On Christmas morning, many families will gather around their Christmas Tree, marvelling at the bundles of wrapped presents. For the weeks leading up to Christmas, the decorated tree has stood proudly in the home, admired by many and promising delights soon to come.
Evergreen trees have been placed in homes - in December - even before the arrival of Christianity.
That’s a long standing tradition.
A tradition steeped in suspicion and fear.
By hanging evergreen branches over the entrance to a home, ghosts, witches, evil spirits and illness would be kept away.
Way, way back in time, the long, dark winters were proof that the sun god was sick. The ancient people of the Northern Hemisphere started to celebrate the winter solstice. They celebrated it, because, being the shortest day and longest night, the days would start becoming longer... The sun god would become stronger. The winter solstice always fell around the 21st of December. Evergreen branches would be hung in homes, as a welcome to the green plants which would soon grow.
The Romans also celebrated the solstice. They also hung evergreen branches in their homes. They were celebrating the fact that food could start to be farmed again.
Druid priests of the ancient Celts hung evergreen branches in their temples because the branches symbolised everlasting life.
The first linking of the evergreen trees with Christmas seemed to start with the Germans, before spreading across Europe. England was introduced to the Christmas Tree by Prince Albert in 1841. He decorated a tree - in Windsor Castle - with candles, gingerbread, lollies and fruit. This became a tradition which, quickly spread across most English speaking nations.
While candles on the trees are beautiful, they were replaced by lights after the invention of light bulbs and electricity in the 20th century.
Today’s Christmas Trees, with their plastic branches and plastic ornaments are a long way from the traditional trees.
But... they still bring the same hope and enjoyment which was brought by the very first trees, so very, very long ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment