History of the Christmas Tree
Holiday traditions run deep, and it's always fun and interesting to learn about how Valentine's Day came to be, or how the Jack-O-Lantern got its name. But one holiday tradition carries a special story, that of the Christmas tree.
Christians and otherwise alike have to agree on one thing, there certainly is a lot of history behind the tradition of raising a tree.
Just this morning I was reminded of how the chopping down of the tree represents the crucifixion of Christ, and the re-raising of the tree His resurrection. I was reminded that the Christmas wreath represents an unbreakable circle, a symbol of Christ's undying love for us, and that the "evergreen" color of the tree is the promise of eternal life.
These are concepts I believe in wholeheartedly, and I enjoy speaking about them. But I wondered what other historical traditions were aligned with the raising and decorating of a Christmas tree, where else in the world did this take place, when did it start, and why?
My search led me to a
nice little website that does a fairly decent job of presenting this info. Enjoy!
