New Delhi: Christmas is going to be celebrated on December 25 in many parts of the world with great pomp and splendour as usual. It commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and on that day, people attend church, exchange gifts, gorge on delicious foods and share laughter and joy with family and friends. It is celebrated religiously by most of the Christians and also culturally by many non-Christians, and forms an integral part of the holiday season surrounding it.
Christmas has certain things associated with it without which the festival will be incomplete, like the Christmas music and caroling and Santa Claus. One such thing which is an integral part of the festival is the Christmas tree, which is a mandatory part of the decorations done for that day.
The history of the Christmas tree
According to the records, the Christmas tree was first used in the 16th century by German Lutherans. In 1539, a Christmas tree was placed in the Cathedral of Strasbourg. The tree was decorated with lighted candles by the Moravian Christians. In 1576, the Christmas tree’s earliest known firmly dated representation was on the keystone sculpture of a private home in Alsace, which is today in France. In 1835, the phrase ‘Christmas tree’ was first recorded in the English language.
Unpacking the Symbolism of the Christmas Tree
How did the fir tree become a Christian symbol? Its earliest legend goes back to the 723 AD, when Saint Boniface was evangelizing Germany. During a gathering of the pagans, he took down their decorated oak tree with an axe in one swipe and there was a baby fir tree behind the fallen tree. It is said that from that day onwards, the fir tree became a Christian symbol.
Many people, during the Christmas tree’s decoration, place a star at its top which symbolises the Star of Bethlehem. According to Oxford University’s Professor David Albert Jones, in the 19th century, it became popular for people to also use an angel on the Christmas tree’s top to symbolize the angels mentioned in the Nativity of Jesus. In the context of the Christian celebration of the festival, the Christmas tree is evergreen in colour and it symbolises Christ offering eternal life. The tree has lights and they represent the Light of the World, Jesus born in Bethlehem.
In today’s age, apart from the above-mentioned objects, the Christmas tree is decorated with things like baubles, garlands, candy canes and tinsel. Foods like chocolate, gingerbread, and other sweets are also tied to or hung from the branches of the tree.
The Christmas tree is a beloved symbol of the holiday season. This article explores its fascinating history, tracing its origins back to 16th-century Germany. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
