Evergreen Trees
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Paradise
Tree
Paradise Plays
Some believe the Christmas tree
evolved from Paradise Plays. From the eleventh century, these
well-liked religious plays were performed outdoors and in
churches. They retold the account of the creation of Adam and
Eve, their sin, and their banishment from Paradise. The only
solitary prop on stage was the Paradise Tree, a fir tree decked
out with apples. From this tree, at the appropriate time in the
play, Eve would pluck the fruit, eat it, and present it to
Adam.
The Fir Tree And
The Holy Tree Of Life
One
legend tells of St. Boniface, who was a native of
England, being a Benedictine Monk, Apostle of Germany,
and martyred in 755. St. Boniface, by chance, encountered
several German pagans on the verge of sacrificing a child
at the base of an Oak tree. He chopped down the Oak,
preventing the sacrifice and a Fir tree grew in its
place. St Boniface told the pagans that this was the Tree
of Life and represented Christ.
Blessed
Pine Tree And The Holy Cone
A further
enchanting legend is told of the time when the soldiers of
Herod chased the Holy family, when scores of plants were
offered to provide them with safe shelter. One of these plants
was a Pine tree. Mary, was too weary to travel any further, so
the family halted at the edge of a forest to rest. A gnarled
old Pine, grown hollow over the years, beckoned them to rest
within its trunk. It then wrapped its branches down and around,
keeping the family safe and secure until the soldiers had gone
past. As they departed, the Christ Child blessed the Pine and
the imprint of his tiny hand was left everlastingly in the
tree's fruit, the Pinecone. Cut a cone lengthwise, and the hand
may still be seen!
Star Light And
Candles
Martin Luther also features prominently in the traditional
legends of the Christmas tree. Late one night the founder of
the Protestant religion was taking a pleasant walk through the
woods. The sky was dark but clear with many stars shining
through the branches of the trees, giving the impression of
wonderful twinkling lights. Luther was so captivated and
enthused by the striking brilliance of the show of lights that
he cut down a small evergreen tree and brought it home. He then
recreated the twinkling stars by attaching candles upon the
tree's branches to duplicate their radiance and then presented
it to his children.
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