The Xmas Tree
![[Merry Xmas!]](xtree2.jpg)
Today the Tree is a central feature of the Xmas celebrations but its origins are ancient and pre-date Christianity.
Pagans used trees as part of their religious ceremonies The Druids decorated Oak trees with fruit and candles in honour of their Gods of the Harvest. During the Roman festival of Saturnalia, (see Date of Xmas), trees were decorated with gifts and candles. The Vikings regarded evergreen coniferous trees as symbols that the darkness of Winter would end and that Spring would return.
So how did the Tree become part of Xmas? One legend tells of St. Boniface who encountered some German pagans about to sacrifice a child at the base of an Oak tree. He cut down the Oak to prevent the sacrifice and a Fir tree grew in its place. St Boniface told the pagans that this was the Tree of Life and represented Christ.
Another legend ascribes the Xmas tree to Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism. The
legend tells how Luther saw the stars shining through the branches of a forest as he walked
at night giving him an impression of twinkling lights. The beauty of this so impressed him
that he cut down a small evergreen and brought it into his home to recreate the scene using
lighted candles on the tree's branches.
Germany seems to have started the use of a decorated tree as part of Xmas. When trees were
scarce a wooden pyramid was sometimes used and this would be decorated with branches and
candles.
In Britain the Xmas tree tradition was popularised in 1841 by Prince Albert and Queen
Victoria, (both of German descent), who decorated a tree at Windsor Castle
with candles, fruits, gingerbread and sweets. The use of the Xmas tree spread to America with
German emigrants.
Nowadays the Xmas tree, (real or synthetic), is seen worldwide in homes, Churches,
workplaces and cities. A famous tree is the one placed every year in Trafalgar Square,
London, a gift from the people of Norway in gratitude for the help that Britain
gave during World War II.