Have you ever wondered where the custom of having a tree in the home during Christmas time comes from? We will probably never know for sure but here are some thoughts.

Thousands or years ago, there were people who believed that evergreen trees were magical, especially  in winter, when all the other trees and greenery were brown and bare, the evergreen stayed  green. People saw the evergreen as a symbol of life. Electric lights or candles we use to decorate our trees today are ancient symbols. They represent the light of spring triumphing over the darkness of winter. Legend also has it that a monk from Crediton used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  People began to revere the Fir tree as God's Tree, as they had previously revered the Oak. By the 12th century it was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings at Christmastime in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity.

The night of the Savior’s birth, all the living creatures came to Bethlehem with gifts. The olive tree brought its fruit and the palm its dates. But the little fir tree had no gift and was so tired it couldn't resist when the big trees pushed it into the background and hid it from view. But then a nearby angel took pity and commanded a cluster of stars to come and rest on its delicate boughs. When the Baby Jesus beheld this lovely lighted tree, He smiled and blessed it, declaring henceforth that fir trees should always be filled with lights at Christmastime to please little children.

When did the Christmas tree go indoors? Legend has it that the tradition was begun by Martin Luther in Germany. He was a monk and church reformer who lived from 1483 to 1546. According to the legend, Luther was returning home one wintry night when he saw the stars twinkling in the sky through the tree branches. Luther was amazed by the sight, and when he arrived home, he was eager to tell his family about it. To help them understand, he went to the woods and cut down a small fir tree. Luther brought it indoors and decorated it with candles, which represented the stars he had seen.

The custom spread in Germany, and from there all over the world. In England, the Christmas tree first appeared when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, who was German. In 1841, Albert set up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle near London to remind him of his homeland. The Christmas tree custom was brought to the United States and Canada by people from England as well as by many German immigrants who came in the 1800's. Whatever its origin, the Christmas tree is a beautiful symbol for everyone who celebrates Christmas.

Information from: The story of the Christmas Tree

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