As
a tradition as old as time, Christmas
is the time of year when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. Did
you know that the name
‘Christmas’ comes from the early English
phrase ‘Christes Masse’, which means the Mass of
Christ. Jesus’ birth and his ascendancy into divinity may
have been
on two different occasions, and although there were competing groups
about whick occasion was the right one, it was settled to be on the 25
of December,
which is the day that Christmas is now celebrated on year round.
The Christmas tree is certainly one of the most important aspects to Christmas,
since it is the tree that we set up on Christmas Eve, decorate with our
friends and families, and underneath we set presents. We admire
our Christmas tree when it is all lit up and covered in decorations.
The Presumed Origin of the Christmas Tree
Experts believe that the origin of the Christmas tree takes place far, far ago, with most likely
origins in European pre-Christian pagan cultures. Since the origin of
the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree has become a popular sight during the winter season in numerous
cultures and has gained an extensive history.
In Northern Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen tree as being a
symbol and a reminder that the cold and dark winter would finally end and
that the green of spring would return. The evergreen is the very reason why the Christmas tree is now the the customary choice.
There have been
many legends surrounding the the origin of the Christmas tree. For example, in one story in
particular, the English monk Saint Boniface met a group
of pagans who were reunited around an oak tree and were preparing to
sacrifice a child. In order to stop the sacrifice and be able to
save the child, the Saint flattened the tree with a single blow of his fist.
Apparently a small fir then sprang up in its place. Saint Boniface
told the pagans that this tree represented
the life of Christ and should be considered the Tree of Life.
There are many other stories similar to these two about the origin of
the Christmas tree. As you might suspect, there is really no one correct answer because
everyone has their own beliefs and opinions. Regardless of where you believe the origin of the Christmas tree came
from, the most important thing is to realize the significance of the
Christmas holiday altogether, and its importance because this is what really matters on December 25th.
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