The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-19
A MYTH OFTHERHIN
VARIOUS VERSIONS or THE ORIGIN
OF CHRISTMAS TREES.


Legend OF Martin Luther-nnemories 81
Tiny rapers and Sweet Surprises.
One may read in the folklore of the
Rhine districts Of a mysterious tree that
blooms only on the night before Christ
mas, and the old myth assures as we
have only to go TO a certain spot to find
it all to be true. As she first authentic
accounts Of Christmas gift tree are ia
the annals Of this same Rhine neighbor-
hood, may we not believe that the holy
mystery supposed to be concealed in the
blossoming tree was commemorated and
perpetuated in the decoration Of the
Christmas spruce? At all events, IL IS
in historical records Of Strasburg from
the year 1905 we first read of a real
Christmas tree. The man who has left
the record writes:
During the Christmas holidays "A
spruce is set mp in Srrasburg homes. ca
which are hung horses of many colorcd
paper, apples, consecrated waters, clay
cuckoos, sugar, etc.
The use Of the tree spread very slow
ly during the 200 years following. and
we next read of il ia l64B in q theolog-
ical work called milk Of the Cate
chism. - This time it is not mentioned
lovingly. but the author inveighs
against its use in the home ia these
words:
Among other frivolities with which
more than with Gods word the holy
days are celebrated tho Christmas snrrco
is found, which is set mp IN the l.crsCs
and decorated with puppets and sweet
things. Finally one shakes it, assd So
its blossoms fall Whence comes this
custom know not The whole thing Is
child's play. Better would it be If oAo
4 ~
around that spiritual cedar tree, Christ
Jesus 4"
Next we hear of it from the stand
point Of the jurist in 1887 IN very
learned treatise ION the Gifts Bestowed
on Our Redeemer' s Birthday jurist
striving for position Of docent at Wit
tenberg speaks OF the candle decAcd
Christmas tree, under whose boughs ti.e
gifts to the housefolk are spread. gifts
whose justification he sees from legal
standpoint
Late in the eighteenth century tho
tree was more frequently mentioned
and it was even the great Goeth who
introduced it to the literary world ira
his Sorrows Of Werther Goethe
first saw a Christmas tree in I7c5. when
he was years old. at the house "a
Theodor Korner's grandmothcr He
says, 1T was hung with all kind o-
sweets, managers holding the Christ
child, the Virgin Mary and Jeepi.
standing beside the oxen. asses and
lambs -
Do you remember Werther's visir Up
Lotte on tie Sunday bul8-9 Chris. As,
when he finds her alone. pr paisnv
packages Of presents for her s..s.ll
brothers and sisters just as he, suspect
ing nothing, pours out his ecstasy Over
f~-, Il ~ evils
opens, and the Christmas t-co bursts ia
his view, with its glib. titring wax cam
dies, its cakes and apples
Germany s other idol, Schiller, does
not himself write Of any Christmas tree,
but in a work by i friend OF bis we
learn that at Christians time. 1850, lac
became betrothed to Lotte Won Len0e-
field and Withdrew from an engage
ment to pass the holidays under the
Christmas tree" with a family III Jena
in order to be with her
The following Christmas he and his
wife Lotte stood beneath brig -lv
glowing tree" in their own home
The first time the Christmas tree was
enshrined IN verse WAS in 1909. lrst
200 years from it's first historic rsontion-
From that year the custom of de eQi..t-
ing a spruce at Christmas spread tn .Il
ly all over Germany until about 10 10
went over tho border into France a1-l
was introduced In 1910 by Heicn- duch-
ess of Orleans, into the Iuiiefics
Now over 40, 600 trees are decorated
annually in France The French people
observe the custom with all their char
acteristio enthusiasm and warm pic.y
They have a very pretty way Of protect
ing the roots Of the tree and planting
it again after the holidays are over.
The Christmas tree found its way inro
England through Prince Albert SOON att
er his betrothal to Queen Victoria a pc
culiar English custom is that OF passing
a small tree round the table after the
Christmas dinner. from which each per-
son plucks the gift previously placed
there for him or her.
Nor are these the only countries to
follow the Germans in their Christmas
festival In Italy, the Netherlands.
Russia and Scandinavia the little ones
are made happy by the blooming of the
Christmas tree. Indeed All old German
legend ascribes the origin of the custom
to Sweden, whence it was introduced
into Germany at the time Of the Thirty
Years war. But this is only Legendary
and has no more claim TO our belief
than that other legend Of Martin Lu-
Their taking a forest tree into his mouse
and decking it with numerous lights TO
symbolic the glory Of the starlit heav-
ems.
In our own country the history of tho
Christmas tree is young. and although
many foreigners think the only kind
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