The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
w. N. GRIFFIN,
ORIGIN OF THE
CHRISTMAS TREE
From Leslie's Weekly.
jO0-3II N. goth st.
Between Sd and 4th AYES

From Leslies Weekly.
The celebration of Christmastlde, which
falls at the time of the winter sostice, is
as old as the human race.
In the early days, the most barbaric
pleasures and the widest forms of enjoy
ment marked this period of the year, when
the sun turns from its journey away from
the earth, and entering on its return, car
ries the promise of light and warmth.
1t is a strange fact that many of the OBJ
servances of this greatest festival OF the
Christian year are indissolubly linked with
the pagan customs of the earlier religions.
When Christianity was In its infancy
those embracing 1t endeavored to adopt the
old observances of their fathers to the new
order of things The origin of many of the
Yuletide customs is lost, but that of the tree
as the emblem of life can be clearly traced
to the earliest times.
From the ancient Egyptians we obtain the
first evidence of the tree being used as an
anterior decoration. The palm was their
favorite green, and since this stately tree
puts forth new shoot each month, II was
considered typical of life and progress TO
use the winter festival, the palm bearing
twelve shoots.
The fierce tribes of northern Europe ven
Grated the fir as a sacred emoiem' anu
every house was decked with this ever
green ct Christmas. The tree was pro
fusely decora ted with symbolic toys ana
trinkets, while figures representing Auahh
and Eve were placed at the base. among
the green boughs a serpent coied. and
candle perched on its topmost bough SYM
bolized the Light of the World" Inc
ancient Chaldeans told a charming legenu
to their children concerning the origin OF
the Christmas tree. feature OF tne
Christmas eve celebration in Chaldea was
the, burning of the Yule log, which was
liohted with the charred remnant OF the
last years log. Each member OF the ram
lily sang a Yule song, standing on the
great log, and thus immuned the househoio
from ill-luck throughout the year. during
the night the legend runs, the iule ios
gave birth to the Christmas tree laden with
gifts, which delighted the childrens eyes
at the early morning hour
The first English ohild TO enjoy Christ
mas tree was Mary, daughter OF Hehry
VIII, Who was afterward known as
"Bloody Mary When she was four years
old a rosemary bush, hung with req Jew
els and silver spangles, and lighted with
flashlights, was set up in the great nan OF
the castle for the amusement OF the little
maiden, who grew to be sucn cruei
queen From this little rosemary bush the
custom spread until now no English CHRIST
mas Is complete without the Christmas
tree.
In Germany the children believe that the
glittering tree with its bright baubies Is
the gift of the Christ child-Criss Kindle1n,
or Kiss Kringle, Who visits the earth on
Christmas eve and drops down the CHM
neys gifts for the good and obedient.
st. Nicholas is the patron saint OF Rus
sit and 1t lis interesting to note that this
Jolly parsonage was not legendary, but was
q real man and lived about 800 A. D.
The kindly saints life was so full Of good
nd that In ALL cyili-
zed countries his name is typical of kind
illness and generosity. He is sometimes
called "Pelsnichol," or st. Nicholas with
the few, because in the far northern region
of the imperial czar the legend says that
Saint Nick, clad in fur from top to toe,
flies around the world in a sleigh drawn
by fleet-footed reindeer. The custom of
hanging up the stocking on Christmas eve
originated from kindly deed Of this saint.
who was bishop of Asia Minor. A friend
of his, poor nobleman, had three beau
tful daughters who were unable to marry
advantageousy because they had no lands
or houses to bring to a husband. jolly st.
Nicholas knew Of this sad plight. One
Christmas eve the eldest daughter was
surprised to have a purse of gold, shaped
as a slipper thrown through the window
of her room. The next night second
daughter received a similar gift, and the
third night the youngest daughter sur
praised good ST. Nicholas throwing stock
ing filled with gold into her window. There
after it was the custom for the young
people to hang up stockings on st. Nicho-
las night to receive the gifts supposed to
come from good Staint Nick.
When Christianity spread abroad the in
fictitious spirit of cheer and goodwill which
prevailed in pagan celebrations at the win
ter solstice survived in our Christian festi-
val. The leaders of the early church, how
ever sought to infuse into these festivals
some Christian significance, and blend to-
gether the cherished customs with the
story of Christ's nativity.
This they did so successfully that al
though the nature of the early festival has
been completely transformed by Christi
anity we still deck our houses and
churches with greens and suspend gifts
from heavily-laden Christmas trees.