Show Yule Tree Has Roots In Ancient Legends The lights or of the Christmas I tree most beautiful when re re- re reflected ne ted In the eyes eyes of a child will brIng peace and joy to mil mil- millions lions or of homes again this sea son as they have for centuries But Dut how did it begin Why do we connect trees and lights with the birth of the Babe wl Christians consider the Messiah fi THERE ERE ARE several stories about the origin or of the Christ mas tree People In Scandinavia once worshipped trees and ex ex- ex explains plains World Book la fa they made evergreen trees part of Christian festivals when they became becalM Christians One legend tells how the first Christmas tree was shown in a miracle to the English mission Dry ary later later called d Doni Boni face More oro than than 1200 years ago while traveling in what Is Isnow isnow now north northern rn Germany Winfrid found n a group of heathens at atan atan an oak O tree about to sacrifice a child to the god Thor WINFRID STOPPED the sac rice r and cut down the Mood blood oak As the oak fell accord accord- accordIng Ing to the legend n a young fir I tree tree appeared Winfrid said the fir was the tree of life representing representing enting Christ The Germans probably were the first to decorate Christmas trees They used stars angels toys gilded nuts and candles I wrapped in bright paper and andI I later added tinsel and lighted candles Scandinavians at one onetime I time trimmed their trees with little flags Now they also use useI I cookies apples and gilded nuts In the United State and Can ada homemade paper or- or ornaments candy canes and strings of cranberries and popcorn were popular before the advent of shiny colored balls and strings of colored electric lights LIGHTS AT Christmas I sent Christ as the Light of the World According to one story Martin Luther put lights on his trees to represent the tho glory and andI beauty beauy of the stars above Beth lehem on the night or of Christs Christ's birth In the United States and Can Can- Canada ada many churches hold can can- candlelight candlelight services on Christmas Eve People in Ireland World Book says leave a candle burn burn- burnIng burning Ing in the window In The Ne i on Ute the eve of young men carry the Christmas star actually a lantern containing lighted can can- candles candies dies as th they y stroll through the streets singing hymns and carols No matter what the origin the tree tree ablaze with lights is something we remember from our earliest childhood and something the very youngest children will begin to learn this Christmas |