Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-12
LEGENDS OF THE CHRISTMAS
TREE,

There are SO many beautiful legends
!. about the first Christmas tree that it
d Is quite difficult to find the exact
q origin. We publish below several
a pretty little legends:
A Scandinavian legend tells of the
y Service tree,%% which sprung from the
q blood soaked earth where two lovers
We're killed by violence, and that mys-
FERROUS lights, which the wind could
not extinguish, were seen at Christmas
fal the tops of the forest trees.
In old Egypt there was comm on
\ custom Of decorating the houses at the
me of the winter solstice. with
sIs ranches of the date palm. The date
aim was the emblem of Immortality
III No also Of the star-lit armament. This
zee puts forth a shoot every month
53End a branch Of it containing twelve
N Shoots was a symbol Of the year COM
M leted.
M It has also been suggested that this
4 may be the revival of the pine trees of
the Roman Saturnalia, a December
feast, during which pines were decor
ated with images of Bacchus.
The most plausible explanation, how
ever, is that its earlier significance
n arose from the pagan worship of trees,
nd that later, Christian ideals gave
|s@ftier meaning to its use When the
N pstles preached the gospel in pagan
"A IDS, instead Of interdicting the idol
In y ous feast; they permitted such fes-
9ssN Fities as were not intrinsically sin
sRsEt, but sought to change nature by CIV
IKE Christian Interpretation to the
@ dous rites and ceremonies
III Thus. when Pope Gregory ]. sent st.
s# ugustine to convert Saxon England
596, he directed him to make the
IN hange Of religion, SO far as ceremon-
II fols were concerned, as gradual as pos
s2sible, that the people might not be
SSSstartled. The Saxons called the feast
sthe midwinter solstice Yule, and on
4 4}St occasion the Druids went in sol
= procession to, cut the mistletoe
ISE N the sacred oak. This ceremony,
S,l old chronicle tells us, took place
EiA IN the sixth day of the moon nearest
ssSS ae. new year" The evergreen, which
RsIhey call all-heal, was afterward sold
Lat high price to their credulous fol-
flowers. The people signified their joy
rat the cutting of the magic mistletoe
yby feasting on roasted oxen and by
ltdancing. In the Decem Der following
BSt. Augustine's arrival he permitted his
d converts to join in the feasting but for
Made their mingling with pagans in the
dance; and judging from his success
in planting the faith, it was probably
but short time ere he had weaned
them from their barbaric orgies to
saner celebration of the great Chris
tian. festival occurring in the same
month e-s.
SSss IAN sofd German legend makes st
sHnifred the inventor of the idea. In
II he midst of crowd of converts he is
aaAa!Said 10 have been hewing down great
LAX which had formerly been the OBJ
eDect of the Druidic veneration As he
/ chopped a WhirlWind passed over the
$forest and tore the tree from its foun-
#dations. Behind it stood a young fir.
lnharmed, pointing Its spire toward
$Ehe stars. The priest, dropping his
JAKE. turned to the people and said:
as This little tree, young child of
sSe forest, shall be your holy tree to-
ght 1t is the wood of peace, for
ur houses are built Of fir 1t is the
n yn of an endless life, for its leaves
81 ]e ever green. See how 1t points up
M ward heaven. Let this be called the
of the Christ Child. Gather about
not in the wood, but in your own
NJ INES; there it will shelter no deeds
lI blood, but loving gifts and rites of
,,indness."
III Some writers on ancient customs tell
rs that among the early pagan super
3tittons of the Germans was the be-
Pref that the world was great tree
sEhose top flourished in Paradise and
Furnished food to a goat upon whose