| |
|
Christmas tree
|
|
|
|
It’s impossible to imagine
Christmas without an Evergreen tree, pine or fir, decorated with lights
and ornaments. The use of the evergreen trees symbolizes the eternal
life for the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Jews. They could be
different – big, small, natural, artificial, with sophisticated
decorations, humble, but what all do is to symbolize the spirit of
Christmas.
|
It’s not an easy task to speak
about the origins of the Christmas tree. The legends of the fir tree
are as old as the cultivation of the same tree.
|
One says that the tradition has its origins in
the celebrations of god Frey, the god of the Sun and the fertility in
Northern Europe. Other says that comes from the old german belief that
a giant tree was holding the world and its branches were sustained in
the stars, moon and sun. One is the story of St. Boniface, English monk
who organized Christian church in France and Germany. One day he saw a
group of pagans around an oak, preparing to sacrifice a child to god
Thor. To stop the sacrifice and to save the child, he felled the tree
with one powerful fist. On that place grew up a small fir. The Saint
explained to the people, that the little tree is the tree of life and
Jesus lives within.
|
For the Celtic group of Britain, the
Christmas tree was discovered by Parsifal, a knight of the round table
of King Arthur, while he was looking for the Holy Grail. Legend says
that the gentleman saw a tree full of bright lights.
The custom took root in Germany and
the Scandinavian countries in the XVI and XVII, then move to England.
The closest antecedent to our Christmas
tree tradition seems to go back to Germany in the early years
of the seventeenth century. In 1605 a tree was decorated for Christmas
and this custom spread rapidly around the world.
|
|
In England the Christmas tree
came into 1846 thanks to the marriage of Prince Albert with Queen
Victoria. Because the Christmas tree was already a tradition in
Germany, Prince Albert decided to spend Christmas as he used to in his
country. He put a huge Christmas tree at Windsor Castle and this custom
was accepted soon from the middle class and then from the working
class. At that time began another tradition - the women carry out
the Christmas decorations in their homes – candles, angels, small
bags containing secret gifts, baskets with sugared almonds.
It is not a coincidence that the tree
as a symbol has been imposed so deeply in the heart of Christianity. In
Christianity, Christmas tree remembers the paradise tree, and
therefore, reminds that Jesus is the one that came into the world so
that our sins being forgiven. It also means the tree of the eternal
life, being evergreen.
It is a symbol of life, it doesn’t lose its green foliage in
winter when the nature seems dead. In some houses in the Nordic
countries in winter they cut some branches and decorate them with
bread, fruits and shiny ornaments to brighten the life in the house
while passing the winter.
For the most of people the trees have
a very special meaning. In all cultures we find that the tree has some
anthropological meaning, mystical and poetic. In some cultures it
represents the union of heaven and eart. The tree is related to
fertility, growth, wisdom and longevity.
The tradition of the Christmas
ornaments began in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, in the XVI
and XVII, then went to England. In the beginning the Christmas tree was
decorated with food and all natural elements. Now we use a wide range
of ornaments and lights, synthetic, natural, dry, fresh, white or
green. What really matters is that there is still magic, hope and faith
in better times around the tree. The Christmas spirit is what counts,
and the Christmas tree, is a synonymous of the celebration, joy, love
and shared moments.
|
|
