt to counter the superstitious practices of the people, he chopped down a sacred Oak Tree, where they worshiped Thor. It is said that he claimed a young fir tree growing in its shadow as the symbol of the Christian faith and eternal life and used the triangular shape of the Fir tree to describe the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is suggested that people were encouraged to take the evergreen, into their homes as symbol.

There is an old European custom of decorating a fir tree with apples and small white wafers symbolizing the Holy Eucharist which were later replaced by pastry cut into shapes. This tradition evolved from the Middle Ages “Miracle Plays and Mysteries" particularly the one depicting the story of the creation and Adam and Eve. The end of the play prophesied the coming of a Savior and was therefore often enacted during Advent. An evergreen tree was used as a lush garden tree, and it was decorated with apples to represent the forbidden fruit. A summary of tree traditions on Domestic Church website says:

The one piece of scenery--the "Paradeisbaum (the Paradise Tree) became a popular object, andwas often set up in churches, and eventually in private homes as well. It became a symbol of the Savior. Since the tree represented not only Paradise, and man's fall, but also the promise of salvation, it was hung not merely with apples, but also with bread or wafers (Holy Eucharist) and often sweets (representing the sweetness of redemption). In sections of Bavaria, fir branches and little trees, decorated with lights, apples and tinsel are still called Paradeis.

The modern Christmas tree was first mentioned in 1605 in Strasbourg, and introduced France and England later - in 1840 by Princess Helena of Mecklenburg and the Prince Consort respectively. Christmas trees became fashionable during that time in the mid 1800's. German and English immigrants brought the Christmas tree to America.

Traditionally, Christmas trees were not brought in and decorated until Christmas Eve, and then removed the day after Epiphany.  But many people get their trees earlier now during the Advent season.  Some wait to decorate until right before Christmas, some enjoy the decorated tree through the Advent season, some have developed new traditions of progressively decorating the tree through Advent in ways that reflect the Advent season or Jesse Tree tradition. Whether your tree come from a  lot or you venture into the forest for a "wild" tree or plan an excursion to a Christmas tree farm to choose and cut your own, pick a live tree to be planted later or reuse and conserve by using an artificial tree, the tree is a central feature of most homes at Christmas.

To celebrate the symbol of the Christmas tree several upcoming posts will have activities and resources you might want to include.