These pagan beliefs survive to this day imbedded in religious rituals and myths as well as in secular customs, legends and fairy tales. After a brief introduction to early religion and mythology, the first part of this book will trace the roots of the Christmas tree through the ancient symbolism and mythology of the evergreen. I will present a discussion on the theories about how these beliefs became so widespread and deeply entrenched, and will conclude with a brief history of the Christmas tree from the time of Christ to the present day. Each chapter ends with a collection of related myths, legends and fairy tales about evergreen trees, particularly the Christmas Tree. If you are primarily a lover of stories, that's the place to go first.
Many people like to deemphasize our pagan heritage.
Yet paganism is much more than human sacrifice. In the case of the Christmas tree, knowledge of our spiritual past can enrich the celebration of the ritual for all but the most fundamentalist Christians and revitalize the winter holidays for those who are not.