Show origin of afy w afo on ct 15 1 that 0 UE LIE origin of the christmas tree is much disputed and t there ere are many popular le legends gh concerning it one pop 33 ular tale pictures martin luther as attempting to describe the beauty of the snow covered forest under tile wintry sky suddenly the idea suggested itself he hurried to the garden cut a little fir tree iree dragged it into the nursery put some candles on its bran broaches clies and lighted them this was waa supposed to hae happened on christmas we eve and the tale seeks to explain the origin of both tree and can dies one of the most popular german engravings represents uther luther l and lits ills family grouped about tile the tree another older german legend says st winifred Is the or originator ignator of the idea one day while surrounded by crowds of con converts erts tile the saint was bas having a glum giant oak sawed down for use in worship suddenly a great wind ind rushed past the tree and sent it crashing backward where it destroyed everything in the path except a small fir br tree because of the seeming nil miracle st winifred decreed the fir tree be known as the holy tree the tree of the christ child still another authority declares the tree comes from the ancient egyptian eg an custom of of decking deck liiK giouse at the time of tile the winter solstice with branches ol of the date palm ianni the symbol of life tri irl uni pliant over liver flaith and an emblem of the starlit firmament at tile the same linie the were decking houses house with bilte palio italia branches the jews icks were celebrating the lie feast east of in ili which lighted candles were a feature A greek festival at about tills alnie la Is called ohp feast of lights and the chinese festival of a corresponding period is called the feast of lanterns during the th old roman festival pine trees were decorated with images of bacchus and the christmas tree Is believed by soma to be a relle relic of this old custom the french have an interesting legend in the thirteenth century ft huge tree was found the branches were covered with candles some ot of which stood erect and some upside down on the top appeared a vision of a child with a halo around its head bead when asked to explain this extraordinary tree the pope exclaimed tin the 4 w n r nov 1 A 4 r 0 1 1150 INV I 1 the th tree represents Rep reent mankind it was wa explained tree represents mankind the child ta Is christ and the candles are meant to indicate the good and bad human brings beings thereafter according to this myth the christmas tree was used at christmas time to bring happiness and good cheer now with all these vague traditions tradition blended together we have as ai a final result the permanent establishment of 0 the christmas tree germany first decorated the tree with gifts not until the time of the marriage of queen victoria did the tree become a re regular ular english institution when the tha germans emigrated to america they 1 brought the christmas tree with them and we americans borrowed it along with many other christmas customs indiana farmers guide |