| Show Christmas Legends Explain Ex pI ain Origins I Of f Decorations There are many legends concern concern- concerning concerning ing the origin of Christmas trees and why we decorate and them through the Yule season And for many of us it would not seem like Christmas without agreen a agreen agreen green and graceful fir standing in its place of honor in the living room decorated with bright lights and stars Why the evergreen The most beautiful legend of all goes like this As Christ lay in the manger after his birth the wise men came came to worship bringing their many gifts Then came the shepherds and the people of the village to kneel and pray in the presence of this wonder wonder- wonderful ful child After them came the trees to pay p y homage to the Christ child First the native palms from the hills around Bethlehem and then the stately maples and oaks and birches and hemlocks Then last of all timid because o of f his smallness came a tiny fir from f of rom the frozen north It was so s small mall and modest that none paid sany any attention to it until suddenly a star dropped from the sky and twinkled on a bough of the tree Another and another fell until the little tree was the most beautiful of all all aglow aglow as if from a celestial light Holly has become an accepted dec dec- decoration decoration decoration oration for Christmas Reference to it has been made in numerous I stories and carols such as Deck the hall with boughs of holly the season to be jolly The custom dates back to the time of the ancient Romans who used holly in connection with the celebration celebration celebration tion of their Saturnalia which occurs oc oc- occurs occurs curs about the same time as Christ Christ- mas The holly tree was most beautiful at a time of year when other trees were barren and for that reason was ideal for decorations And be be- because because because cause it was most beautiful at Christmas time many persons thought the tree must be sacred |
