Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-23
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
WHAT CHILDREN OF VARIOUS
NATIONS ARE TAUGHT.
Myths and Legends Of German, Swed-
ish and French Young Folk-Tra-
ditions Of Evergreen.
From the Springfield Republican.

From the Springfield Republican.
The Germans brought the Christmas tree
to this country less than 100 years ago, and
1t took some time for other people to adopt
the idea and so please the children on
Christmas day. But no one knows the
legends Of the Christmas tree In these days,
and it Is looked on merely as part of the
presents by the children and as great bore
by most Of the older people. The story Of
the Christmas tree is almost old as his
tory, and local people should recall some of
the sweet old folklore to the children when
they show them the glories Of the tree on
Thursday. On the first Christmas eve, when
the three wise men were hurrying toward
the little town Of Bethlehem, they saw the
twinkling lights of the village while still
far away. 1t was the night of the Jewish
feast Of Chaunckah, the Feast Of Lights,
and in every house sputtered tiny flame
In honor of the day. The wise men saw
them as they hurried to the place where the
infant Christ lay, and the lights seemed to
them symbol even as the star was. Such
is one explanation of the reason for having
lighted candles on a Christmas tree.
Martin Luther.
Then there is the legend Of Martin Luther
and his little Christmas tree. On Christmas
eve he was hurrying home. The night was
clear and STILL and there was no moon. In
the black sky the stars seemed to dance
and flash like bright bits of some grand in
comprehensive thing, and they made
deep impression on the mind of the great
man. When he reached his home he called
his family about him and tried to explain
to them what he had seen, but he could not
paint the picture in words which satisfied
him. Suddenly he rose, and going into his
little garden cut down little hemlock tree
and took 1t into the house. On its branches
he fastened bits of candles lighted them,
then put out the other lights in the ROOM
The Pickering candles among the green
black branches showed his children the
vastness Of the night in small way, and
the beauty of the stars on Christmas eve.
Story Of the French Knight.
The French myth Of the Christmas tree
is the most complete and will be the most
interesting TO children who may wonder
why the Christmas tree is among them, and
If tine gifts which 1t bears are it's only reason
for existence. On one cold Christmas night
early In the thirteenth century a French
knight was journeying to his chateau. Sud-
denly in front of him he saw the vision Of
fir tree aglow with lights. He looked
closer, and saw they were candles. some
burning right side up and some hanging
downward. On top of the tree was curly
headed child, with halo about its head.
The vision greatly troubled the knight; and
he referred it to the pope for an explana-
tion He was told that the fir tree repre-
scented humanity. that the child was Christ
watching over all, and that the lights rep
resented men. Those which burned right
side up were those whose deeds were go2I,
and those which were upside down repre-
scented men whose deeds were bad. This is
the story which Is told to the little French
-children of.Springfield. and they try during
the coming year to act in such manner
that the candle which represents them on