Christmas Tree

My room and Christmas tree for Christmas 2008. The Christmas tree has its history back to the pagan tree worship, usually the Oak tree in Europe (German) centuries ago. Now, the Christmas tree is one of the most popular traditions that is related to Christmas.

An angel or a star is usually placed on top of the tree to symbolizes the angel of heavenly hosts or the Star of Bethelehem.

The tradition of setting up a Christmas tree can be traced back into 16th Century Germany. It's most widely accepted origin begins with Boniface, a patron saint and missionary to Germany. The missionary halted a pagan tree worship when a child was to be sacrificed to an Oak tree. Boniface, destroyed the tree and days later a small fir (evergreen) tree sprang up from the debris where the destroyed oak tree was. Boniface declared: "This humble tree's wood is used to build your homes: let Christ be at the centre of your households. Its leaves remain evergreen in the darkest days: let Christ be your constant light. Its boughs reach out to embrace and its top points to heaven: let Christ be your Comfort and Guide."

S0, the fir and the pine trees (evergreens) are most often used as Christmas trees. To some, Christmas tree also symbolizes the beauty of thre Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden or the beauty of the cross after the resurrection of Christ.

While there are numerous theories on the origin of this tradition, and some even dismissed the tradition as unecessary and heretic. However, I am not going to debate whether or not a person should or should not set up a Christmas tree.

That's all for this blog.

Joshua