Tradition stems from ancient pagan custom

TRADITION STEMS FROM ANCIENT PAGAN CUSTOM

Holly, mistletoe and the Christmas tree.....these threee evergreens embody the spirit of Christmas.  Indeed, the festive season could never be the same without them.

Yet they stem from an ancient custom, older than Christianity itself.  Some authorities consider the Christmas Tree to be a survival of pagan worship and trace it back to ancient Rome and Egypt.

The use of evergreens to decorate homes at Christmas time has a pre-Christian origin.  Decoarations with holly and mistletoe date from the time of the Druids, orperhaps even earlier, as part of some ancient pagan mid-winter ceremony.

Mistletoe was sacred among the Druids and was believed to have miraculous powers.  Among the Romans it was a symbol of peace and it was said that when their enemies met under it, they disregarded their weapons and declared a truce.  From this comes the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.

In Northern Europe, evergreens, because they did not die in winter time, became a symbol of eternal life and were almost objects of worship.

Holly has always been a popular Christmas decoration and was endowed with unusual powers.  According to one legend, Christ's thorn of crowns was made of holly leaves and thus began the custom of fashioning Christmas wreaths.

Initially, Christians were not enthusiastic about the pagan worship but were favourably impressed with the decorated evergreen trees and decided to adopt the custom.

It is generally believed that the first Christmas tree was of German origin dating from Boniface, the English missionary to Germany in the 8th Century.  He replaced the sacrifices to Odin's sacred oak with a fir tree decorated in homage to the Christ Child.

The trimming and lighting of Christmas trees became a customary part of the mediaeval German mystery plays when a decorated tree was used to symbolise the Garden of Eden.  After the suppression of these plays, the tree was used in the home and the custom gradually evolved of decorating it with sweetmeats, fruit, and eventually candles.

Accounts persist that Martin Luther introduced the tree lighted with candles.  By the beginning of the 19th century, the tradition had spread from Germany to most of the countries of Northern Europe.

It was introduced in England in 1841 by Prince Albert of Saxony, the Prince Consort of Queen Victoria.

German immigrants brought it to the United States where it was adopted enthusiastically.  Perhaps it served as a reminder of their homes in Europe.

The Star of Bethlehem and the Angel or Good Fairy at the top of the tree has been traditional for the last 200 years.

Presents have always been grouped around the foot of the tree, which automatically becomes the focal point for the family gatherings at Christmas time.

 From News Guardian Christmas Magazine