So What Is A Christmas Tree?
This is an example of an artificial Christmas Tree
A Christmas Tree is a decorated tree with lights, tinsel, little hanging decorations. It can be artificial like the one above, made from materials like polyvinyl chloride or evergreen such as pine.
It is placed inside and people put gifts under it to exchange on Christmas Day.
Our family tradition " I Declare The Christmas Tree Open" gives us permission to exchange gifts.
Our family tradition " I Declare The Christmas Tree Open" gives us permission to exchange gifts.
How did The Christmas Tree Originate?
It stemmed back to ancient times when the evergreen tree, like the pine tree, was a symbol of life in the winter. Houses were decorated with evergreen branches over the new year by the Romans and ancient Eurpeans cut evergreen trees and planted them in boxes for the inside of their houses.
It was not until the Renaissance era with beginnings in Latvia (1510 ) and Strasbourg (1521) that are there clear records of trees being used as a symbol of Christmas.
One theory is that they started being used in Christmas plays. The plays linked Nativity with the feast day of Adam and Eve on 24th December.These trees or evergreen branches, called Paradise Trees, symbolized the Garden of Eden and were decorated with apples to represent forbidden fruit and round pastry wafers to symbolize The Eucharist.
However in many places during the 16th century these plays were banned. So evergreen branches or "Paradise Trees" were set up in people's homes decorated the same. This custom became more and more popular during the 17th and 18th century. People began putting candles beside the Christmas Tree to represent each family member, and then on the Christmas Tree.
Germans developed the Christmas Tree. Apples changed to red shiny balls,wafers changed to cookie ornaments which Germans use today and candles changed to lights after electricity became invented.
And halfway through the 19th century the Christmas Tree became popular outside Germany.
Today people use a wide variety of ornaments to decorate their Christmas Trees, including santa claus, snowmen, round balls, candy cane*, fruits, animals, angels and an angel or star for the top of the tree to represent the angel Gabriel or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.
Take a look at traditional German Christmas Carol "O Christmas Tree"
*NB A Candy Cane is a cane-shaped hard candy stick associated with Christmas.
It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavoured with peppermint.
Today it is also made in a variety of other flavors and colors.
Some say it started in the 17th century when a choirmaster wanted to give the children in the choir sweet treat as they often became restless during church services. So he found a candy maker to create a crook shape candy. He wanted it educational for the children.
The J shape represents Jesus.
At first it was pure white and this is to symbolize the virgin birth and purity.
Then three red stripes got added to represent the blood and eternal life.
The peppermint flavour is similar to another member of the mint family, hyssop. In the Old Testament hyssop was used for purification and sacrifice, and this is said to symbolize the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice he made.
Today the candy Cane is a symbol of Christmas and it's holiday.
Take a look at traditional German Christmas Carol "O Christmas Tree"
*NB A Candy Cane is a cane-shaped hard candy stick associated with Christmas.
It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavoured with peppermint.
Today it is also made in a variety of other flavors and colors.
Some say it started in the 17th century when a choirmaster wanted to give the children in the choir sweet treat as they often became restless during church services. So he found a candy maker to create a crook shape candy. He wanted it educational for the children.
The J shape represents Jesus.
At first it was pure white and this is to symbolize the virgin birth and purity.
Then three red stripes got added to represent the blood and eternal life.
The peppermint flavour is similar to another member of the mint family, hyssop. In the Old Testament hyssop was used for purification and sacrifice, and this is said to symbolize the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice he made.
Today the candy Cane is a symbol of Christmas and it's holiday.
Other Plants Associated With Christmas
Some examples are holly, ivy, mistletoe
Holly
Holly has jagged edges and remains green during the winter.
It was a prominent part of pre- Christian winter celebrations.
Then it became important to the Christians who used it as a decoration to decorate doors to protect their homes from evil spirits.
It also has a relationship to the crucifixion of Christ where he wore a crown of thorns that caused his head to bleed. The holly leaves symbolized the crown of thorns and the red berries symbolized Christ's blood.
Ivy
The use of Ivy dates back thousands of year. Ivy stays green throughout the year. and some people believed it had magical powers, hence and it was another perfect plant to have in your home in the winter.
Ivy symbolized eternal life, rebirth and the spring season. It also was symbol of different things depending on the culture.
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Decorating homes with Holly and Ivy became accepted during Christian holidays and are used in our Christmas celebrations today.
A famous English Christmas Carol, "The Holly and the Ivy," uses the holly symbol to celebrate the birth of Christ
Mistletoe
Ivy symbolized eternal life, rebirth and the spring season. It also was symbol of different things depending on the culture.
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Decorating homes with Holly and Ivy became accepted during Christian holidays and are used in our Christmas celebrations today.
A famous English Christmas Carol, "The Holly and the Ivy," uses the holly symbol to celebrate the birth of Christ
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant growing on the branches of tree beaches or trunks,but it can grow on its own. It is an evergreen featuring small, yellowish flowers and white berries.
It was used in winter celebrations 200 years before the birth Of Jesus Christ.
The Druids started decorating their homes with it.
It was considered to be a symbol of fertility and was used as a medicine for certain illnesses. Some believed it had magical powers and was used to fight evil spirits.
The British started hanging Mistletoe up as a Christmas decoration during the 18th or 19th century.
There was a custom of Kissing Under The Mistletoe.
Mistletoe, like in the picture above was hung from the ceiling. On
festive occasions like Christmas, people played kissing games beneath the ball. A kiss beneath the decoration was said to bring good luck and lasting friendship. This still happens today as a Christmas Tradition.
It was used in winter celebrations 200 years before the birth Of Jesus Christ.
The Druids started decorating their homes with it.
It was considered to be a symbol of fertility and was used as a medicine for certain illnesses. Some believed it had magical powers and was used to fight evil spirits.
The British started hanging Mistletoe up as a Christmas decoration during the 18th or 19th century.
There was a custom of Kissing Under The Mistletoe.
Mistletoe, like in the picture above was hung from the ceiling. On
festive occasions like Christmas, people played kissing games beneath the ball. A kiss beneath the decoration was said to bring good luck and lasting friendship. This still happens today as a Christmas Tradition.
