Joke Collection Website - Cold jokes - What is the historical significance of the Christmas tree? Where did it originate?

What is the historical significance of the Christmas tree? Where did it originate?

For many people, it is unimaginable without a beautiful evergreen fir in a living room decorated with sparkling ornaments and wrapped gifts. Like most Christmas traditions, including the celebration of Christmas itself, the origins of the Christmas tree can be traced back to pagan traditions. In fact, were it not for Queen Victoria, the most powerful monarch of the time, decorating fir trees might have remained an obscure custom, still practiced in only a few Germanic and Slavic countries.

This is a legend from Germany about how the Christmas tree was formed. It goes like this:

On a cold Christmas Eve night, a forest ranger and his Families gathered around the fire to keep warm in their huts. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. When the ranger opened the door, he found a poor little boy standing on the doorstep, lost and alone. The ranger welcomed him into his house, and the family fed him, bathed him, and made him sleep in their youngest son's bed (he got to sleep with his brother that night!) The next day, Christmas On the morning of , the family was awakened by a choir of angels, and the poor little boy was transformed into Jesus, the Christ Child. Little Christ went into the garden in front of the cottage, broke off a branch from a fir tree, and gave it as a gift to the family as a thank you for taking care of him. So since then, people have brought Christmas trees home to commemorate that night! (German legend explaining the origin of the Christmas tree)

Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that stayed green all year round were great for winter. People have special meaning. Just as people today decorate their homes with pine, spruce, and fir during the holidays, people in ancient times hung evergreen branches on their doors and windows. In many countries, people believe that evergreen trees can drive away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and diseases

Before the introduction of Christianity, people in the northern hemisphere used evergreen plants to decorate their homes, especially doors, to Celebrate the winter solstice. December 21st or December 22nd has the shortest day and the longest night. Traditionally, this time of year was seen as the return of the power of the sun god, which was weakened during winter[4]. Evergreen plants serve as a reminder that the sun god will shine again and that summer is coming.

The Egyptians used to decorate the temple of the sun god Ra with green palms during the winter solstice (Ancient Egyptian Astronomy).

Five thousand years ago, the ancient Egyptians celebrated the winter solstice and the rebirth of the sun. They set the festival on 12 days (the 12 days of Christmas) to reflect the 12 parts of their solar calendar. The Egyptians filled their homes with green palm grass to honor the sun god Ra (who had a hawk's head and wore the sun as a crown) and also to celebrate Horus (the divine mother - son of the goddess Isis) The birth of. The palm tree with 12 twigs symbolizes the end of the year, as it is believed that the palm tree will grow a twig every month

This concept forms part of the celebrations of many other cultures. It was adopted by Christians at the Second Council of Tours in AD 567. [8] Church leaders declared the 12 days from December 25 to Epiphany (January 6) to be a holy holiday.

Celtic Tree of Life Christmas Card, by Lisa Parker

For many people, having a living room decorated with sparkling ornaments and wrapped gifts would not be a good idea without Beautiful evergreen firs, that's unimaginable. Like most Christmas traditions, including the celebration of Christmas itself, the origins of the Christmas tree can be traced back to pagan traditions. In fact, were it not for Queen Victoria, the most powerful monarch of the time, decorating fir trees might have remained an obscure custom, still practiced in only a few Germanic and Slavic countries.

This is a legend from Germany about how the Christmas tree was formed. It goes like this:

On a cold Christmas Eve night, a forest ranger and his Families gathered around the fire to keep warm in their huts. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. When the ranger opened the door, he found a poor little boy standing on the doorstep, lost and alone. The ranger welcomed him into his house, and the family fed him, bathed him, and made him sleep in their youngest son's bed (he got to sleep with his brother that night!) The next day, Christmas On the morning of , the family was awakened by a choir of angels, and the poor little boy was transformed into Jesus, the Christ Child.

Little Christ went into the garden in front of the cottage, broke off a branch from a fir tree, and gave it as a gift to the family as a thank you for taking care of him. So since then, people have brought Christmas trees home to commemorate that night! (German legend explaining the origin of the Christmas tree)

Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that stayed green all year round were great for winter. People have special meaning. Just as people today decorate their homes with pine, spruce, and fir during the holidays, people in ancient times hung evergreen branches on their doors and windows. In many countries, people believe that evergreen trees can drive away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and diseases

Before the introduction of Christianity, people in the northern hemisphere used evergreen plants to decorate their homes, especially doors, to Celebrate the winter solstice. December 21st or December 22nd has the shortest day and the longest night. Traditionally, this time of year was seen as the return of the power of the sun god, which was weakened during winter[4]. Evergreen plants serve as a reminder that the sun god will shine again and that summer is coming.

The Egyptians used to decorate the temple of the sun god Ra with green palms during the winter solstice (Ancient Egyptian Astronomy).

Five thousand years ago, the ancient Egyptians celebrated the winter solstice and the rebirth of the sun. They set the festival on 12 days (the 12 days of Christmas) to reflect the 12 parts of their solar calendar. The Egyptians filled their homes with green palm grass to honor the sun god Ra (who had a hawk's head and wore the sun as a crown) and also to celebrate Horus (the divine mother - son of the goddess Isis) The birth of. The palm tree with 12 twigs symbolizes the end of the year, as it is believed that the palm tree will grow a twig every month

This concept forms part of the celebrations of many other cultures. It was adopted by Christians at the Second Council of Tours in AD 567. [8] Church leaders declared the 12 days from December 25 to Epiphany (January 6) to be a holy holiday.

Celtic Tree of Life Christmas Card, by Lisa Parker

In Northern Europe, the Celts decorated their druidic temples with evergreen branches, a symbol of eternity life. Druids believed that evergreen trees could drive evil spirits and ghosts, as well as evil in the form of disease, from their homes. For this reason, evergreen branches are often cut and hung on doorways and in homes. The green branches brought hope of warmth and food through the long winter with the arrival of spring

Further north, the Vikings believed that evergreens were plants of Balder, the god of light and peace . Evergreen trees are a source of hope and comfort. Survive multiple harsh winters and continue to grow and thrive

The ancient Romans marked the winter solstice with a feast called Saturnalia, which honored the god of agriculture, Saturn, just like Kyle Like the Vikings, houses and temples were decorated with evergreen trees.

In Northern Europe, the Celts decorated their Druid temples with evergreen branches, which symbolized eternal life. Druids believed that evergreen trees could drive evil spirits and ghosts, as well as evil in the form of disease, from their homes. For this reason, evergreen branches are often cut and hung on doorways and in homes. The green branches brought hope of warmth and food through the long winter with the arrival of spring

Further north, the Vikings believed that evergreens were plants of Balder, the god of light and peace . Evergreen trees are a source of hope and comfort. Survive multiple harsh winters and continue to grow and thrive

The ancient Romans marked the winter solstice with a feast called Saturnalia, which honored the god of agriculture, Saturn, just like Kyle Like the Vikings, houses and temples were decorated with evergreen trees.